No amount for new Belgian military support for Ukraine is included in the finance law including provisional twelfths for the first three months of 2025.
In the absence of a full-fledged government, the government in current affairs has launched the provisional twelfths procedure which should make it possible to start the year 2025 with a budget, in this case that of 2024 divided into twelve tranches to which is added indexing. The objective is to ensure the continuity of State action, the payment of its agents and pensions. These provisional twelfths are voted on by quarter. This Tuesday, the House Finance and Budget Committee meets to analyze this emergency budget. The vote will take place next week, pending the work of the Accounting Committee. Without a vote and publication of the law in the Moniteur Belge by December 31, Belgium risks a “shut down” at the beginning of next year, meaning a paralysis of federal public services, but also the non-payment of agents or again the non-financing of federated entities.
A strict framework
At this stage, the plenary vote is expected on December 19. The government in current affairs is subject to a strict framework, recalled the outgoing Secretary of State for the Budget Alexia Bertrand (Open Vld) on Tuesday. No new policies are permitted. In this context, no amount has been included for new military support for Ukraine during the first three months of 2025. The new government, if it is in place before the end of the year, always has the possibility of releasing a budget if he wishes. And if the new government team takes longer to emerge and a crisis situation arises, the outgoing government can always request additional resources through Parliament.
Money has, however, been provided for the payment of integration income to Ukrainians under temporary protection status, currently in force until March 4, 2025. This is a European obligation, explained the Secretary of State. State. The amount recorded amounts to 74 million euros. Income from Russian assets frozen in Belgium is also not included in the provisional twelfths, confirmed Alexia Bertrand. Discussions are still ongoing at European level on whether or not these funds should be listed.
The finance law also provides for an increase in the Defense budget of 172 million euros. This increase does not relate to a new policy, but to an application of the Star Plan decided by the Vivaldi coalition and which provides for a gradual increase in the means allocated to the army, explained Alexia Bertrand. In 2025, Belgium will therefore devote 1.54% of its GDP to Defense, compared to 1.24% in 2024, still below the 2% standard demanded by NATO.
Belgium
