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🇧🇪 Belgium /Economy & Trade

Belgium Launches Federal Subsidy Register, Allowing Public Access to Spending Data

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Belgium has launched a federal subsidy register, allowing citizens to track federal government spending online for the first time.
  • The register details nearly 180 billion euros in federal subsidies distributed in 2025, including funds for the NMBS railway company and various organizations.
  • Minister of Budget Vincent Van Peteghem stated the initiative aims for greater transparency and more efficient use of taxpayer money, with plans to review and potentially eliminate ineffective subsidies.

For the first time, Belgian citizens can access detailed information about how the federal government spends taxpayer money through a newly launched federal subsidy register. Minister of Budget Vincent Van Peteghem introduced the online platform, which consolidates all financial transfers from federal institutions, allowing the public to scrutinize government allocations.

Everyone gets a clear view of where public resources are going and can work with that information themselves.

— Vincent Van PeteghemExplaining the purpose of the federal subsidy register.

The register provides a comprehensive overview of the destination of federal funds, detailing nearly 180 billion euros in subsidies distributed in 2025 across 8,993 items. This includes significant allocations to the national railway company, NMBS, as well as grants provided to various companies and non-profit organizations (vzw's). The initiative aims to shed light on the flow of public money, from community and regional funding to social expenditures and support for federal agencies.

Minister Van Peteghem emphasized that the register is a significant step towards a more transparent and efficient government. "Everyone gets a clear view of where public resources are going and can work with that information themselves," he stated. The platform is intended not only to inform the public but also to support a more evidence-based budgeting process and enhance the effective management of public funds.

We are taking a big step towards a more transparent and efficient government.

— Vincent Van PeteghemDescribing the initiative's impact on government operations.

Furthermore, the register will serve as the foundation for a thorough evaluation of federal subsidies. The government plans to use this data to make targeted choices during upcoming budget discussions, aiming to eliminate subsidies that are no longer effective or do not offer sufficient added value. "We will make choices and scrap subsidies that miss their target," Van Peteghem declared, signaling a commitment to optimizing the use of every euro of taxpayer money.

We will make choices and scrap subsidies that miss their target or offer insufficient added value.

— Vincent Van PeteghemOutlining the government's plan to review and potentially cut ineffective subsidies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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