Drug trafficking, abortion and heatwaves: The other hot issues facing Belgium’s government

Belgium’s federal government has more on its plate than a €10 billion budgetary effort. As Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s coalition works toward additional savings by the end of the legislature in 2029, several politically sensitive files are also approaching.

Abortion is likely to be among the most difficult. The Arizona coalition, made up of N-VA, MR, Engagés, Vooruit and CD&V, has promised parliamentary texts by Dec. 1 on abortion, surrogacy, discreet childbirth and broader euthanasia conditions. The debate over extending the legal abortion limit is especially divisive. CD&V supports extending it from 12 to 14 weeks, while an expert group established at the party’s request recommended 18 weeks in March 2023.

Recent shootings in the Brussels region have also revived attention on drug trafficking and its impact on public safety. At the same time, prison officers’ unions announced a strike notice over overcrowding and security problems that they say remain unresolved after years.

Energy policy carries a different kind of risk. The government surprised observers in April by announcing a letter of intent with French energy company Engie to buy Belgium’s nuclear fleet. It hopes to reach a memorandum of understanding by Oct. 1, but the negotiations could commit Belgian taxpayers to very large costs for decades.

The summer’s heatwaves and a fire in the Hautes Fagnes have added pressure for stronger emergency planning. The government has pledged a new federal plan on heat and health by summer 2027, while investments could strengthen forest-fire response, including an earlier purchase of heavy helicopters. Belgium’s political recognition of Palestine is another unresolved file, with legal recognition still conditional on two requirements.