Highlights

In the Chamber, the N-VA party called on the Di Rupo government to close the gap of more than EUR 2.5 billion in the budget through true savings and structural reforms instead of yet more new taxes.  After all, the current budget currently is made up of 80% new taxes. These are particularly damaging for the economy, resulting in a loss of jobs. N-VA’s budget specialist, Steven Vandeput, has set up a savings package of EUR 3.2 billion. This will release EUR 700 million that can be reinvested in economic growth and jobs. Indeed, in addition to making cuts, we must also continue to invest and grow. For these savings, the N-VA is looking primarily into a more efficient government system, restrictions on the unemployment benefits over time, removal of the interim allowances, slower growth in expenditures for health care and a smart reform of the index.

At least 2.7 billion euros must be saved in the February budget control, not 850 million. N-VA is basing its calculations on the questions from Europe, the slowdown in growth and the errors in the budget. Europe said last week that the 2012 federal budget was incorrect. The 1.3 billion euro freeze is only accepted by Europe as a provisional solution, so it will have to be translated into specific measures during the budgetary control. Added to this is the slowdown in economic growth, for which measures are also needed. N-VA is convinced that the European Commission is right to be concerned. The federal budget has not been put together so as to keep the deficit under three percent, which is why the party is calling upon the government to introduce an adjusted budget as soon as possible that is based on realistic parameters. Above all, savings on spending are necessary, not extra taxes in other words.

N-VA-Chairman Bart De Wever considers the budget agreement concluded by the governmental negotiators to be particularly disastrous. Indeed, two-thirds of it is based on extra taxes, with only one-third of it based on actual savings. In other words, the negotiators have done the exact opposite of what Europe is requesting. The heavy burdens that companies will have to bear threaten to exacerbate the economic crisis even further, resulting in job losses. What’s more, the structural reforms - which are so essential - are few and far between, and are being passed on to the government that will follow this one. As a result, Di Rupo I will be a government with a Flemish minority that primarily implements new taxes, which will to a large extent be paid by the Flemish.

The N-VA hopes that the agreement reached at the European Summit will succeed in soothing the financial markets and will boldly tackle the crisis in the eurozone. This is crucial for the repair of our financial and economic system, and consequently for the welfare of our people. We call on all political parties in Belgium to implement the six European recommendations in full and as quickly as possible. Getting our ducks in a row here in Belgium is after all an urgent necessity if we are to boost our credibility within the EU. Every country in Europe has its hands full with the implementation of these recommendations in order to structurally anchor their welfare and social security. If Belgium does nothing, we will be throwing away our prosperity.

Attachment(s):

Positive European agreement, now to implement the European recommendations ourselves.pdf