Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the top ministers met about the 2022 budget until about 7.45 pm. The talks will continue tomorrow. At 12 noon, the parties involved will get back to work. The government summit has been meeting since 12 noon today.
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In the camp of the negotiators it was told on Saturday that “everything is still on the table, as long as there is no agreement”. State Secretary for Budget Eva De Bleeker (Open Vld) repeated it in the afternoon on arrival at 16 Wetstraat. “All aspects are interrelated and must be discussed together.” The negotiators systematically consider the files, after they have already been passed in a working group or not.
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The table of the government summit on Saturday included labor market policy, dealing with the long-term sick and investments. The biggest discussion points were energy and the labor market, it says.
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The coalition agreement provides for an increase in the employment rate to 80 percent. The employment rate is currently only 70 percent, so there is still work to be done. Prime Minister De Croo put a memorandum with 35 proposals on the table. This would include a four-day week, in which the working hours that are normally performed in five days would be spread over four.
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With regard to energy, the ministers are examining, among other things, what can be done to make rising energy costs more bearable for the population. There are several avenues on the table for this.
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The talks are expected to continue for a while on Saturday evening and to continue on Sunday and also at the beginning of next week. In any case, the negotiators are not rushed. Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V) emphasized it on Saturday morning: “The deadline is Tuesday at 2.30 pm”. Then Prime Minister De Croo is expected in the House for his policy statement.
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Also read: Budget talks come to cruising speed this weekend: these hurdles the government must overcome (+)
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