Brussels Region blocks federal budget cooperation agreement

The Brussels Region is blocking a federal-federated budget cooperation agreement, with the blockade attributed to the socialists of Ahmed Laaouej and partly to minister Anders Dirk De Smedt. The agreement, concluded in March by Budget Minister Vincent Van Petegem and PM Bart De Wever, aims to enforce budget trajectories compliant with EU directives. This internal Belgian political deadlock could delay fiscal consolidation and complicate EU budget negotiations.