Brussels, 24 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgium’s Federal Parliament is preparing hearings into Brussels security spending after MPs questioned how parts of an annual €55 million federal security and prevention allocation were used. The Chamber’s Home Affairs Committee agreed on 22 September to hear federal officials, with political groups supporting further scrutiny of the expenditure.
Parliament will examine €55m Brussels security fund
The federal government provides Brussels with €55 million annually in connection with security surrounding European summits and the capital’s national and international role.
Federal Security and Interior Minister Bernard Quintin confirmed in the Chamber on 17 September that €35 million goes directly to Brussels police zones, while the remaining €20 million is allocated to municipalities.
Questions have focused on whether some municipal expenditure remained within the fund’s legally permitted security and prevention purposes.
MR MP Denis Ducarme cited documents concerning €828,000 allocated to social housing in 2020 and €2.28 million associated with a proposed cybersecurity centre that was never established. Questions have also been raised over spending on public transport, personnel and other activities.
These expenditures are under scrutiny and have not been established as financial misconduct.
Quintin calls for transparency over federal funds
Quintin said the funding has been classified as an allocation rather than a subsidy since 2017, limiting the federal Interior Minister’s direct oversight of how the money is ultimately spent.
“Since 2017, it is no longer a subsidy, but an allocation,” Quintin said during the parliamentary debate, adding: “I regret that.”
The minister has requested a report from the relevant authorities examining how the federal money has been used.
Ducarme seeks evidence on disputed expenditure
Ducarme requested parliamentary hearings involving administrative officials who can provide financial records and explain the expenditure.
He said the hearings should provide “a view of the extent of the financial misuse”. His description represents an allegation under examination and not a conclusion reached by Parliament.
The hearings are expected to involve representatives of the Finance Inspectorate, the Federal Public Service Interior and other relevant administrative bodies.
Vervoort defends wider prevention measures
Former Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort has defended the broader use of the allocation, arguing that it was not designed exclusively for conventional police expenditure.
Vervoort has maintained that prevention, social cohesion and community initiatives can fall within the wider objectives of the funding.
The dispute therefore centres partly on what legally qualifies as Brussels security spending and how broadly authorities can interpret the prevention component of the programme.
Hearings will review financial records
The parliamentary hearings are expected to examine financial records and the administrative controls governing the annual €55 million allocation.
The scrutiny comes as Brussels authorities continue to confront concerns over shootings, drug-related violence and police resources, increasing attention on how existing security funding is distributed.
No parliamentary finding of financial misconduct has been made. As of 24 September, a date for the hearings had not been publicly announced. The proceedings are expected to clarify whether the disputed expenditure complied with the fund’s security and prevention mandate and whether oversight of Brussels security spending should be changed.
