Brussels, 28 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Flemish budget talks were abruptly suspended on Monday after Flemish minister Hilde Crevits and a senior Vooruit staff member became unwell following overnight negotiations, delaying the Flemish Government’s presentation of its 2027 budget.
The interruption came only hours before Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele, of N-VA, was due to present the government’s fiscal plans to the Flemish Parliament. Parliament has agreed to move the budget presentation to Wednesday.
Negotiations stop after overnight budget discussions
The coalition parties — N-VA, Vooruit and CD&V — had been negotiating through the night in an effort to reach agreement.
Crevits, a CD&V deputy minister-president, and a chief of staff for Vooruit became unwell. An ambulance was seen near the Flemish Government’s headquarters at Place des Martyrs in Brussels.
Before the suspension, Diependaele had been holding bilateral discussions with coalition partners and had presented a revised budget table. Earlier versions had failed to secure agreement among the three governing parties.
Diependaele says health takes priority
Confirming the suspension, Diependaele said:
“We are suspending the budget discussions. Health always comes first, whatever the circumstances.”
He wished Crevits and the affected staff member a speedy recovery.
Diependaele also indicated that substantial progress had been made despite the interruption, saying:
“A great deal of hard work has been done over the past few weeks and days, and we are close to reaching an agreement.”
He said negotiations would resume with the full government as soon as possible.
Coalition seeks major savings for 2027 budget
The suspension comes during difficult negotiations over the Flemish Government’s goal of balancing its 2027 budget.
Before Monday’s interruption, reports indicated the government was seeking roughly €1.6 billion to €1.9 billion in savings. Budget Minister Ben Weyts had previously described the fiscal exercise as exceptionally large and said the required adjustment was likely to be close to €2 billion.
Measures discussed during negotiations have included service vouchers, government operating costs, subsidies, inheritance tax plans and possible changes affecting the Groeipakket child-benefit system. Several proposals remained unresolved and should not be treated as government policy until a final coalition agreement is announced.
Budget suspension delays key parliamentary moment
The Flemish budget talks were intended to conclude before Diependaele’s annual September Declaration, when the minister-president presents the government’s policy and fiscal priorities to parliament.
The unexpected suspension therefore delays a central event in the Flemish political calendar while leaving major fiscal decisions unresolved.
What happens next?
The immediate priority is for the coalition to reconvene and complete its budget agreement. Diependaele has said the government is close to a deal, while the parliamentary presentation has been shifted to Wednesday.
Until the three coalition parties formally approve the package, proposals discussed during the negotiations remain subject to change.
