Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- For the second year in a row, the Brussels Region does not contribute 8 million euros to the company Neo. However, the Region promised to do so for twenty years, but now that the congress centre will not be built anyway, Prime Minister Rudi Vervoort (PS) deems it no longer necessary. The money will come in handy for the renovation of the Heysel Palaces, but there is no deal yet with the City of Brussels, says BRUZZ.
Just like last year, the Brussels government decided not to provide 8 million euros in the budget for the CVBA Neo. That company was founded in 2014 to construct a conference centre and hotel . The City of Brussels would deposit 168 million euros into the company, via the proceeds of the Neo 1 shopping centre that is yet to be built. The Region would contribute 8 million euros per year for twenty years.
But the Region no longer does that. Last year, the government invoked the corona crisis and the accompanying difficult budget as an excuse. This year, Prime Minister Rudi Vervoort (PS) will no longer apologise, BX1 writes , and simply points out that the congress centre will no longer be there anyway , so why make any adjustments?
Renovation Heysel Palaces
However, the money could be used for the renovation of the Heysel Palaces. That renovation is urgent, and according to the German consultant JWC takes precedence over a new convention centre – which prompted both the City of Brussels and the government in 2019 to cancel the new convention centre Neo 2.
But the Brussels government does not want to just trade one project for another financially. Financial and administrative agreements are needed on this, and those negotiations have stalled, writes BX1. The City of Brussels would now also look to private partners to finance the renovation.
Vervoort already says that the decision not to contribute 8 million euros does not say anything about any tensions between the City and the Region, and that the Region still supports the development of the Heysel plateau, for example by building new tram lines.
