Press releases (345)

On 18 July 2024, the Federal Planning Bureau, the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis (BISA), Statistics Flanders and the Walloon Institute for Evaluation (IWEPS) published their economic outlook for the three regions.

The Study Committee on Public Investment has, for the first time, published an overview of public investment in Belgium. In 2022, public investment amounted to 2.7% of GDP and investment contributions stood at 0.6%. Without any changes in policy, Belgium will likely not meet the 2030 investment target of 4% of GDP set in the 2020 government agreement. Current investment levels are barely sufficient to meet the required minimum for a possible extension of the adjustment period set out in the European budgetary framework. Furthermore, the Committee recommends establishing a mechanism to coordinate public investment across different levels of government and enhancing transparency as well as consolidating information regarding investment plans. 

The ageing of the population will raise social expenditure from 25,8% of GDP in 2023 to 29,6% in 2050, to finally reach 30,0% in 2070. Elderly people and pensioners face a larger financial risk of poverty than the rest of the population. However, this at-risk-of-poverty rate is strongly reduced when the ownership of the home is taking into account. These are the findings of the Annual Report 2024 of the Study Committee on Ageing.