Social Sustainability
#6Key Findings
Belgium performs well in international comparison (rank 6) in the area of social sustainability.
Education-system test scores have shown a decline, with growing inequalities in outcomes. Public goods and services such as higher education and healthcare are accessible and affordable, with significant support for retirees and low-income populations. Unemployment benefits cover basic living costs and are typically not time-limited.
Healthcare coverage is broad and funded through social security contributions and taxes, resulting in high levels of public satisfaction. Quality is high. However, past overspending in the healthcare sector has led to concerns about long-term sustainability.
Family support policies provide universal access to affordable childcare. Gender-based labor market segregation is an issue. Pensions are capped, but the system elicits sustainability concerns. Labor market integration for non-EU immigrants continues to be a weakness. Support for a complete halt to immigration is rising, particularly in Flanders.
Education-system test scores have shown a decline, with growing inequalities in outcomes. Public goods and services such as higher education and healthcare are accessible and affordable, with significant support for retirees and low-income populations. Unemployment benefits cover basic living costs and are typically not time-limited.
Healthcare coverage is broad and funded through social security contributions and taxes, resulting in high levels of public satisfaction. Quality is high. However, past overspending in the healthcare sector has led to concerns about long-term sustainability.
Family support policies provide universal access to affordable childcare. Gender-based labor market segregation is an issue. Pensions are capped, but the system elicits sustainability concerns. Labor market integration for non-EU immigrants continues to be a weakness. Support for a complete halt to immigration is rising, particularly in Flanders.
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Graph View
To what extent do policies and regulations in the education system hinder or facilitate high-quality education and training?
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Education policies are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
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Education policies are largely aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
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Education policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
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Education policies are not at all aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
Almost all educational institutions in Belgium are entirely or primarily state-funded. The funding is managed at the community level (Dutch, French, and German), ensuring steady financial support across business and political cycles. Teachers and professors typically enjoy civil servant status, contributing to job security. The education system is effective in quantitative terms, with Belgium’s educational achievements consistently above the EU average in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. However, qualitative measures, such as the OECD’s PISA scores, indicate a continuous decline in performance. Flanders, initially performing better than the French-speaking education system, is also experiencing a faster decline.
Mainly in the French-speaking community, and to a lesser extent in Flanders, the civil servant status of primary and secondary school teachers results in a mix of highly motivated and underperforming teachers, leading to high absenteeism and underwhelming teaching performance despite substantial financial resources.
Tertiary education is organized in a much more competitive fashion and maintains rather high-powered incentives. However, this is accompanied by chronic underfunding, which results in falling teacher-to-student ratios, overcrowded classrooms. Despite these challenges, Belgium’s universities perform well according to most international indices.
Professionals are invited to engage in lifelong learning, but the tax-and-subsidy system does not sufficiently promote it. As a consequence, according to Eurostat, in 2022, about 10% of the relevant population reported having engaged in lifelong learning over the “last 4 weeks,” which is slightly below the EU average (11.9%), but much below neighboring Netherlands (26.4%), or Denmark (27.9%) and Sweden (36.2%).
While wages and working conditions make it difficult to attract highly skilled educators, Belgium still fares well compared to other EU countries. Since 2019, sustainability has been integrated into the education program from primary school onwards.
Citations:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/w/edn-20230130-1
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/TRNG_LFSE_01__custom_4665066/bookmark/table?lang=en&bookmarkId=d88f7aa3-5cfa-4bfa-a913-3e92a647ee06
Mainly in the French-speaking community, and to a lesser extent in Flanders, the civil servant status of primary and secondary school teachers results in a mix of highly motivated and underperforming teachers, leading to high absenteeism and underwhelming teaching performance despite substantial financial resources.
Tertiary education is organized in a much more competitive fashion and maintains rather high-powered incentives. However, this is accompanied by chronic underfunding, which results in falling teacher-to-student ratios, overcrowded classrooms. Despite these challenges, Belgium’s universities perform well according to most international indices.
Professionals are invited to engage in lifelong learning, but the tax-and-subsidy system does not sufficiently promote it. As a consequence, according to Eurostat, in 2022, about 10% of the relevant population reported having engaged in lifelong learning over the “last 4 weeks,” which is slightly below the EU average (11.9%), but much below neighboring Netherlands (26.4%), or Denmark (27.9%) and Sweden (36.2%).
While wages and working conditions make it difficult to attract highly skilled educators, Belgium still fares well compared to other EU countries. Since 2019, sustainability has been integrated into the education program from primary school onwards.
Citations:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/w/edn-20230130-1
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/TRNG_LFSE_01__custom_4665066/bookmark/table?lang=en&bookmarkId=d88f7aa3-5cfa-4bfa-a913-3e92a647ee06
To what extent does the current policy approach in the education system hinder or facilitate equitable access to high-quality education and training?
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Education policies are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
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Education policies are largely aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
5
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3
4
3
Education policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
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1
1
Education policies are not at all aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
Primary and secondary education are free in Belgium. Access to secondary schools is increasingly randomized to prevent privileged access. Tertiary education is offered at a low fee (less than €1,000 per year), but students receive allowances only under dire financial conditions. According to these “accounting” indicators, Belgium’s education policies are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
In terms of outcomes, the situation is less positive. The OECD’s PISA studies reveal high inequalities in most topics. The spread between high social status and less advantaged families is important: the European Commission’s Semester evaluation (p4) reads “[Belgium] performs very well and is making further progress on all SDGs on productivity [but it] is lagging behind on ensuring that people with a migrant background participate in the labor market and on tackling inequalities in educational outcomes linked to socioeconomic background.” Several hurdles face less favored families: first, the actual quality of education varies substantially across schools, and the knowledge about these is tacit. In other words, one must know how to pick a good school, which requires a good educational background. Second, education is not designed for non-native speakers: the study of languages, in particular, require a lot of parental support, and there is little extra-curricular support. Third, there is little financial support, for measures such as free meals for the poor at school. Fourth, many students end up failing (i.e., repeating) one or more years of schooling, and receive little specific support targeting their improved performance. Professional/technical education is far below the standards achieved in German-speaking countries.
The results of these inequalities in primary and secondary education is most visible at the university level, where all students with a higher secondary education diploma are granted access. Selection takes place in the first year, where fail rates are considerably higher than 50% in most disciplines. Moreover, classroom size can be well above 1,000, implying that external support, for example from private instructors, may be valuable. even if generally not affordable.
The European Commission (2023) identifies these inequalities as an important hurdle to clear in tackling labor shortages.
Citations:
European Commission. 2023. “Commission Staff Working Document. 2023 Country Report – Belgium.” COM(2023)601 Final; SWD(2023)600 final.
In terms of outcomes, the situation is less positive. The OECD’s PISA studies reveal high inequalities in most topics. The spread between high social status and less advantaged families is important: the European Commission’s Semester evaluation (p4) reads “[Belgium] performs very well and is making further progress on all SDGs on productivity [but it] is lagging behind on ensuring that people with a migrant background participate in the labor market and on tackling inequalities in educational outcomes linked to socioeconomic background.” Several hurdles face less favored families: first, the actual quality of education varies substantially across schools, and the knowledge about these is tacit. In other words, one must know how to pick a good school, which requires a good educational background. Second, education is not designed for non-native speakers: the study of languages, in particular, require a lot of parental support, and there is little extra-curricular support. Third, there is little financial support, for measures such as free meals for the poor at school. Fourth, many students end up failing (i.e., repeating) one or more years of schooling, and receive little specific support targeting their improved performance. Professional/technical education is far below the standards achieved in German-speaking countries.
The results of these inequalities in primary and secondary education is most visible at the university level, where all students with a higher secondary education diploma are granted access. Selection takes place in the first year, where fail rates are considerably higher than 50% in most disciplines. Moreover, classroom size can be well above 1,000, implying that external support, for example from private instructors, may be valuable. even if generally not affordable.
The European Commission (2023) identifies these inequalities as an important hurdle to clear in tackling labor shortages.
Citations:
European Commission. 2023. “Commission Staff Working Document. 2023 Country Report – Belgium.” COM(2023)601 Final; SWD(2023)600 final.
Graph View
To what extent do existing institutions ensure equal access to essential services and basic income support for those in need?
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are largely aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are only somewhat aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are not at all aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
Universal access to public goods is ingrained in Belgian culture. Most public goods are offered free or at reduced costs to low-income populations, with significant social transfers in kind (STiKs) for retirees. Electricity providers must offer a “social tariff,” and public transport is highly subsidized for school children and retirees, or even free for the poorest. These generous means-tested STiKs raise concerns about work disincentives (European Commission 2023). Education in Belgium is compulsory and free from the ages of 6 to 18, ensuring that all children have access to primary and secondary education. The government also provides substantial funding for higher education, making it relatively accessible and affordable for all citizens.
Unemployment benefits are not generous in absolute terms, but they do cover minimal living costs. Importantly, they are normally not limited in time, allowing long-term unemployment with continued benefits. Anyone dropping out of the unemployment benefit scheme may apply for social assistance, possibly for medical reasons. That system is also generous, and the number of people on social assistance is now higher than that under the unemployment benefit scheme (De Brouwer and Tojerow 2023a,b; European Commission 2023).
Citations:
De Brouwer, O., E. Leduc, and I. Tojerow. 2023. “The Consequences of Job Search Monitoring for the Long-term Unemployed: Disability Instead of Employment?” Journal of Public Economics 224: 104929.
De Brouwer, O., and Tojerow, I. 2023. “The Growth of Disability Insurance in Belgium: Determinants and Policy Implications.” IZA Discussion Paper No. 16376. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4541358
European Commission. 2023. “Commission Staff Working Document. 2023 Country Report – Belgium.” COM(2023)601 Final; SWD(2023)600 final.
https://www.oecd.org/belgium/health-at-a-glance-Belgium-EN.pdf
https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/belgium-all-news/194970/half-of-french-speaking-belgians-gives-up-necessary-health-care-for-money-reasons
https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/publications/i/belgium-health-system-review-2020
Unemployment benefits are not generous in absolute terms, but they do cover minimal living costs. Importantly, they are normally not limited in time, allowing long-term unemployment with continued benefits. Anyone dropping out of the unemployment benefit scheme may apply for social assistance, possibly for medical reasons. That system is also generous, and the number of people on social assistance is now higher than that under the unemployment benefit scheme (De Brouwer and Tojerow 2023a,b; European Commission 2023).
Citations:
De Brouwer, O., E. Leduc, and I. Tojerow. 2023. “The Consequences of Job Search Monitoring for the Long-term Unemployed: Disability Instead of Employment?” Journal of Public Economics 224: 104929.
De Brouwer, O., and Tojerow, I. 2023. “The Growth of Disability Insurance in Belgium: Determinants and Policy Implications.” IZA Discussion Paper No. 16376. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4541358
European Commission. 2023. “Commission Staff Working Document. 2023 Country Report – Belgium.” COM(2023)601 Final; SWD(2023)600 final.
https://www.oecd.org/belgium/health-at-a-glance-Belgium-EN.pdf
https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/belgium-all-news/194970/half-of-french-speaking-belgians-gives-up-necessary-health-care-for-money-reasons
https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/publications/i/belgium-health-system-review-2020
To what extent do existing institutions and policies ensure high-quality services and basic income support?
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are fully aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are largely aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are only somewhat aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are not at all aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
Belgium features a very high share of public spending in GDP, in good part thanks to a quite high quality of delivery. In terms of public goods and services, it is closer to the Nordic countries than to the United States (which justifies lower provision in the latter country, compared to Belgium). In terms of tax and job policies, it performs much less well. Access to quality housing is not made universally accessible, with tensions that have increased since the repeated migration crises. In addition, there are long waiting lists for social housing and insufficient investment in new construction in this area. However, house prices remain much below the levels in neighboring countries such as the Netherlands and France. De facto, housing accessibility is therefore quite high. In terms of quality, the housing stock is rather old, and energy inefficient.
Graph View
To what extent does current health policy hinder or facilitate health system resilience?
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Health policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
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Health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
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Health policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
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Health policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
Belgium has a world-class healthcare system but was ill-prepared for the COVID-19 crisis. Since then, it has invested in data gathering, centralization, and flu-like symptoms warning systems. However, like most of its neighboring countries, but probably less so than the UK, Belgium suffers from the discouraging working conditions in hospitals and in GP practices, which induces increasing bottlenecks in access to timely medical appointments, interferes with the quality of care (mainly at night when hospitalized) and may lead to substantial cracks in the system in the medium term.
The country has a highly trained and large medical workforce and, according to data from Eurostat and the OECD, it features the second-highest number of GPs and nurses per capita in the OECD and has well-equipped hospitals. Healthcare coverage is broad, and access to quality care is thus substantial.
Containing public deficits has partially been achieved by reducing wages and hospital costs, which may not be viable long-term, especially given the aging population. The “numerus clausus” system limits the number of graduates allowed to practice, leading to underpaid or unpaid long working hours (totaling 70-100 hours per week) for young graduates. This makes medicine and nursing less attractive for the youth.
Belgium boasts advanced flu-like symptoms warning systems, even if it performs less well on several cancer types and expected “healthy life years at birth” is close but below the EU average. Although Belgium was part of the WHO’s influenza preparedness initiative, it did not invest in emergency drills nor had concrete plans ready for the case of an epidemic of COVID proportions. As a result, the 2019 Global Health Security Index for Belgium was very high overall but scored a 0 in “Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning” and in “Risk Communication.” This diagnostic proved painfully relevant during the COVID crisis.
Citations:
Doctors and nurses per capita: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/e/e3/Physicians%2C_by_speciality%2C_2018_Health20.png
https://www.belgiqueenbonnesante.be/fr/hspa/accessibilite-des-soins/disponibilite-du-personnel-soignant#A-6
https://www.belgiqueenbonnesante.be/images/KCE/A6_Pract_nurse_FR.jpg
https://statbel.fgov.be/fr/themes/datalab/personnel-des-soins-de-sante
Hospital beds and equipment: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Healthcare_resource_statistics_-_beds
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Healthcare_resource_statistics_-_technical_resources_and_medical_technology
Budget cuts:
https://www.rtbf.be/article/etude-annuelle-belfius-finances-dans-le-rouge-et-appel-a-laide-des-hopitaux-belges-11287034
https://www.levif.be/actualite/belgique/qui-a-coupe-dans-mes-soins-de-sante-sophie-wilmes-a-t-elle-une-part-de-responsabilite/article-normal-1269381.html
Healthy life years: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Healthy_life_years_statistics
Preparedness:
https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/pandemic-influenza/pandemic-preparedness
https://www.covid19healthsystem.org/countries/belgium/livinghit.aspx?Section=3.1%20Planning%20services&Type=Section
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33143076/
https://www.ghsindex.org/country/belgium/
https://www.revuepolitique.be/le-systeme-de-sante-au-prisme-du-virus/
The country has a highly trained and large medical workforce and, according to data from Eurostat and the OECD, it features the second-highest number of GPs and nurses per capita in the OECD and has well-equipped hospitals. Healthcare coverage is broad, and access to quality care is thus substantial.
Containing public deficits has partially been achieved by reducing wages and hospital costs, which may not be viable long-term, especially given the aging population. The “numerus clausus” system limits the number of graduates allowed to practice, leading to underpaid or unpaid long working hours (totaling 70-100 hours per week) for young graduates. This makes medicine and nursing less attractive for the youth.
Belgium boasts advanced flu-like symptoms warning systems, even if it performs less well on several cancer types and expected “healthy life years at birth” is close but below the EU average. Although Belgium was part of the WHO’s influenza preparedness initiative, it did not invest in emergency drills nor had concrete plans ready for the case of an epidemic of COVID proportions. As a result, the 2019 Global Health Security Index for Belgium was very high overall but scored a 0 in “Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning” and in “Risk Communication.” This diagnostic proved painfully relevant during the COVID crisis.
Citations:
Doctors and nurses per capita: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/e/e3/Physicians%2C_by_speciality%2C_2018_Health20.png
https://www.belgiqueenbonnesante.be/fr/hspa/accessibilite-des-soins/disponibilite-du-personnel-soignant#A-6
https://www.belgiqueenbonnesante.be/images/KCE/A6_Pract_nurse_FR.jpg
https://statbel.fgov.be/fr/themes/datalab/personnel-des-soins-de-sante
Hospital beds and equipment: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Healthcare_resource_statistics_-_beds
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Healthcare_resource_statistics_-_technical_resources_and_medical_technology
Budget cuts:
https://www.rtbf.be/article/etude-annuelle-belfius-finances-dans-le-rouge-et-appel-a-laide-des-hopitaux-belges-11287034
https://www.levif.be/actualite/belgique/qui-a-coupe-dans-mes-soins-de-sante-sophie-wilmes-a-t-elle-une-part-de-responsabilite/article-normal-1269381.html
Healthy life years: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Healthy_life_years_statistics
Preparedness:
https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/pandemic-influenza/pandemic-preparedness
https://www.covid19healthsystem.org/countries/belgium/livinghit.aspx?Section=3.1%20Planning%20services&Type=Section
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33143076/
https://www.ghsindex.org/country/belgium/
https://www.revuepolitique.be/le-systeme-de-sante-au-prisme-du-virus/
To what extent does current health policy hinder or facilitate achieving high-quality healthcare?
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Health policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
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Health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
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Health policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
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Health policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
Trust in Belgium’s healthcare system is very high: “Satisfaction with public services is generally higher than the OECD average. Satisfaction with the healthcare system is particularly high at 90%, significantly higher than the 68% average across OECD countries” (OECD 2023). However, prevention is not Belgium’s strong suit, as highlighted by the GHS evaluation conducted in 2019, just before the COVID crisis. According to OECD data, Belgium spent only 0.3% of its GDP on preventive measures, compared to 0.6% for Sweden, 0.7% for France, and 1% for the Netherlands and Denmark. This low investment reflects in the country’s performance on prevention for several cancer types, with expected “healthy life years at birth” being close to but below the EU average. Belgium performs much better on the most common cancer types. For instance, from age 50, all citizens receive regular invitations for colon cancer tests, and all women receive invitations for breast cancer screenings. These tests are fully covered by social security.
However, such free tests are exceptions. According to the WHO, (2023, February 28) “catastrophic health spending in Belgium is currently among the highest in western Europe, according to a new report launched today by the WHO Regional Office for Europe. However, concrete steps are being taken to address this challenge […]. The numbers from 2020 show that 1 in 20 Belgian households experiences financial hardship due to out-of-pocket payments for healthcare.” To address this, the current federal health minister plans to cap the prices of several medical services and tests starting in 2024, despite facing opposition from hospitals and physicians.
There are campaigns to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce smoking, but these are not the best in class due to their relatively low intensity.
The health minister has also taken measures to improve prevention through enhanced access to psychological and psychiatric support. Additionally, he is promoting integrated care, with preliminary plans to improve coordination between different health providers around the patient. Recent measures have been introduced for specific population groups, such as at-risk mothers and adolescents with eating disorders.
Citations:
OECD 2023. “Government at a Glance 2023: Country Notes - Belgium.” https://www.oecd.org/publication/government-at-a-glance/2023/country-notes/belgium-054f6923/
https://www.ghsindex.org/country/belgium/
WHO. 2023. “Can people afford to pay for healthcare? New evidence on financial protection in Belgium.” https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/28-02-2023-can-people-afford-to-pay-for-health-care–new-evidence-on-financial-protection-in-belgium
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/114-millions-d-euros-pour-un-trajet-de-soins-sp-cialis-pour-les-jeunes-souffrant-de-troubles
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/frank-vandenbroucke-investit-dans-un-meilleur-suivi-des-m-res-vuln-rables-pendant-et-apr-s-la
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/s-curit-tarifaire-meilleure-accessibilit-meilleurs-soins-et-r-mun-rations-correctes-gr-ce-des
However, such free tests are exceptions. According to the WHO, (2023, February 28) “catastrophic health spending in Belgium is currently among the highest in western Europe, according to a new report launched today by the WHO Regional Office for Europe. However, concrete steps are being taken to address this challenge […]. The numbers from 2020 show that 1 in 20 Belgian households experiences financial hardship due to out-of-pocket payments for healthcare.” To address this, the current federal health minister plans to cap the prices of several medical services and tests starting in 2024, despite facing opposition from hospitals and physicians.
There are campaigns to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce smoking, but these are not the best in class due to their relatively low intensity.
The health minister has also taken measures to improve prevention through enhanced access to psychological and psychiatric support. Additionally, he is promoting integrated care, with preliminary plans to improve coordination between different health providers around the patient. Recent measures have been introduced for specific population groups, such as at-risk mothers and adolescents with eating disorders.
Citations:
OECD 2023. “Government at a Glance 2023: Country Notes - Belgium.” https://www.oecd.org/publication/government-at-a-glance/2023/country-notes/belgium-054f6923/
https://www.ghsindex.org/country/belgium/
WHO. 2023. “Can people afford to pay for healthcare? New evidence on financial protection in Belgium.” https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/28-02-2023-can-people-afford-to-pay-for-health-care–new-evidence-on-financial-protection-in-belgium
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/114-millions-d-euros-pour-un-trajet-de-soins-sp-cialis-pour-les-jeunes-souffrant-de-troubles
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/frank-vandenbroucke-investit-dans-un-meilleur-suivi-des-m-res-vuln-rables-pendant-et-apr-s-la
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/s-curit-tarifaire-meilleure-accessibilit-meilleurs-soins-et-r-mun-rations-correctes-gr-ce-des
To what extent does current health policy hinder or facilitate equitable access to high-quality healthcare?
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Health policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
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Health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
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Health policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
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1
Health policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
Belgium has a world-class healthcare system, with a large number of physicians, hospital beds, and equipment. However, these numbers are skewed by past investments, which led to overspending and a deficit. This issue is being addressed by policies that reduce the number of graduates allowed to practice medicine, as well as by cuts to wages and personnel. These budget cuts are likely to weaken the healthcare system in the long term. Importantly, this situation is shared with most other European countries and is not unique to Belgium, which currently performs better than, for instance, the UK. The current health minister is well aware of the problem and has implemented several measures to mitigate the risks. However, these measures alone will likely prove insufficient in the decades ahead.
Healthcare access in Belgium is not fully equal, with an increasing portion of the population postponing treatments for financial reasons, according to the Socialist mutual insurance company. However, this is not as severe a problem as in the United States. Belgium’s healthcare system provides near-universal access to a wide range of medical services, with the poorest benefiting from a “maximum à facturer,” which is a ceiling on total medical out-of-pocket expenses. Coverage includes preventive care (although increasingly difficult to access due to doctor shortages), hospital care (similarly challenging due to financial constraints), and prescription drugs. The system is funded through a combination of social security contributions and taxes, ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality healthcare. Belgians report high satisfaction with their healthcare system, ranking among the best in the OECD (OECD 2023).
Policies have been implemented to reduce the burden of paying medical fees. Starting in 2024, citizens under 24 years old in poverty can visit the doctor without any cost. Generally, citizens do not have to pay the full cost of medication or medical appointments upfront but only a portion not covered by social security. These policies help to achieve equitable access to high-quality healthcare. Yet, a significant proportion of citizens (1 in 20, mainly young males in poor economic situations) cannot afford or decide not to seek medical care due to costs (https://www.lesoir.be/280978/article/2020-02-18/un-belge-sur-20-ne-va-pas-chez-le-medecin).
Citations:
OECD 2023: https://www.oecd.org/publication/government-at-a-glance/2023/country-notes/belgium-054f6923/
https://www.ghsindex.org/country/belgium/
https://www.lesoir.be/280978/article/2020-02-18/un-belge-sur-20-ne-va-pas-chez-le-medecin
WHO. 2023. “Can People Afford to Pay for Healthcare? New Evidence on Financial Protection in Belgium.” https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/28-02-2023-can-people-afford-to-pay-for-health-care–new-evidence-on-financial-protection-in-belgium
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/114-millions-d-euros-pour-un-trajet-de-soins-sp-cialis-pour-les-jeunes-souffrant-de-troubles
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/frank-vandenbroucke-investit-dans-un-meilleur-suivi-des-m-res-vuln-rables-pendant-et-apr-s-la
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/s-curit-tarifaire-meilleure-accessibilit-meilleurs-soins-et-r-mun-rations-correctes-gr-ce-des
Healthcare access in Belgium is not fully equal, with an increasing portion of the population postponing treatments for financial reasons, according to the Socialist mutual insurance company. However, this is not as severe a problem as in the United States. Belgium’s healthcare system provides near-universal access to a wide range of medical services, with the poorest benefiting from a “maximum à facturer,” which is a ceiling on total medical out-of-pocket expenses. Coverage includes preventive care (although increasingly difficult to access due to doctor shortages), hospital care (similarly challenging due to financial constraints), and prescription drugs. The system is funded through a combination of social security contributions and taxes, ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality healthcare. Belgians report high satisfaction with their healthcare system, ranking among the best in the OECD (OECD 2023).
Policies have been implemented to reduce the burden of paying medical fees. Starting in 2024, citizens under 24 years old in poverty can visit the doctor without any cost. Generally, citizens do not have to pay the full cost of medication or medical appointments upfront but only a portion not covered by social security. These policies help to achieve equitable access to high-quality healthcare. Yet, a significant proportion of citizens (1 in 20, mainly young males in poor economic situations) cannot afford or decide not to seek medical care due to costs (https://www.lesoir.be/280978/article/2020-02-18/un-belge-sur-20-ne-va-pas-chez-le-medecin).
Citations:
OECD 2023: https://www.oecd.org/publication/government-at-a-glance/2023/country-notes/belgium-054f6923/
https://www.ghsindex.org/country/belgium/
https://www.lesoir.be/280978/article/2020-02-18/un-belge-sur-20-ne-va-pas-chez-le-medecin
WHO. 2023. “Can People Afford to Pay for Healthcare? New Evidence on Financial Protection in Belgium.” https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/28-02-2023-can-people-afford-to-pay-for-health-care–new-evidence-on-financial-protection-in-belgium
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/114-millions-d-euros-pour-un-trajet-de-soins-sp-cialis-pour-les-jeunes-souffrant-de-troubles
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/frank-vandenbroucke-investit-dans-un-meilleur-suivi-des-m-res-vuln-rables-pendant-et-apr-s-la
https://vandenbroucke.belgium.be/fr/s-curit-tarifaire-meilleure-accessibilit-meilleurs-soins-et-r-mun-rations-correctes-gr-ce-des
Graph View
How committed is the government to ensuring gender equality in all respects?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
Belgium has a strong commitment to gender equality, affirmed in its constitution in 2002 and supported by the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men. While there is no federal strategy for gender equality, the Federal Plan on Gender Mainstreaming promotes equality at both federal and regional levels and is currently in its third edition (2020-2024). Belgium is a global leader in gender quotas, with strict rules for gender parity imposed on political parties (Vandeleeene 2014).
Belgium ranks well in several gender equality indexes, including the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Gender Gap Report, the UN Gender Inequality Index, and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), where it ranks 10th, 10th, and 5th, respectively. The EIGE notes Belgium’s strong performance in the “health” and “money” dimensions but a weaker performance in the “time” dimension.
One issue linked to Belgium’s gender norms is labor market segregation. Women are often overrepresented in “care activities” and are more likely to work part-time. They also spend more time on unpaid activities like childcare and housework. De Rock and Périlleux (2023) found that these norms are more deeply rooted for men. Belgium is taking steps to address these inequalities, such as increasing paternity leave from 15 to 20 days in January 2023, but it still lags behind other European countries in this regard.
Belgium performs well in political gender equality due to gender parity at the ministerial level. However, fewer women achieve long-lasting careers compared to men. The forced resignation of the Secretary of State for Equal Opportunities, Gender, and Diversity, Sarah Schlitz, revived debates about a potential double standard for women in politics. A gender gap also exists in the economic sphere, with women underrepresented in decision-making positions in public and private organizations.
A concern is the lack of data on violence against women, including intimate partner violence and sexual harassment at work. Eurostat is currently collecting data, which should be available from 2024 onwards, providing valuable insights into these critical issues.
Citations:
Institute for the equality of women and men: https://igvm-iefh.belgium.be/en
World Economic Forum. 2023. The Global Gender Gap Report 2023. Geneva: The World Economic Forum Publishing.
UN Gender equality index: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/thematic-composite-indices/gender-inequality-index#/indicies/GII
The European Institute for Gender Equality: https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2023/country/BE
Some statistics by gender at Belgian federal level : apercu_statistique_2023.pdf (belgium.be)
On maternity and paternity benefits in Belgium: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1102&langId=en&intPageId=4415
Press article on the resignation of the Secretary of State for Equal Opportunities: https://www.rtbf.be/article/demission-de-sarah-schlitz-une-prevalence-du-double-standard-en-politique-11189441
Vandeleene, A. 2014. “Gender Quotas and ‘Women-Friendly’ Candidate Selection: Evidence from Belgium.” Representation 50 (3): 337-349.
Belgium ranks well in several gender equality indexes, including the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Gender Gap Report, the UN Gender Inequality Index, and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), where it ranks 10th, 10th, and 5th, respectively. The EIGE notes Belgium’s strong performance in the “health” and “money” dimensions but a weaker performance in the “time” dimension.
One issue linked to Belgium’s gender norms is labor market segregation. Women are often overrepresented in “care activities” and are more likely to work part-time. They also spend more time on unpaid activities like childcare and housework. De Rock and Périlleux (2023) found that these norms are more deeply rooted for men. Belgium is taking steps to address these inequalities, such as increasing paternity leave from 15 to 20 days in January 2023, but it still lags behind other European countries in this regard.
Belgium performs well in political gender equality due to gender parity at the ministerial level. However, fewer women achieve long-lasting careers compared to men. The forced resignation of the Secretary of State for Equal Opportunities, Gender, and Diversity, Sarah Schlitz, revived debates about a potential double standard for women in politics. A gender gap also exists in the economic sphere, with women underrepresented in decision-making positions in public and private organizations.
A concern is the lack of data on violence against women, including intimate partner violence and sexual harassment at work. Eurostat is currently collecting data, which should be available from 2024 onwards, providing valuable insights into these critical issues.
Citations:
Institute for the equality of women and men: https://igvm-iefh.belgium.be/en
World Economic Forum. 2023. The Global Gender Gap Report 2023. Geneva: The World Economic Forum Publishing.
UN Gender equality index: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/thematic-composite-indices/gender-inequality-index#/indicies/GII
The European Institute for Gender Equality: https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2023/country/BE
Some statistics by gender at Belgian federal level : apercu_statistique_2023.pdf (belgium.be)
On maternity and paternity benefits in Belgium: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1102&langId=en&intPageId=4415
Press article on the resignation of the Secretary of State for Equal Opportunities: https://www.rtbf.be/article/demission-de-sarah-schlitz-une-prevalence-du-double-standard-en-politique-11189441
Vandeleene, A. 2014. “Gender Quotas and ‘Women-Friendly’ Candidate Selection: Evidence from Belgium.” Representation 50 (3): 337-349.
Graph View
To what extent does the current family policy approach support or hinder unpaid family care work?
10
9
9
Family policies are fully aligned with the goal of creating the conditions for strong families.
8
7
6
7
6
Family policies are largely aligned with the goal of creating the conditions for strong families.
5
4
3
4
3
Family policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of creating the conditions for strong families.
2
1
1
Family policies are not at all aligned with the goal of creating family-friendly conditions.
Belgium’s family support policies vary based on the individual (mother or co-parent) and their employment status. These policies, which also apply to adoptive parents, focus heavily on women, potentially limiting shared responsibility within households. Maternity leave in Belgium is 15 weeks for employees and the unemployed, including up to 6 weeks of pre-natal leave (with 1 mandatory week) and 9 weeks of compulsory post-natal leave. For the self-employed, it is 12 weeks with only 3 weeks compulsory. This aligns with the WHO Convention No. 183 but falls short of the WHO’s 18-week recommendation. Birth leave (for co-parents) is 20 days, available to both employed and self-employed individuals. Wage replacements are generally over 75% of gross earnings. Belgian parents can take parental leave of four non-transferable months per parent per child until the child’s 12th birthday, but the wage compensation is relatively low, amounting to €978.24 per month, below Belgium’s poverty line. Childcare leave or career breaks also exist as a “Time Credit with motive system,” which requires a valid motive, such as caring for a child younger than 8 years, a disabled child up to 21 years, providing palliative care, or caring for a severely ill relative (Fusulier and Mortelmans 2023).
Belgium provides universal access to affordable, high-quality childcare for children below school age and is one of the few countries to offer free access for children under three (Gromada and Richardson 2021. More than half of the children under three participate in formal childcare, above the EU average but below Denmark. For children over three years old, Belgium has the highest participation in formal childcare or education, with over 98% of all children according to Eurostat data. These results become slightly more nuanced when considering children who spend more than 30 hours in formal childcare or education.
Belgium also provides financial support to families in the form of child benefits. Almost every child living in Belgium is entitled to child benefit, paid monthly. Parents are also entitled to a one-time maternity/adoption allowance for the birth/adoption of a child. The basic amount of child benefit for every child born from 2020 onwards ranges from €164.36 to €181.61 per month, supplemented with additional allowances depending on the situation (EC 2024).
Citations:
WHO international standards on maternity protection: https://www.who.int/data/nutrition/nlis/info/maternity-protection-compliance-with-international-labour-standards
Information on poverty line: https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/households/poverty-and-living-conditions/risk-poverty-or-social-exclusion
Fusulier, B., and D. Mortelmans. 2023. “Belgium Country Note.” In International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2023, eds. S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, A. Koslowski, and P. Moss. Available at: http://www.leavenetwork.org/lp_and_r_reports/
Gromada, A., and Richardson, D. 2021. “Where do rich countries stand on childcare?” UNICEF Office of Research. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/where-do-rich-countries-stand-on-childcare.pdf
Eurostat data on Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration - % over the population of each age group: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_CAINDFORMAL__custom_9142490/default/table?lang=en
European Commission (EC). 2024. Belgium – Family Benefits. https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1102&intPageId=4414&langId=en
Belgium provides universal access to affordable, high-quality childcare for children below school age and is one of the few countries to offer free access for children under three (Gromada and Richardson 2021. More than half of the children under three participate in formal childcare, above the EU average but below Denmark. For children over three years old, Belgium has the highest participation in formal childcare or education, with over 98% of all children according to Eurostat data. These results become slightly more nuanced when considering children who spend more than 30 hours in formal childcare or education.
Belgium also provides financial support to families in the form of child benefits. Almost every child living in Belgium is entitled to child benefit, paid monthly. Parents are also entitled to a one-time maternity/adoption allowance for the birth/adoption of a child. The basic amount of child benefit for every child born from 2020 onwards ranges from €164.36 to €181.61 per month, supplemented with additional allowances depending on the situation (EC 2024).
Citations:
WHO international standards on maternity protection: https://www.who.int/data/nutrition/nlis/info/maternity-protection-compliance-with-international-labour-standards
Information on poverty line: https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/households/poverty-and-living-conditions/risk-poverty-or-social-exclusion
Fusulier, B., and D. Mortelmans. 2023. “Belgium Country Note.” In International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2023, eds. S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, A. Koslowski, and P. Moss. Available at: http://www.leavenetwork.org/lp_and_r_reports/
Gromada, A., and Richardson, D. 2021. “Where do rich countries stand on childcare?” UNICEF Office of Research. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/where-do-rich-countries-stand-on-childcare.pdf
Eurostat data on Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration - % over the population of each age group: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_CAINDFORMAL__custom_9142490/default/table?lang=en
European Commission (EC). 2024. Belgium – Family Benefits. https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1102&intPageId=4414&langId=en
Graph View
To what extent does the current pension policy approach prevent poverty among senior citizens?
10
9
9
Pension policies are fully aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
8
7
6
7
6
Pension policies are largely aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
5
4
3
4
3
Pension policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
2
1
1
Pension policies are not at all aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
The Belgian pension system operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, where current workers’ social security contributions finance the pensions of current retirees, and this system will finance their future pensions. The incumbent government has increased the minimum pension levels to €1,500 per month starting in 2024 to address the risk of poverty among the elderly.
To enhance the sustainability of the Belgian pension system, the legal pension has been capped at a relatively low level of about €2500 per month (as of 2023 values). By 2030, the retirement age will be 67. Despite these measures, evaluations, including those from the European Commission’s European Semester, suggest that existing measures are insufficient, thereby endangering the sustainability of social security in Belgium. According to the Federal Planning Bureau (2020), population aging could burden the government budget by an additional 3% of GDP by 2070.
The EU-SILC database provides detailed data on poverty and social exclusion risks, primarily based on self-assessment questionnaires. Among those aged 65-74, 7.8% of the surveyed population reported experiencing some level of material or social deprivation; this figure drops to 5.2% for those aged 75 and above. Respectively, 5.8% and 3.8% reported financial difficulties in buying clothing, and the figures stand at 3.5% and 2.6% concerning heating, and 2.1% and 1.2% concerning healthcare.
While current pension levels effectively mitigate substantial poverty, the long-term sustainability of the pension system remains fragile.
Citations:
Federal Planning Bureau. 2020. “Economic Policy Committee’s Aging Working Group – Belgium: Country Fiche 2020.” https://www.plan.be/uploaded/documents/202105171033170.AWG_Country_fiche_Belgium_2020_12255_March2021.pdf
European Commission. 2023. “Commission Staff Working Document. 2023 Country Report – Belgium.” COM(2023)601 Final; SWD(2023)600 final.
To enhance the sustainability of the Belgian pension system, the legal pension has been capped at a relatively low level of about €2500 per month (as of 2023 values). By 2030, the retirement age will be 67. Despite these measures, evaluations, including those from the European Commission’s European Semester, suggest that existing measures are insufficient, thereby endangering the sustainability of social security in Belgium. According to the Federal Planning Bureau (2020), population aging could burden the government budget by an additional 3% of GDP by 2070.
The EU-SILC database provides detailed data on poverty and social exclusion risks, primarily based on self-assessment questionnaires. Among those aged 65-74, 7.8% of the surveyed population reported experiencing some level of material or social deprivation; this figure drops to 5.2% for those aged 75 and above. Respectively, 5.8% and 3.8% reported financial difficulties in buying clothing, and the figures stand at 3.5% and 2.6% concerning heating, and 2.1% and 1.2% concerning healthcare.
While current pension levels effectively mitigate substantial poverty, the long-term sustainability of the pension system remains fragile.
Citations:
Federal Planning Bureau. 2020. “Economic Policy Committee’s Aging Working Group – Belgium: Country Fiche 2020.” https://www.plan.be/uploaded/documents/202105171033170.AWG_Country_fiche_Belgium_2020_12255_March2021.pdf
European Commission. 2023. “Commission Staff Working Document. 2023 Country Report – Belgium.” COM(2023)601 Final; SWD(2023)600 final.
To what extent does the current pension policy approach hinder or promote intergenerational equity?
10
9
9
Pension policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
8
7
6
7
6
Pension policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
5
4
3
4
3
Pension policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
2
1
1
Pension policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
The Belgian pension system is organized around three pillars. The first pillar is the legal, publicly funded, pay-as-you-go pension that offers basic coverage, between €1500 and €2380 per month. The second pillar is fully funded and financed by the employer, who invests in private funds. The third pillar is fully funded and financed by the individual, with a tax exemption up to €1270 of savings per year. The universality of the first pillar and the large share of early retirements make it costly: according to Eurostat data, it accounted for 12.6% of GDP in 2021, compared with Germany’s 12.2%, Norway’s 10.3%, and France’s 14.9%
As detailed under the previous indicator, several reforms have been introduced to increase the legal and effective retirement age, cap legal pensions, and tighten accessibility conditions. However, the Belgian pension system is still considered financially fragile and on the verge of being unsustainable by most observers.
Citations:
https://www.sfpd.fgov.be/fr/montant-de-la-pension/calcul/pension-maximale
As detailed under the previous indicator, several reforms have been introduced to increase the legal and effective retirement age, cap legal pensions, and tighten accessibility conditions. However, the Belgian pension system is still considered financially fragile and on the verge of being unsustainable by most observers.
Citations:
https://www.sfpd.fgov.be/fr/montant-de-la-pension/calcul/pension-maximale
Graph View
To what extent does the current policy approach hinder or facilitate the inclusion of migrants into society and the labor market?
10
9
9
Integration policies are fully aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
8
7
6
7
6
Integration policies are largely aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
5
4
3
4
3
Integration policies are only somewhat aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
2
1
1
Integration policies are not at all aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
Belgium has a contradictory attitude toward immigration. On the one hand, it has traditionally been quite welcoming to political refugees. This was evident in its initial reaction to the influx of Syrian and later Ukrainian refugees. The government responded by rapidly creating emergency accommodation centers and redistributing families to different cities and villages to promote integration and avoid the creation of ghettos. However, the situation has deteriorated over the last few decades, particularly in the wake of terrorist attacks on Brussels and throughout Europe. As in many, if not most, EU member states, popular support for a complete halt to immigration has risen significantly. A year after the Ukrainian wave of immigration, Belgium also showed its inconsistency: there were not enough beds available, and insufficient funding for other migrants, which drove the government to relinquish several of its obligations for “single men” searching asylum.
In general, again like in many other countries, the issue of migration is politically divisive. It precipitated the collapse of the previous government (see previous reports) and almost brought down the current government in the summer of 2021. This was following a hunger strike by over 470 undocumented migrants that narrowly avoided turning into a tragedy. An oral agreement was reached, without collective regularization, but considering all cases as admissible. However, after one year, only one in six people who had submitted a file had been regularized (see press article).
This trend toward less openness on migration issues can be partly explained by the strong presence of far-right and extreme-right parties in Flanders, pushing centrist parties to adopt less universalist postures. In fact, the current Flemish government announced shortly after its formation that it was withdrawing from UNIA (formerly the Center for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism), a proposition that was backed up by the parliament later on (see press article).
Though legally recognized as Belgian citizens, second and third-generation immigrants have also become victims of these tensions. The OECD and the European Semester have repeatedly highlighted the poor performance of Belgian schools, based on PISA scores, concerning the educational performance of students with a migrant background. Another weakness lies in the persistent inability to integrate non-EU immigrants into the labor market. In 2022, the employment rate of Belgians and EU immigrants was above 70%, while for immigrants from North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, it was 51.3% and 54.3% respectively (see Statbel website). FPS Employment and Unia (2022) reports that “people of foreign origin are still less likely to be employed, and if they are, it’s often in less durable, lower-quality positions.” According to EU-SILC data, in 2020 the rate of severe material deprivation among foreign-born residents was three times higher than for native-born citizens (8.4 vs. 2.8), which increases to almost four times higher for non-EU-born residents (11.1).
Thus, while Belgium has been a country of immigration and is generally opposed to overt racism and discrimination, its performance in terms of eventual social inclusion and labor market participation is less than optimal.
Citations:
Press article on the hunger strike of undocumented immigrants: https://www.rtbf.be/article/deception-chez-les-sans-papiers-grevistes-de-la-faim-seule-1-personne-sur-6-obtient-la-regularisation-11006537
Press article on the Flemish government withdrawing from UNIA: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/fr/2022/10/27/le-parlement-flamand-approuve-la-creation-de-l-institut-flamand/
Statbel data – Situation on the labor market according to the nationality of origin: https://statbel.fgov.be/en/news/situation-labour-market-according-nationality-origin
FPS Employment and Unia. 2022. Socioeconomic Monitoring 2022: Labour Market and Origin. Brussels: FPS Employment and Unia Publishing.
Eu-silc data – Severe material deprivation rate by group of country of birth (population aged 18 and over): https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_MDDD16__custom_9150158/default/table?lang=en
In general, again like in many other countries, the issue of migration is politically divisive. It precipitated the collapse of the previous government (see previous reports) and almost brought down the current government in the summer of 2021. This was following a hunger strike by over 470 undocumented migrants that narrowly avoided turning into a tragedy. An oral agreement was reached, without collective regularization, but considering all cases as admissible. However, after one year, only one in six people who had submitted a file had been regularized (see press article).
This trend toward less openness on migration issues can be partly explained by the strong presence of far-right and extreme-right parties in Flanders, pushing centrist parties to adopt less universalist postures. In fact, the current Flemish government announced shortly after its formation that it was withdrawing from UNIA (formerly the Center for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism), a proposition that was backed up by the parliament later on (see press article).
Though legally recognized as Belgian citizens, second and third-generation immigrants have also become victims of these tensions. The OECD and the European Semester have repeatedly highlighted the poor performance of Belgian schools, based on PISA scores, concerning the educational performance of students with a migrant background. Another weakness lies in the persistent inability to integrate non-EU immigrants into the labor market. In 2022, the employment rate of Belgians and EU immigrants was above 70%, while for immigrants from North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, it was 51.3% and 54.3% respectively (see Statbel website). FPS Employment and Unia (2022) reports that “people of foreign origin are still less likely to be employed, and if they are, it’s often in less durable, lower-quality positions.” According to EU-SILC data, in 2020 the rate of severe material deprivation among foreign-born residents was three times higher than for native-born citizens (8.4 vs. 2.8), which increases to almost four times higher for non-EU-born residents (11.1).
Thus, while Belgium has been a country of immigration and is generally opposed to overt racism and discrimination, its performance in terms of eventual social inclusion and labor market participation is less than optimal.
Citations:
Press article on the hunger strike of undocumented immigrants: https://www.rtbf.be/article/deception-chez-les-sans-papiers-grevistes-de-la-faim-seule-1-personne-sur-6-obtient-la-regularisation-11006537
Press article on the Flemish government withdrawing from UNIA: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/fr/2022/10/27/le-parlement-flamand-approuve-la-creation-de-l-institut-flamand/
Statbel data – Situation on the labor market according to the nationality of origin: https://statbel.fgov.be/en/news/situation-labour-market-according-nationality-origin
FPS Employment and Unia. 2022. Socioeconomic Monitoring 2022: Labour Market and Origin. Brussels: FPS Employment and Unia Publishing.
Eu-silc data – Severe material deprivation rate by group of country of birth (population aged 18 and over): https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_MDDD16__custom_9150158/default/table?lang=en
Graph View
How committed is the government to helping build the capacity to reduce poverty and provide social protection in low- and middle-income countries?
10
9
9
The government’s development cooperation strategy is fully aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
8
7
6
7
6
The government’s development cooperation strategy is largely aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
5
4
3
4
3
The government’s development cooperation strategy is only somewhat aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building in poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
2
1
1
The government’s development cooperation strategy is not all aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
Belgium is internationally recognized for its commitment to supporting countries in fragile situations and promoting gender equality, with a particular emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights. It advocates for multilateralism in addressing global issues and actively participates in the reform of the United Nations. Belgium’s development cooperation has been modernized, reaffirming its partnership with the private sector and promoting “digital for development” in fragile contexts. However, this has resulted in a proliferation of themes without clear priorities or explanations of how these themes interrelate.
Regarding Official Development Assistance (ODA), the National Centre for Cooperation Development (CNCD), which groups more than 70 NGOs, recently highlighted that Belgium, like most donor countries, is not meeting its commitment to allocate 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) to ODA. Belgium’s development aid increased from 0.44% of GNI in 2021 to 0.45% in 2022, which is less than neighboring countries such as France (0.56%), the Netherlands (0.67%), Germany (0.83%), and Luxembourg (1%). Unlike these countries, Belgium has not included the costs of foreign students and Ukrainian refugees in its aid, except for Flanders. If these costs were included, the rate would have risen to between 0.55% and 0.6%. Moreover, Belgian Cooperation has mobilized additional funding to support Ukraine rather than redirecting ODA budgets as other European countries have done. The current government has agreed to the principle of budgetary growth to reach 0.7% of GNI in public development aid by 2030. However, this budgetary growth could be jeopardized by the upcoming June 2024 elections. In 2020, Belgian cooperation met the international target of allocating at least 0.15% of GNI to the so-called least developed countries. However, the CNCD considers that a proportion of ODA (12% in 2022) is “phantom aid,” that is, amounts counted as development aid according to OECD criteria, even though they do not finance projects in partner countries.
In terms of policy coherence for development (PCD), Belgium ranked 7th worst in the world according to the Spillover Index 2023. This ranking is mainly due to poor results in the following indicators: its imports involve the consumption of scarce water, significant SO2 and CO2 emissions, and threats to biodiversity. Conversely, it exports a large quantity of plastic waste. Finally, through its tax niches, it contributes to the displacement of multinationals’ profits. Despite these challenges, there are some positive aspects of Belgium’s development cooperation activities. Wallonia played a pioneering role alongside Scotland at COP 26 by announcing funding of €1 million to compensate for losses and damages in southern countries. The majority of Belgian aid is untied, meaning it is allocated without obligating the recipient country to use the aid for purchasing Belgian goods or supplies. Belgium was the first member state of the World Health Organization (WHO) to make a significant contribution to the COVID Technology Access Pool, aligning with the broader objective of supporting global equitable access to health products and technologies.
Citations:
operation Peer Reviews, Éditions OCDE, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/026f1aad-en
CNCD-11.11.11. 2023. Rapport 2023 sur la coopération belge au développement. Bruxelles: Office de publication du CNCD. Available at https://www.cncd.be/Rapport-2023-sur-la-cooperation
https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/politique-belge/2023/09/14/tous-nos-pays-voisins-ont-ete-plus-genereux-que-nous-la-belgique-stagne-loin-de-son-objectif-daide-au-developpement-WU4JAJNDDZCXVCTKN5CGTZSKQA
Spillover Index 2023: https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/rankings/spillovers
Press release by WHO on Belgium making a contribution to the COVID Technology Access Pool: https://www.who.int/news/item/16-12-2021-belgium-and-who-sign-new-agreement-to-increase-global-equitable-access-to-essential-health-products-and-technologies
https://www.cncd.be/-cooperation-au-developpement-
Regarding Official Development Assistance (ODA), the National Centre for Cooperation Development (CNCD), which groups more than 70 NGOs, recently highlighted that Belgium, like most donor countries, is not meeting its commitment to allocate 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) to ODA. Belgium’s development aid increased from 0.44% of GNI in 2021 to 0.45% in 2022, which is less than neighboring countries such as France (0.56%), the Netherlands (0.67%), Germany (0.83%), and Luxembourg (1%). Unlike these countries, Belgium has not included the costs of foreign students and Ukrainian refugees in its aid, except for Flanders. If these costs were included, the rate would have risen to between 0.55% and 0.6%. Moreover, Belgian Cooperation has mobilized additional funding to support Ukraine rather than redirecting ODA budgets as other European countries have done. The current government has agreed to the principle of budgetary growth to reach 0.7% of GNI in public development aid by 2030. However, this budgetary growth could be jeopardized by the upcoming June 2024 elections. In 2020, Belgian cooperation met the international target of allocating at least 0.15% of GNI to the so-called least developed countries. However, the CNCD considers that a proportion of ODA (12% in 2022) is “phantom aid,” that is, amounts counted as development aid according to OECD criteria, even though they do not finance projects in partner countries.
In terms of policy coherence for development (PCD), Belgium ranked 7th worst in the world according to the Spillover Index 2023. This ranking is mainly due to poor results in the following indicators: its imports involve the consumption of scarce water, significant SO2 and CO2 emissions, and threats to biodiversity. Conversely, it exports a large quantity of plastic waste. Finally, through its tax niches, it contributes to the displacement of multinationals’ profits. Despite these challenges, there are some positive aspects of Belgium’s development cooperation activities. Wallonia played a pioneering role alongside Scotland at COP 26 by announcing funding of €1 million to compensate for losses and damages in southern countries. The majority of Belgian aid is untied, meaning it is allocated without obligating the recipient country to use the aid for purchasing Belgian goods or supplies. Belgium was the first member state of the World Health Organization (WHO) to make a significant contribution to the COVID Technology Access Pool, aligning with the broader objective of supporting global equitable access to health products and technologies.
Citations:
operation Peer Reviews, Éditions OCDE, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/026f1aad-en
CNCD-11.11.11. 2023. Rapport 2023 sur la coopération belge au développement. Bruxelles: Office de publication du CNCD. Available at https://www.cncd.be/Rapport-2023-sur-la-cooperation
https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/politique-belge/2023/09/14/tous-nos-pays-voisins-ont-ete-plus-genereux-que-nous-la-belgique-stagne-loin-de-son-objectif-daide-au-developpement-WU4JAJNDDZCXVCTKN5CGTZSKQA
Spillover Index 2023: https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/rankings/spillovers
Press release by WHO on Belgium making a contribution to the COVID Technology Access Pool: https://www.who.int/news/item/16-12-2021-belgium-and-who-sign-new-agreement-to-increase-global-equitable-access-to-essential-health-products-and-technologies
https://www.cncd.be/-cooperation-au-developpement-