© Sophie Wilmes / Photo : Thomas Daems

Coronavirus: reinforced measures

On Tuesday 17 March, the National Security Council, which has been expanded to include the Ministers-President, decided to take additional measures. On the one hand, these measures are based on the evolution of the spread of Covid-19 in Belgium. On the other hand, they are the result of new conclusions and recommendations of CELEVAL (Evaluation Cell) that were formulated yesterday and this morning. These decisions are again the result of strong cooperation between the levels of competence,…


Government's general policy speech - Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès

Check against delivery.   Mr. President, Dear colleagues,   This morning, the government was sworn in by the King.   It was a solemn and important moment, given the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in. The highly unusual way in which Parliament is now working bears testament to this unusual occasion.   That is why I am standing here before you today, with a clear head and determination.   I am fully committed to the task at hand.   Right now, the world,…


© Sophie Wilmes / Photo : Thomas Daems

Coronavirus: Phase 2 maintained, transition to federal phase and additional measures

As announced on March 10, the evolution of the spread of the coronavirus is assessed every day, as the situation is constantly changing. In light of the most recent developments, the National Security Council met on Thursday 12 March in the presence of and in consultation with the Ministers-President. This meeting of the NSC followed on from the meetings of the expert groups, namely the Risk Assessment Group and the Risk Management Group. The decision was to reinforce the current measures with…


10 measures to support companies and the self-employed impacted by Covid-19

On Friday 6 March, during the Council of Ministers, the Federal Government approved 10 measures to support businesses and the self-employed impacted by Covid-19. The two main aims of these measures are to enable companies affected to grant their employees temporary unemployment in order to safeguard jobs, and to provide for arrangements for spreading, postponing and exempting the payment of contributions, withholding taxes and social and fiscal payments for companies and the self-employed.…