Implementing decision 2021/681 - Amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1342 granting temporary support to Belgium to mitigate unemployment risks following the COVID-19 outbreak - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 144/24

Further to a request from Belgium on 7 August 2020, on 25 September 2020 the Council granted financial assistance to Belgium in the form of a loan amounting to a maximum of EUR 7 803 380 000 with a maximum average maturity of 15 years, with a view to complementing Belgium’s national efforts to address the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and respond to the socioeconomic consequences of that outbreak for workers and the self-employed.

The loan was to be used by Belgium to finance the short-time work schemes, similar measures and health-related measures referred to in Article 3 of Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1342 (2).

The COVID-19 outbreak continues to immobilise a substantial part of the labour force in Belgium. This has led to a sudden and severe increase in public expenditure in Belgium in respect of a new measure, namely a new support scheme to small enterprises in the Brussels Capital Region, and other existing regional measures, some of them extended, as referred to in Article 3(d), points (i) to (iv), of Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1342.

The COVID-19 outbreak and the extraordinary measures implemented by Belgium in 2020 and 2021 to contain the outbreak and its socioeconomic and health-related impact have had and continue to have a dramatic impact on public finances. According to the Commission’s 2020 autumn forecast, Belgium was expected to have a general government deficit and debt of 11,2 % and 117,7 % of gross domestic product (GDP) respectively by the end of 2020. In 2021, Belgium’s general government deficit and debt are forecast to stand at 7,1 % and 117,8 % of GDP respectively. According to the Commission’s 2021 winter interim forecast, Belgium’s GDP is projected to increase by 3,9 % in 2021.

On 11 March 2021, Belgium requested further financial assistance from the Union of EUR 394 150 000, with a view to continuing to complement its national efforts undertaken in 2020 and 2021 to address the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and respond to the socioeconomic consequences of that outbreak for workers and the self-employed. In particular it concerns the measures set out in recitals (6) and (7).

It concerns a request for support for an extension of existing regional and community income support schemes, referred to in Article 3(d), points (i) to (iv), of Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1342, of the Brussels Capital Region, the Flemish Region and Flemish Community, the Walloon Region and the French Community:

‘Arrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale de pouvoirs spéciaux n° 2020/019 du 23 avril 2020/Bijzondere machtenbesluit van de Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Regering nr. 2020/019 van 23 april 2020 (3)’;

‘Arrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale de pouvoirs spéciaux n° 2020/030 du 28 mai 2020/Bijzondere machtenbesluit nr. 2020/030 van de Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Regering van 28 mei 2020 (4)’, as extended by ‘Arrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale du 15 octobre 2020 relatif à une aide aux...