Press Release
February 24th, 2024
Key Takeaways from the Informal Ecofin Meeting in Ghent
EU Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors gathered in Ghent on the 23rd and 24th of February to tackle the EU competitiveness challenge. Dr. Mario Draghi and EIB President Calviño were invited to share their insights. Across three thematic sessions, discussions aimed at identifying possible financing mechanisms to bolster both internal EU competitiveness, as well as the Union’s global competitive position. Ministers stressed the importance of avoiding subsidy…
Press Release
February 10th, 2024
Agreement on new European budgetary rules
The Council and European Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional political agreement on the proposed reform of the EU’s economic governance framework. The main objective of the reform is to ensure sound and sustainable public finances, while promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in all member states through reforms and investment.
Press Release
January 17th, 2024
Customs intercepts 116 tonnes of cocaine in Antwerp port
Belgian customs seized another record amount of cocaine in the port of Antwerp in 2023, with 116 tonnes. 5 tonnes of cocaine were also seized at the port of Zeebrugge, part of Port of Antwerp-Bruges. This was announced today by Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem at the port of Flushing in the Netherlands, together with his Dutch colleague State Secretary Aukje De Vries. In Flushing, the close cooperation between the two countries in the fight against international drug trafficking was once…
Press Release
September 4th, 2023
Belgians collectively subscribe for 21.896 billion euros to the one-year state bond
Belgian households and singles found plenty of ways towards subscribing to the one-year state bond last week. That subscription period ran from Thursday 24 August 2023 to Friday 1 September 2023. This is what Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem announces at the instigation of the Belgian Debt Agency.234,310 people subscribed directly through the Ledger of the Belgian Debt Agency, accounting for 7.093 billion euros. The average amount of subscription to a state bond at the Agency thus…
Press Release
July 13th, 2023
Belgium contributes €6 million to the trust fund for Ukraine by the EIB
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the ministers of 16 EU countries today signed expressions of intent for the EIB for Ukraine Fund in support of Ukraine’s agenda for recovery and reconstruction. Announced in spring 2023 as a part of a larger EU for Ukraine initiative, the EIB’s EU4U Fund will help rapidly scale up support for Ukraine’s most urgent infrastructure needs and sustain the economy. Belgium pledges €6 million in support of the fund.
Press Release
June 16th, 2023
Minister Van Peteghem appointed as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank
Minister Van Peteghem will be appointed as the new chairman of the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The chairmanship is appointed in a rotating system between member states, each for the period of one year. As chairman, Minister Van Peteghem will coordinate the work of the Board of Governors and chair the annual meeting. In doing so, he will focus on the EIB's crucial role in Ukraine's economic challenges and reconstruction.
Press Release
January 10th, 2023
Belgium and the Netherlands jointly intercept 160 tonnes of cocaine through thorough cooperation and information exchange
Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem and Dutch State Secretary for Benefits and Customs Aukje de Vries presented the results of drug seizures for the year 2022 in the international ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam at a joint press conference. Both customs services combined seized 160 tonnes of cocaine in 2022.
Speech
May 23rd, 2022
OECD/G20 Two pillar solution: current situation and next steps from German and Belgian perspectives
It’s my pleasure to host you here at this Symposium. I also would like to thank everyone for participating, digitally or physically. Special thanks go to our respective administrations for their preparation of this event. I am very happy to see that the event today has brought together private sector, public sector, as well as the academic sector in order to discuss and contemplate upon the topic at hand.
News item
April 7th, 2021
Belgium joins The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action
In the context of continuing efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, momentum is growing for action on climate change. Therefore, Belgium recently joined the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.
Press Release
February 3rd, 2021
It becomes more fiscally advantageous to donate products than to throw them away
The coronavirus crisis has greatly increased the pressure on food banks. We need to encourage companies and businesses to donate to charitable organisations goods that are vital but not saleable. That is why we are making it more fiscally advantageous to donate than to throw away.