Tax reform among Michel government's 25 priorities for next year

Fighting tax evasion and reforming social security and corporate tax and among 25 priorities for next year unveiled by Belgian prime minister Charles Michel during a federal government meeting at Val-Duchesse on Saturday.

"We are doing everything to prepare our country for the major challenges of the future," Michel said. Over the course of the meeting, he and members of his government assessed the changes the have implemented since taking control in October 2014, and identified the country’s prospects for the future.

Of the 25 priorities is the modernisation of the labour market, the reform of a 1996 law on wage structure, the reform of corporate tax, the implementation of a plan to fight tax evasion, the reform of the financing of social security, a 2030 energy-climate project, the implementation of a new penal code, a 2017 transport plan, the strengthening of the return policy with emphasis on the repatriation of criminals, and the campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council 2019-2020.

Some 243 bills have been passed by the government in two years, purchasing power is increasing, jobs are available and employment is rising, according to Michel. "We are determined to act in a credible and strong way. The first results are there but we know we have challenges," asserted the prime minister.

However, the meeting was criticised by members of the Socialist Party, with Flemish politician John Crombez commenting: "Running a country means more than putting on a show." The Green Party were also reported to have denounced the meeting as an unnecessary good news show.

The Socialist Party’s recently released review of the Michel government concludes that times are "very hard for citizens". The review makes reference to the increase of the retirement age to 67, increased job insecurity, income reduction of part-time workers, increases in the cost of consulting health specialists, restricting access to justice, and weakening of public services.

According to the latest figures, the Michel government needs to find €2.4bn to keep the federal budget on track.