Addressing the Chamber of Representatives, he described the ongoing negotiations as “complex and far-reaching,” emphasising that “what Europe demands of us will be the bare minimum.”
While Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) attended a European summit, Van Peteghem faced scrutiny from MPs regarding the stalled discussions. He noted that the current budgetary efforts are burdened by “an inheritance for which we all share responsibility,” warning that federal interest charges could account for 40 percent of the deficit within a few years.
Van Peteghem reaffirmed that the government’s fiscal objective “is clear and not up for debate,” cautioning that meeting the EU’s expenditure target of 10 billion euros by 2030 would require significant effort. “We must do what is necessary, not what is easy,” he stated, arguing that making difficult decisions now would prevent future erosion of purchasing power and prosperity. Without action, he asserted that Belgium risks becoming “a society where everyone is left to fend for themselves.”
Meanwhile, Development Cooperation Minister Maxime Prévot (Les Engagés) assured parliament that his department would not face further cuts. In response to inquiries from opposition members, he characterised the previously set 25 percent reduction in the coalition agreement as “already painful enough to implement on the ground.”