The start of a month in Belgium has become synonymous with new rules and changing measures. While some will come into effect from today, others will be implemented (or removed) later in the month. Find the most important novelties below.
Bang for your buck
Belgian banking group Beobank is changing the interest rates on two of its savings accounts by adjusting the shares of the base rate – earned by savers on all of their savings throughout the year – and the loyalty rate or the fidelity premium, which savers only earn on funds left in their account for at least one year.
From 1 August, the annual base rate for the Save Plus savings account, designed for large, longer-term projects, will drop from 0.40% to 0.30%. The fidelity premium will increase from 1.70% to 2% for amounts over €50,000, and from 0.80% to 0.90% for amounts under €50,000.
This change contradicts a system change requested by consumer protection service Test Achats, which repeatedly argued that the loyalty rate should be dropped, as its existence means that many savers won't earn the advertised total rate on their savings.
Credit: Belga/ Hatim Kaghat
However, the bank is changing the interest rates on its Classique savings account in the opposite direction. The base rate will increase from 0.45% to 0.75% while the fidelity premium dropped to 0.25% (compared with 0.55% previously). The overall rate remains at 1%, but people who save in the shorter term will lose less money.
Disney clampdown
Meanwhile, streaming platform Disney+ is following in the footsteps of Netflix and is putting an end to the era of allowing people to share their account passwords outside their own households.
Belgian users received an email with updated subscription terms at the end of July, and the new conditions will go into effect 30 days after receiving the email. It is not clear whether it is possible to pay to add a person outside the household, as is possible with Netflix.
Cancer care
From Thursday, only treatments and surgeries carried out in one of the 150 approved breast cancer clinics will be eligible for reimbursement to ensure the provision of consistently high-quality care. The move follows a study highlighting a 30% increased risk of death from breast cancer for women treated in unaccredited clinics. Unapproved hospitals can no longer access breast cancer surgical funding, and will be unable to charge for treatments in non-accredited breast clinics,
Other changes have been made recently to improve the lives of patients. Since July, a cancer patient who suffered hair loss from cancer treatment can receive up to €120 back from the health insurance fund for the purchase of accessories that cover their head – ranging from a wig to a scarf or different headgear.
Green transition
From mid-August, the Brussels-Capital Region is putting a brake on new 'Renolution' premiums, which allows residents to recover part of the cost of the renovation and energy-saving works after they are carried out.
This means that, in two weeks, no new dossiers will be accepted. The regional government explained that the measure was the result of high demand, which rapidly depleted the budget. It is waiting for the next government to find out whether the premium can be applied for again next year. For this same reason, Brussels residents who pre-financed renovations and energy-saving works will now have to wait until at least January 2025 to recover part of the cost.
The first two-directional charging station in Flanders. Credit: Belga/ Kathleen Vastiau
Meanwhile, the deadline to apply for another measure is approaching. Until the end of August, both owners and tenants who install a charging station for electric cars at their homes can enjoy a temporary tax break for the expenses they pay for it. The measure was implemented by outgoing Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V) in 2022 to stimulate the purchase of electric cars.
Both owners and tenants can deduct 15% per charging station for tax purposes (the amount for which a tax credit can be granted and on which it is calculated is limited to €1,800). For a bi-directional charging station, which sees power flow from the charging station to the electric car, but also vice versa – the ceiling is €8,000, on which people can enjoy a tax reduction of 15%, bringing the maximum tax benefit to €262.50. The tax break can be applied for in the tax return form for the 2024 financial year.
There are some conditions attached to the tax benefit: the person must choose an intelligent charging station – the charging time and power is controlled by an energy management system – that supplies green electricity. The charging station must also be placed "in or in the immediate vicinity" of the applicant's tax residence.
ETA for Israel
From 1 August, all Belgian travellers going to Israel for stays of up to 90 days must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), comparable to the system used in the United States (Electronic System for Travel Authorization or ESTA).
Any person travelling from visa-exempt countries to Israel must make the application for the ETA via the Population and Immigration Authority's website before the start of the trip. The ETA remains valid for two years and costs 25 Nis (equivalent to €6). Only people whose applications have been approved are eligible to travel to Israel.
Belgium's Foreign Affairs Ministry recently re-iterated that all travel to Israel and the surrounding region is currently strongly advised against due to the war in the Gaza Strip, the unstable situation on the West Bank, and the tensions between Israel, Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah. Still, several flights depart from Belgium to Israel every week, and the service remains popular.
