As negotiations to form a government in the Brussels Region are dragging on, some 360 non-profit organisations have penned an open letter warning of the looming "social disaster" if a government is not formed by the end of the year.
The organisations expressed concerns over the lack of clarity regarding funding for a significant portion of their activities from 1 January. They called on Brussels authorities to prevent the population from "paying the consequences of their inaction".
Without guarantees by the end of the year regarding these so-called "optional" subsidies, many public service missions will be reduced or halted. This will directly impact jobs, beneficiaries, families and the wealth creation within the Brussels Region, the non-profits warned.
"In the context of increased poverty and multiplying social distress, Brussels must urgently take responsibility and ensure the continuity of the fundamental activities undertaken by the non-profit sector," the signatories of the open letter urged.
Left in limbo
Since 9 June, various organisations and non-profit enterprises funded by subsidies have been caught in the limbo of "endless negotiations" to form the next government. These organisations lament that, besides the employees who depend on this funding, hundreds of thousands of aid and care beneficiaries are left in uncertainty.
If no decision is made now to secure this funding beyond 31 December, a "social disaster" is imminent. The signatories claim that the most vulnerable will be particularly impacted: over 2,000 homeless people currently housed in emergency centres funded by the "Brussels deal" will find themselves without shelter overnight.
Negotiation talks to form a government in Brussels have been trundling on for six months, but are currently at a standstill.
Some progress had been made in recent weeks on the Flemish side, as green party Groen, socialists Vooruit, liberals Open VLD, and right-wing N-VA agreed to work together. However, the announcement of N-VA joining the negotiation table led to socialists PS dropping out of the anticipated Francophone coalition with liberals MR and centrists Les Engagés.
