In the next few days, Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon wants to take measures to support companies during the energy crisis, he said at the consultation between Belgium's various governments and the employers' organisations on Monday evening.
While Jambon had previously stated that he would announce measures during his September declaration (at the end of the month), in a meeting with employers' federation Voka he promised short-term measures to temper companies' heavy energy bills, reports VRT.
"We are going to take measures, they are coming. We have to prepare... so that the money goes to the right places," he said. "We have to consult with employers and employees. It is a matter of days, not months."
In an interview with De Morgen, Voka chair Wouter De Geest stressed that the political decisions made in the coming days and weeks will be "crucial" not only for companies, but for the public at large.
'Very dramatic'
At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said that decisions must be made quickly and with two objectives: "preventing people from losing their jobs unfairly, and making sure we can keep companies afloat in this very difficult period."
At the end of August, Voka managing director Hans Maertens stressed in a press release that the policymakers "must not delay a moment longer" in taking necessary decisions and implementing them. "Our economic fabric is currently vulnerable and must be protected at all costs."
Now, the situation in companies is "very dramatic," according to Frank Beckx of Voka. "We need immediate action from every level."
The European Union must act urgently to bring down gas prices, the Flemish Government must work on support measures for companies and the Federal Government must relax the system of temporary unemployment, he stressed.
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"It is time to act now," Pieter Timmermans of the Federation of Belgian Enterprises (FEB) agreed, adding that he expects a global plan "including measures related to temporary unemployment and measures to reduce energy consumption."
In the meantime, Flemish Economy Minister Jo Brouns has drawn up a framework for measures that the regional government can take.
"We feel the pressure every day," he said, adding that it is too long to wait for Jambon's September declaration at the end of this month. He would like to see decisions "in the coming days, rather than on 26 September."
He is opting for a "two-track approach," increasing the energy efficiency of the companies concerned and compensating part of the increased energy costs through temporary and targeted support measures.
