The Charleroi city council approved an agreement on Monday evening to benefit from the Oxygène funding plan. The agreement requires the city to implement a series of cost-saving measures in the coming months.
Submitted by the Walloon government coalition of MR and Les Engagés, the proposal was formulated as banks’ refusal to grant new loans to the cities of Charleroi, Liège and Mons. To address this, the regional government proposed funding these loans through the Regional Aid Centre for Municipalities (CRAC).
In return, the agreement imposes several conditions on the cities – such as potentially raising taxes, ending various free services, and terminating certain employment statutes.
On Monday night following extensive discussions, Charleroi mayor Thomas Dermine stated that the city had no leeway to amend the agreement. He noted that adopting it was essential for ensuring municipal employees’ salaries in 2025.
The agreement received mixed reactions from the opposition. The MR supported it, suggesting it could eventually restore the banks’ confidence in Charleroi. Conversely, the PTB criticised its stringent conditions.
Dermine emphasised the unfair burden placed on large cities. “In Charleroi, 95% of the municipal deficit is linked to expenses related to other levels of government.”
