The Federal Government will reduce its reliance on external consultants, Budget Minister Vincent Van Peteghem announced in the Finance and Budget Committee of the Chamber on Tuesday.
The use of external consultants by governments is frequently criticised but rarely addressed. The previous government spent €16.5 million on law firms, investment banks, and consultancy firms to assist in negotiations with Engie regarding the extension of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors.
According to the daily newspaper “De Morgen”, the De Croo government has spent €124 million on consultancy services.
“The current operation of the federal authority is overly dependent on external consultants. These consultants are involved at all stages of the political cycle, from policy preparation to implementation and monitoring. From the start of this legislative period, we will begin to reduce our reliance on external consultants,” stated the minister’s note.
The new government also faces the challenge of balancing public finances.
The minister plans to establish an internal team of consultants. A legal framework will be introduced to manage the use of internal and external expertise. For example, it will no longer be permissible to hire consultants for recurring tasks such as maintenance or routine IT missions.
