The full version of the speech can be found here.
Eléonore Simonet at the UNIZO Startevent 2025: “More opportunities, fewer obstacles”
18/09/2025
In brief
At the UNIZO Startevent, the Minister for the Middle Classes championed stronger entrepreneurship with more opportunities and fewer obstacles. She recalled the reforms undertaken: administrative simplification, labour market flexibility, flexi-jobs and tax incentives.
Last Tuesday, Eléonore Simonet, Minister for the Self-Employed, SMEs and the Middle Classes, delivered a highly appreciated speech at the UNIZO Startevent 2025 in Brussels. Before an audience of Dutch-speaking entrepreneurs, she shared her vision for a stronger and more dynamic entrepreneurial climate, as part of the evening's theme “Entrepreneurial strength in new times”.
“This evening is a celebration of the energy, passion and resilience of entrepreneurs. You are the engine of our economy, creating jobs and shaping our society,” said the Minister. She highlighted the Arizona government's ambition to reach an 80% employment rate, relying on SMEs and self-employed workers as pillars of job creation in Belgium.
The Minister outlined her priorities, summarised in her slogan “more opportunities, fewer obstacles”: strengthening business competitiveness, simplifying administrative procedures and improving the social status of the self-employed. “We want to remove obstacles so you can focus on what you do best: entrepreneurship and creating prosperity,” she stressed.
She also highlighted reforms already carried out, such as labour market flexibility, the time-limiting of unemployment benefits, the extension of flexi-jobs and the doubling of the tax credit for the self-employed.
Addressing Bart Buysse, UNIZO's new managing director, Eléonore Simonet reaffirmed her commitment: “This government is your partner. Together, we will build an economy where entrepreneurship is not only made easier, but also rewarded.”