The MR welcomes the announcement made this afternoon in plenary session by Minister Jan Jambon: the application of the Franco-Belgian amicable agreement of 18 March 2025 is suspended, thereby avoiding immediate and retroactive taxation of public sector workers residing in France.
This turnaround follows the interpellation by MR group leader Benoît Piedboeuf, who had warned the government about the concrete and harsh consequences of the tax agreement concluded in March, which unilaterally changed taxation rules without any transition.
"This is a first victory for the hundreds of public sector cross-border workers, particularly in hospitals, who were suddenly facing taxation in Belgium on their 2024 income. Common sense has prevailed, but we remain vigilant: this moratorium must be formalised and long enough to provide genuine legal certainty", says Benoît Piedboeuf.
The MR recalls that in May 2024, former Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem committed to guaranteeing a transitional period until 31 December 2024, as part of the entry into force of the new bilateral tax treaty. This commitment was reaffirmed several times by the liberals in government.
The MR will continue its thorough work to set clear boundaries on the duration of this moratorium and obtain clear guarantees on the follow-up to this matter. Negotiations with France must lead to a lasting solution that respects the commitments made and the realities on the ground.
"We have already obtained postponements in the past. This suspension is a logical step forward, but the gains now need to be consolidated. The workers concerned must be able to plan their fiscal future without permanent uncertainty", concludes Benoît Piedboeuf.