To halt the budgetary overshoot and preserve a support scheme, the Government approved, in second and final reading, the reform introducing a temporary renovation grant scheme.
Introducing a temporary renovation grant scheme makes it possible to halt the budgetary overshoot. Under an unchanged scheme, the bill for Wallonia was estimated at €938 million by October 2026. Without intervention and responsibility-taking, a moratorium, meaning no grants at all, seemed inevitable.
In its decision, the Government took note of the Council of State's opinion. The Walloon executive notes that the latter validated the principle of retroactivity, given the undeniable budgetary overshoot.
However, the Council of State raised two reservations about the transitional provision: the requirement to pay a 20% deposit and the 15-day deadline to submit a request to maintain the conditions of the old scheme.
Avoiding a runaway effect
The Government carefully examined these remarks and recalls that its intention was to limit the potential budgetary overshoot and its consequences.
An estimate was carried out to determine the projected budgetary impact of implementing the recommendations of the legislative section of the Council of State. This budgetary impact is estimated at between €159 and €254 million, whereas the savings sought through the temporary scheme are estimated at €290 million by 1 October 2026, when the new overall support scheme comes into force.
Amending the transitional provision to meet the Council of State's recommendations would not achieve the objectives necessary for the mechanism's survival, and would therefore amount to halving the effects of the reform, or almost completely eliminating them.
Putting Wallonia back on track
The Walloon Government is now working on a complete overhaul of the renovation support system in Wallonia, to make it clearer, more sustainable and more efficient.
“Today it is important for me to look to the future and devote our energy to our overall reform, which will take effect on 1 October 2026 and must put Wallonia on track to meet European targets for energy renovation,” says Cécile Neven.
“As Minister-President, my responsibility is to ensure a sustainable future for Wallonia. With this reform, we avoid a budgetary deadlock while maintaining essential support for the people of Wallonia who invest in their homes. Acting today means securing tomorrow's aid,” adds Adrien Dolimont.