In line with its promises, the Government of Wallonia continues its structural clean-up of public finances. The aim is to achieve better use of public money through more efficient (re)employment, a more modern administration and a rationalisation of the structures of the Walloon public landscape.
- €100.2 million for employment and training
- €65.2 million for local authorities
- €33.6 million for taxation
- €28.3 million for health, seniors and family
- €18.1 million for the functioning of public entities
- €17.0 million for the economy
- €8.0 million for discretionary subsidies
- The Government is also adopting a forward-looking approach for the coming years, notably by launching think tanks on how to optimise fiscal fairness and the family allowance system in future, as well as on creating support mechanisms for people losing their autonomy.
1. Key principles
The Government of Wallonia wanted to carry out a comprehensive exercise in clean-up, modernisation and simplification covering a broad range of its competences.
The aim is to implement the government agreement and continue what was already started in 2025: sustainably cleaning up public finances while preserving essential missions. These savings are not blind cuts, but the result of refocusing on priorities and making better use of existing resources.
2. Key messages
The same logic applies everywhere: clean up, modernise, simplify, modernise, empower responsibility.
Every sector contributes to the collective effort, but public service missions are protected and the impact on citizens is minimised.
This is a budget of common sense and stability, designed to preserve the essentials today and invest in the future.
The savings aim to ensure the economic viability of the Walloon Region.
The main focuses of the 2026 budget are:
- (re)employment and the reform of hiring aid,
- the rationalisation and modernisation of public authorities,
- greater harmonisation and fiscal fairness.
It is our responsibility to act this way: savings are needed to preserve the Region's essential missions; stabilising the deficit means creating room to reinvest later.
3. Employment and training
Key measures
- Maintaining the hiring aid budget. Simplification and conditionality of schemes to guarantee a real leverage effect. This support will be targeted at those furthest from the labour market:
- Jobseekers registered with Forem for 12 months or more
- Jobseekers registered with Forem for 24 months or more
- Young people (under 25) and seniors (over 57) after 4 months of registration with Forem (maximum qualification: CESS)
- Removal or reduction of APE employment aid: across a wide range of entities
- Review of service vouchers: tackling double subsidisation and reducing the indexation of the regional subsidy
- Pooling and simplification of socio-professional integration actors (Forem, CPAS, ALE, IDESS, CISP, MIRE, etc.) with single points of contact for beneficiaries
4. Local authorities
Key measures
- Recalibration of the role of the provinces: from 2026, provinces will progressively fund emergency services zones up to 100% by 2030 (15% from 2026)
- Simplification and control of the “Marshall Plan” compensation framework: stricter rules and a time limit. Framework reduced to €58 million per year
- Maintaining the freeze on the 1% indexation for local authorities
- Simplification of municipal investment financing: the FERI replaces the FRIC, offering simplification and support
- Specific allocation of €35 million for the 9 cities with over 50,000 inhabitants
- Adaptation of road safety legislation: municipalities will be able to enforce speed controls and collect fines
5. Taxation
Key measures
- Reform of the lorry distance toll: increase from €0.13 to €0.135/km, generating an extra €20 million/year (two-thirds from foreign vehicles)
- Creation of an expert committee to strengthen fiscal fairness and propose improvements
- Simplification of gaming and betting taxes: single rate of 15% (30% for casinos) from 1 July 2026
- Review of the tax on industrial wastewater discharge to fund the transition to sustainable water management
6. Health, seniors, family
Key measures
- Linking family allowances for 18-25 year-olds to an active status (studies, training, integration) from 2027
- Raising the income threshold for single-parent families to €54,867/year
- Reallocation of €10 million to the Solidarity portfolio (homelessness, poverty, single-parent families)
- Refocusing AVIQ's missions on essential activities, elimination of duplication
- Creation of 5,000 childcare places with an extra €10 million
7. Functioning of public entities
Key measures
- Capping the SPW budget at €376 million
- Additional envelope of €14 million for SPW Digital
- Freezing the indexation of the AVIQ management grant for 2026
- Extension of strategic projects benefiting from simplified permitting procedures (energy transition, territorial redevelopment)
8. Economy
Key measures
- Structural savings of €7 million from 2026 at airport level
- Merger of the 4 Walloon ports into a single public entity with centralised governance and territorial committees
- Increase of the dividend paid by Wallonie Entreprendre to €70 million, repayment of €60 million in credit to the Region
9. Subsidies
Key measures
- Introduction of five-year agreements instead of annual subsidies for greater stability
- Reduction of discretionary subsidies by €8 million (after €60 million already secured in 2025)
10. Beyond 2026: forward-looking work
Areas of focus
- Autonomy Guarantee: creation of an expert group led by Minister Coppieters to formulate concrete actions in favour of home care for people losing their autonomy (report within 6 months)
- Family allowances: evaluation of the model introduced in 2019 with recommendations due by 30 September 2026