The Walloon Government has definitively adopted the draft decree on the approval and funding of the “Commerce Wallonie” non-profit associations. This reform aims to better concentrate public resources on supporting local shops, strengthen commercial expertise and offer more effective support to retailers.
Retail is a major player in the Walloon economy. Wallonia has 30,359 active shops within the scope of the 2025 LoGIC survey, representing nearly 6.4 million m² of active commercial space. More broadly, almost 225,000 jobs are linked to retail.
But the sector faces major changes. Shifting consumer habits, competition from online retail, rising costs, business transfers and the impact of construction works: retailers face numerous challenges. Wallonia also has 7,248 vacant retail units, nearly one in five.
It is in this context that the Commerce Wallonie reform takes place.
Better targeting support for retailers
Today, Local Development Agencies (ADL) and Town Centre Development Agencies (ADCV) can act within very broad missions that sometimes overlap with those of other structures. The new system aims to clarify roles and strengthen commercial expertise, particularly regarding the attractiveness of shops and the fight against vacant premises.
The future “Commerce Wallonie” non-profit associations will have the main task of strengthening the commercial appeal of local areas. They will be able to support retail revitalisation initiatives, help tackle vacant premises, collect data useful for guiding local policies and develop innovative partnership projects.
The structures will also have to demonstrate the concrete impact of their actions on the commercial vitality of their area, based on objectives and monitoring indicators
“Behind every shop is a self-employed person who invests, takes risks and creates jobs. Our responsibility is to make life easier for them and ensure that public funds dedicated to retail are used as closely as possible to their needs. Commerce Wallonie must allow us to be more effective and closer to the realities experienced by our retailers.”, says Pierre-Yves Jeholet.
Local partners fully involved
The reform further involves local actors in the funding of the future structures. To benefit from regional support, the municipalities concerned will have to contribute at least 30% of the regional subsidy, and private partners at least 10%.
The system will remain accessible to rural areas: municipalities will be able to group together to reach the minimum threshold of 10,000 inhabitants required to set up a “Commerce Wallonie” non-profit association
The reform is carried out at constant budget, by pooling the relevant resources within the new system. It should enable better structuring of public action without increasing the overall envelope devoted to this policy.
A gradual transition until 2030
The new decree will come into force on 1 January 2028. Currently approved structures will retain their approval until 31 December 2029, to allow a gradual transition of missions, teams and funding. The new “Commerce Wallonie” approvals will thus fully take over from 2030.
The decree also provides operators with greater predictability. The decision to grant or renew approval will have to be made at least one year before it takes effect, so that structures can plan their activities and organisation.
This transition period will also allow municipalities to prepare any possible mergers and ensure the continuity of existing projects.
“Our retailers do not expect additional structures from us. They expect solutions, support and lively town centres. That is why we are carrying out this reform: making better use of existing resources and being more effective on the ground.”, concludes Pierre-Yves Jeholet.