At the CODECO advisory board meeting held in Belgium, federal and regional ministers took new measures against the possible energy crisis. The advisory board of the country’s federal, regional and community governments, which entered the political life of Belgium with the Covid-19 process, convened for the first time to discuss the energy issue outside of health. The meeting, chaired by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, was attended by the Brussels, Flemish, Walon regions and community prime ministers and authorized ministers on energy. At the meeting, the expectations of the public, whose purchasing power has decreased in the face of rising energy prices and who are waiting for the government to offer a solution, were discussed.
NEW MEASURE DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN
Speaking at the press conference held after the meeting, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, while announcing the new decisions of the advisory board, said, “The VAT amount on energy bills throughout Belgium will remain at 6 percent and there will be no return to 21 percent.”
Expressing that the number of people benefiting from social assistance in the country will be expanded with new decisions and more people will be supported, De Croo said that the minimum tax on fuel will be extended until March 2023.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED
Public buildings are also among the measures taken by the advisory board, chaired by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. Accordingly, the heating level in buildings providing public services will be kept at 19 degrees. According to the ventilation criteria, air conditioners can be fixed at a maximum of 27 degrees. In addition to the lighting in the buildings, the lighting of historical monuments will be kept closed from 19.00 to 06.00.
WE WILL BE SUPPORTED AGAIN
It is also among the measures taken that the application of “reservoir filling support”, which was made in line with a decision taken earlier in order to support families against rising energy prices in Belgium, will be repeated. No information was given about the amount or date of the aid, which was previously 225 Euros per family for a tank filling.
EYES AT EU ENERGY MEETING
While it was stated in the news in the Belgian press that the expectations of the public were not met at the meeting of the advisory board on energy, Prime Minister De Croo stated that the real solution could only be achieved with steps to be taken at the European Union (EU) level. Experts are of the opinion that the decisions on energy supply and prices to be discussed at the EU Energy Ministers Meeting to be held next week will also be decisive for Belgium. De Croo, who demanded that the public reduce their energy use in this process, called for energy companies to facilitate the citizens who have difficulty paying their bills. (UAV)