The Belgian budget has compensated households in the country with at least 4.2 billion euros for the increase in energy prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, local media reported. It is noted that these measures have significantly reduced the number of people threatened with poverty, BTA reported.
In the first year of the war, hundreds of euros were deducted from household electricity and gas bills, and the list of socially vulnerable people subject to additional compensation was doubled. It is specified that the estimates do not include the funds provided to consumers of heating oil.
Meanwhile, in recent days, Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever announced that budget restrictions measures must be supplemented despite numerous protests and strikes in the past year. The government is seeking to save costs of about 10 billion euros over the next three years, while at the same time having to increase defense spending.
Last year, seven national strikes were organized in Belgium, and some of them lasted more than one day. The media previously clarified that one day of strikes causes damage of half a billion euros.