The Brussels regional government is facing a second year of financial rebuke after the Court of Audit issued a formal disapproval of its 2025 accounts, BRUZZ reported.
The rejection shows the financial watchdog finds the Brussels administration's accounting practices unreliable and lacking in transparency. While the ruling does not trigger immediate mandatory interventions, it pressures the current administration and provides the opposition with political ammunition.
The core of the audit’s criticism centers on the accounts of the autonomous administrations within the Brussels government and the Brussels Regional Housing Company (BGHM), both of which received a formal disapproval. Other entities saw varying degrees of scrutiny: seven institutions received a qualified opinion, while four were approved without reservation. The Court could not formulate an opinion for the Brussels Fire Department (DBDMH) and the Housing Fund (WFBHG).
Brussels debt grows as deficits exceed 1 miljard euro
The financial health of the region remains precarious, characterized by a widening gap between income and expenditure. In 2025, the net balance to be financed by the region resulted in a deficit exceeding 1 miljard euro. Although this deficit was 527 miljoen euro smaller than previous estimates, the underlying debt trajectory is steep.
By the end of 2025, the gross debt of the Brussels Region reached 17,7 miljard euro. This represents an 85.1 percent increase during the five-year period between 2021 and 2025. Because total expenditures represented 115.6 percent of total receipts, the debt ratio climbed to 270.6 percent.
A review of spending patterns shows a recent shift in momentum. Between 2021 and 2024, annual expenditures grew by an average of 4.6 percent, but these costs saw a slight deceleration in 2025, decreasing by 2.2 percent. Meanwhile, revenues grew at an average annual rate of 5.6 percent, yet these gains remained insufficient to cover the region’s total outlays.
| Financial Metric (2025) | Value / Percentage |
|---|---|
| Net Financing Deficit | Over 1 miljard euro |
| Gross Regional Debt | 17,7 miljard euro |
| Debt Ratio | 270.6% |
| Expenditure vs. Revenue | 115.6% |
Court of Audit identifies missing documentation and oversight failures
The Court of Audit highlighted specific instances where documentation was absent or oversight was insufficient. For the Common Community Commission (GGC), the Court issued a qualified opinion, noting that it still hasn’t received the accounts for the 2020-2025 period for the non-profits Bruss’Help and New Samusocial.
Further complicating the oversight process, the Court identified serious shortcomings regarding budgetary reallocations. For 37 specific budget redistributions in 2025, the Court was unable to verify whether the necessary official approvals had been granted. This lack of documentation prevents a full assessment of whether expenditures were legally authorized.
Gilles Verstraeten, a Brussels parlementslid representing the N-VA, characterized the situation as a failure of governance. “De Brusselse boekhouding blijft een puinhoop”, Verstraeten said, adding that the administration is failing to prepare its books according to legal requirements. He described the second year of disapproval as a “regelrechte blamage voor minister van Begroting Dirk De Smedt”.
The road to 2026 improvements
Brussels minister of Financiën en Begroting Dirk De Smedt (Anders) has previously acknowledged the need for reform. Following the disapproval of the 2024 accounts last year, De Smedt pledged to implement measures such as the creation of a permanent audit unit within Financiën en Begroting.
Despite these promises, the Minister cautioned that it is too early to expect an unqualified approval for the 2025 accounts. However, he stated that for the upcoming 2026 accounts, the objective must be a “significante en aantoonbare verbetering” and, if possible, an approval without reservations.
The opposition remains skeptical of these administrative promises. Verstraeten argued that while the debt mountain grows by billions, there is no evidence of a credible recovery plan. The N-VA-fractie has indicated it will formally question minister De Smedt in the Brussels parlement regarding the administration’s inability to provide required documentation.
The regional debt has seen a massive surge since 2021, reflecting a period of intense fiscal expansion that the current administration is now struggling to reconcile with strict auditing standards.
