EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 23.6.2021
COM(2021) 349 final
2021/0169(NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION
on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Belgium
{SWD(2021) 172 final}
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Document 52021PC0349
Proposal for a COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Belgium
Proposal for a COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Belgium
Proposal for a COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Belgium
COM/2021/349 final
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2021/0169 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION
on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Belgium
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility 1 and in particular Article 20 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)The COVID-19 outbreak has had a disruptive impact on the economy of Belgium. In 2019, the gross domestic product per capita (GDP per capita) of Belgium was 133% of the Union average. According to the Commission’s spring 2021 forecast, the real GDP of Belgium declined by 6,3% in 2020 and is expected to decline by 2,0% cumulatively in 2020 and 2021. Longer-standing aspects with an impact on medium-term economic performance include in particular the high public debt ratio, a relatively high tax burden on labour, comparatively high structural unemployment and inactivity rates, and a business environment which is not always conducive to entrepreneurship.
(2)On 9 July 2019 and on 20 July 2020, the Council addressed recommendations to Belgium in the context of the European Semester. In particular, the Council recommended to take all necessary measures to effectively address the pandemic, sustain the economy and support the ensuing recovery, and when economic conditions allow, pursue fiscal policies aimed at achieving prudent medium-term fiscal positions and ensuring debt sustainability, while enhancing investment. Also in relation to public finances, the Council recommended to continue reforms to ensure the fiscal sustainability of the long-term care and pension systems, including by limiting early exit possibilities from the labour market, improve the composition and efficiency of public spending, in particular through spending reviews, and the coordination of fiscal policies by all levels of government to create room for public investment. In addition, the Council recommended Belgium to reinforce the overall resilience of the health system and ensure the supply of critical medical products, and to mitigate the employment and social impact of the crisis, notably by promoting effective active labour market measures and fostering skills development. In addition, the Council recommended Belgium to ensure effective implementation of the measures to provide liquidity to assist SMEs and the self-employed as well as to improve the business environment, including by reducing the regulatory and administrative burden to incentivise entrepreneurship and remove barriers to competition in services, particularly telecommunication, retail and professional services. With respect to investment, the Council recommended to front-load mature public investment projects and promote private investment to foster the economic recovery and to focus investment on the green and digital transition, in particular on infrastructure for sustainable transport, including upgrading rail infrastructure, clean and efficient production and use of energy, the circular economy, digitalisation and digital infrastructure, such as 5G and Gigabit Networks, and research and innovation. In the area of transport, the Council furthermore recommended Belgium to tackle the growing mobility challenges, by reinforcing incentives and removing barriers to increase the supply and demand of collective and low emission transport. Finally, in the area of employment and education and training, the Council recommended Belgium to remove disincentives to work and strengthen the effectiveness of active labour market policies, in particular for the low-skilled, older workers and people with a migrant background, improve the performance and inclusiveness of the education and training systems and address skills mismatches. Having assessed progress in the implementation of these country-specific recommendations at the time of submission of the recovery and resilience plan, the Commission finds that substantial progress has been achieved with respect to the specific recommendation on taking all necessary measures, in line with the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact, to effectively address the pandemic, sustaining the economy and supporting the ensuing recovery.
(3)[The Council recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area recommended euro area Member States to take action, including through their recovery and resilience plans, to, inter alia, ensure a policy stance which supports the recovery and to further improve convergence, resilience and sustainable and inclusive growth. The Council recommendation also recommended to strengthen national institutional frameworks, to ensure macro-financial stability and to complete EMU and strengthen the international role of the euro.] [If the Council recommendation is not adopted by the time of the CID adoption, please remove the recital]
(4)On 30 April 2021, Belgium submitted its national recovery and resilience plan to the Commission, in accordance with Article 18(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. That submission followed a consultation process, conducted in accordance with the national legal framework, of local and regional authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders. The national ownership of the recovery and resilience plans is underpinning their successful implementation and lasting impact at national level and credibility at European level. Pursuant to Article 19 of that Regulation, the Commission has assessed the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and coherence of the recovery and resilience plan, in accordance with the assessment guidelines of Annex V to that Regulation.
(5)The recovery and resilience plans should pursue the general objectives of the Recovery and Resilience Facility established by Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and of the EU Recovery Instrument set up by Council Regulation (EU) 2020/2094 in order to support the recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. They should promote the Union´s economic, social and territorial cohesion by contributing to the six pillars referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241.
(6)The implementation of the Member States’ recovery and resilience plans will constitute a coordinated effort of investment and reforms across the Union. Through the coordinated and simultaneous implementation of these reforms and investments and the implementation of cross-border projects, these reforms and investments will mutually reinforce each other and generate positive spillovers across the whole Union. Therefore, about one third of the impact of the Facility on Member States’ growth and job creation will come from spillovers from other Member States.
Balanced response contributing to the six pillars
(7)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (a) and section 2.1 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan represents to a large extent (Rating A) a comprehensive and adequately balanced response to the economic and social situation, thereby contributing appropriately to all six pillars referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, taking into account the specific challenges and the financial allocation of the Member State concerned.
(8)The plan includes measures that contribute towards all of the six pillars, with a significant number of components of the plan addressing multiple pillars. Such an approach contributes to ensuring that each pillar is comprehensively addressed in a coherent manner. Furthermore, given the specific challenges of Belgium, the particular focus on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, along with the overall weighting across pillars, is considered adequately balanced.
(9)The plan envisages taking a broad range of climate related measures, with more than half of the components contributing to the green transition. Such measures include increasing the energy-efficiency of buildings, new emerging technologies, adaptation to climate change and sustainable transport infrastructure, representing significant opportunities to help reach the 2030 energy and climate targets. The plan addresses the digital challenges in multiple areas, with close to two thirds of the components contributing to addressing such challenges. Reforms, both at the federal and regional level, aim to remove regulatory bottlenecks to the deployment of 5G and ultra-fast connectivity infrastructure, such as fibre. Investments contained in the Belgian recovery and resilience plan focus on the digitalisation of the public administration, as well as of the justice system, and on the improvement of digital skills. Substantial efficiency gains and quality improvements of the processes concerned are to be expected from those investments.
(10)The plan extensively covers the third pillar of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, with nearly all components directly contributing. The plan should have a positive impact on public and private investment, by investing notably in transport and digital infrastructure, social housing, energy-efficient building renovation, and research and innovation. By contributing to a greener and digital economy, the plan supports sustainable growth and economic resilience. The sizeable investment in digitalisation of the public administration and of the judicial system should contribute to a business-friendly environment and thereby support the economic recovery. Moreover, the plan helps to address skills mismatches by strengthening education and training systems. The focus on improving digital skills and fostering access to the labour market for vulnerable groups should have a positive impact on employment and contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Addressing all or a significant subset of challenges identified in country-specific recommendations
(11)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (b) and section 2.2 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan is expected to contribute to effectively addressing (Rating A) all or a significant subset of challenges identified in the relevant country-specific recommendations, including fiscal aspects thereof addressed to the Member State concerned or challenges identified in other relevant documents officially adopted by the Commission in the context of the European Semester.
(12)The recommendations related to the immediate fiscal policy response to the pandemic can be considered as falling outside the scope of Belgium’s plan, notwithstanding the fact that the Member State has generally responded adequately and sufficiently to the immediate need to support the economy through fiscal means in 2020 and 2021, in line with the provisions of the General Escape Clause. Moreover, the recommendation to make sufficient progress towards the medium-term budgetary objective in 2020 is no longer relevant, due both to the lapsing of the corresponding budgetary period and the activation in March 2020 of the General Escape Clause of the Stability and Growth Pact in the context of the pandemic crisis.
(13)The plan includes an extensive set of mutually reinforcing reforms and investments that contribute to effectively addressing all or a significant subset of the economic and social challenges outlined in the country-specific recommendations addressed to Belgium in 2019 and in 2020 in the context of the European Semester, notably those in the areas of quality and sustainability of public finances, pension, labour market as well as education and skills policies, R&D and innovation, the green and digital transition and the business environment.
(14)The plan includes relevant fiscal-structural reforms that are expected to improve the quality and sustainability of public finances. Such reforms include the systematic integration of spending reviews in the budgetary planning cycles of all government levels to improve quality and efficiency of public spending. Moreover, a pension reform aims at improving the financial and social sustainability of the pension system, against the background of increasing public pension expenditure.
(15)The plan also includes reforms and investments that address long-lasting labour market challenges. These include measures to promote more effective active labour market policies, to improve the labour market performance and to tackle discrimination on the labour market. The plan also includes investments to strengthen social and labour market integration of most vulnerable groups, including people with a migrant background, women, people with disabilities, prisoners and people at risk of digital exclusion. Moreover, investments and reforms included in the plan aim at improving the performance of education systems and reducing skills shortages through training and activation in view of addressing current and future needs of the labour market, with a particular focus on digital skills.
(16)The plan significantly contributes to addressing the green transition challenge. It includes large-scale public investment into energy-efficient renovation of buildings, including social housing as well as support for private investment in energy-efficiency through subsidies. Investments also focus on clean and efficient production and use of energy, mainly by industrial sectors, covering process electrification, green and low carbon hydrogen as raw material and energy carrier, capture and storage of CO2 with investment in CO2 and hydrogen (H2) transport and pre-industrial research for industrial applications using H2 and CO2, renewable heat networks, as well as infrastructure aimed at facilitating the connection of offshore wind to the grid. The plan contributes to accelerating the greening of transport by investment in cycling and walking infrastructure, as well as public transport services, such as green buses, tram and light metro infrastructure, and more efficient and accessible rail transport, including infrastructure works to support the modal shift from road towards inland waterways and rail. The plan also includes a reform of the company car tax scheme, geared towards the electrification of road transport, complemented by measures to accelerate the roll out of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across Belgium and supporting the deployment of cleaner, mainly electric bus fleets, as well as by an upgraded mobility budget to support the modal shift.
(17)The plan also significantly contributes to addressing the digital transition challenge. It includes measures to improve digital connectivity throughout Belgium by further investing in the development of very high speed optic fibre networks, and also to enable the 5G deployment and connectivity. The plan includes significant investments and reforms aiming at digitalising the public administration, including the justice system, to improve the efficiency of its internal processes and of its interactions with citizens and businesses, notably through the Single Digital Gateway and investment in the digitalisation of the social security system. Digital-related measures in the plan also aim at contributing to addressing the challenges of reducing the regulatory and administrative burden, removing barriers to competition and improving the business environment.
(18)Significant investments are introduced to boost research and innovation, notably via the implementation of more efficient production processes based on emerging energy technologies, the development of alternative production processes in nuclear medicine for cancer treatment, and measures to strengthen the cyber capabilities of small and medium enterprises and to combat cyber criminality. The plan also includes measures aiming at promoting a circular economy and better resource management by setting up new recycling infrastructure to close missing parts in different value chains, and by developing alternatives to the use of harmful chemicals, and to innovation partnerships.
Contribution to growth potential, job creation and economic, social and institutional resilience
(19)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (c) and section 2.3 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan is expected to have a high impact (Rating A) on strengthening the growth potential, job creation, and economic, social and institutional resilience of the Member State, contributing to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including through the promotion of policies for children and youth, and on mitigating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis, thereby enhancing the economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence within the Union.
(20)Simulations by the Commission services show that the plan has the potential to increase the GDP of Belgium by between 0,5% and 0,9% by 2026 2 . The Belgian recovery and resilience plan includes a large package of investments and reforms, which are expected to address the country’s vulnerabilities to shocks and to bolster its economic, institutional and social resilience. Reforms that aim at increasing the quality of public spending and removing barriers to a higher labour market participation combined with sizeable investments in building renovation, sustainable mobility, digitalisation, training and up-skilling, research, development and innovation address the challenges identified in those areas and are expected to boost the country’s competitiveness and productivity while paving the way to the green transition and the digital transformation of the economy.
(21)Reforms and investments in energy-efficient building renovation, in training and up-skilling, in sustainable mobility, in the digitalisation of public services including the justice system are expected to provide the main contributions to both growth and employment. Other main areas of intervention include cybersecurity and 5G, circular economy, decarbonisation of industry including a focus on emerging energy technologies such as clean hydrogen production and use, future-proof economic sectors such as nuclear medicine, healthcare, culture, and water management.
(22)The recovery and resilience plan includes measures aiming at addressing relevant employment and social challenges, identified in country-specific recommendations and monitored through the Social Scoreboard. These measures have the potential to contribute to implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights. Specific actions are foreseen to help support labour market integration, in particular for vulnerable groups. This should be achieved through changes to the responsibilities and functioning of the regional public employment services, their modernisation and the provision of more personalised support to vulnerable jobseekers. The plan includes reforms to tackle discrimination on the labour market, which is in particular relevant to deal with the low employment rate of people with a migrant background. Reforms of the energy subsidy schemes are expected to help alleviate energy poverty, even if an overall strategy to address the issue is not presented in the plan. The plan includes also investments in social infrastructure, including in the renovation and construction of social housing and childcare facilities. Those investments also contribute to social cohesion.
(23)To foster access to the labour market and address skills mismatches, the plan aims to modernise the education and training systems, mainly by investments in equipment and infrastructure. Reforms and investments focus on extending and making the training offer and incentives more transparent, including by establishing individual learning accounts, and investing in education and training infrastructure. In addition, some of the measures are intended to strengthen digital inclusion for vulnerable groups by combining the provision of digital equipment with training in digital skills.
Do no significant harm
(24)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (d) and section 2.4 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan is expected to ensure that no measure for the implementation of reforms and investments projects included in the recovery and resilience plan does significant harm to environmental objectives (Rating A) within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 (the principle of ‘do no significant harm’).
(25)The measures in Belgium’s recovery and resilience plan have been assessed against the principle of ‘do no significant harm’. Belgium provided justifications in accordance with the ‘do no significant harm’ technical guidance of the European Commission (2021/C 58/01). Where the analysis identified a potential risk, a more detailed assessment was performed in which the absence of expected significant harm was verified or appropriate milestones were set out to address those risks. In particular, for some measures where calls for projects will be launched in the future, such as measures in the area of emerging energy technologies, appropriate milestones associated with these measures were set to ensure that the eligibility criteria of the calls for projects exclude the eligibility of activities that could do significant harm to environmental objectives.
Contribution to the green transition including biodiversity
(26)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (e) and section 2.5 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan contains measures that contribute to a large extent (rating A) to the green transition, including biodiversity, or to addressing the challenges resulting therefrom. The measures supporting climate objectives account for an amount which represents 49,6% of the plan’s total allocation calculated in accordance with the methodology of Annex VI to Regulation (EU) 2021/241. In accordance with Article 17 Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan is consistent with the information included in the National Energy and Climate Plan 2030.
(27)A total of ten components (out of seventeen) contain measures contributing to the climate objective. Energy-efficient renovations of public buildings, private and social housing represent an important part of this contribution. The plan includes investments into collective and low-emission means of transport and a reform to green the company car tax scheme. Investments in R&D and innovation, in particular in alternative energy technologies, including hydrogen, and infrastructures are expected to facilitate the transition towards a low-carbon economy. Reforms and investments in the area of energy-efficient renovation of buildings and in green mobility and vehicles are expected to contribute to advancing the decarbonisation and energy transition objectives of Belgium as set out in its National Energy and Climate Plan 2030.
(28)In terms of its environmental dimension, the plan is expected to directly contribute to the preservation of biodiversity through investments in protected areas, ecological restoration operations, green infrastructure, more resilient forest management and the creation of wetlands. The implementation of these measures is expected to have a lasting effect on CO2 storage and together with water management measures reinforce climate adaptation. Other investments in recycling infrastructures, support for eco-design projects and for optimised use of materials aim to enhance the circular economy in Belgium.
Contribution to the digital transition
(29)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (f) and section 2.6 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan contains measures that contribute to a large extent (rating A) to the digital transition or to addressing the challenges resulting from it. The measures supporting digital objectives account for an amount which represents 26,6% of the plan’s total allocation calculated in accordance with the methodology of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2021/241.
(30)A total of eleven components (out of seventeen) contain measures that are expected to contribute to the digital transition objective with a broad, cross-cutting approach. The plan contains critical reforms at federal and regional level that aim to remove regulatory bottlenecks for the deployment of 5G and very-high capacity networks, such as fibre. The plan also includes connectivity public investments, such as deploying fibre in certain white zones and ensuring a higher connectivity of schools in the Walloon Region. The implementation of the Connectivity Toolbox is monitored in the plan. Important investments and reforms in the plan are dedicated to e-government across entities, including the modernisation of the outdated digital infrastructure, judicial file management system and network security of the judiciary. The plan is expected to foster open data use of public administrations. Other investments target the digitalisation of specific sectors such as the health system, tourism, transport, energy, media, and culture. The plan targets better digitally equipped and connected schools on the entire Belgian territory. Investments in the plan are also expected to contribute to a better overall cyber resilience and security of citizens, businesses and public administrations. Moreover, the plan promotes the deployment of a human-centric use of artificial intelligence.
(31)Measures also address the challenges related to the digital skills levels of the population, in particular targeting an increase in digital inclusion, as well as digital re-skilling and upskilling of the workforce to help address shortages and foster labour market integration. In addition, the plan is also expected to help improve the digital performance of young people in the primary, secondary and higher education systems. There are reforms and investments that aim to help companies reap the benefits of the digital transition through the development of a digital and technological innovation hub and digital-related investment in R&D. The plan also includes some measures that aim to green the digital sector.
Lasting impact
(32)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (g) and section 2.7 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan is expected to have a lasting impact on Belgium to a large extent (Rating A).
(33)The plan contains investments expected to have a lasting impact, supporting the green and digital transition of the economy. The digital-related measures in the plan are i.a. designed to increase the level of digitalisation of relevant institutions, which is expected to have a lasting impact on the quality of services, the business environment and the optimal use of government data. This concerns essential areas such as the judicial system, social security, the health system, the cyber resilience of the country or platforms to improve interactions between public administrations and citizens or businesses. The plan further contributes to increasing the level of R&D investments in order to reach the objective of 3% of GDP and to increasing productivity. Relevant investments and policies such as those to decarbonise the economy including by improving its energy efficiency and to deploy state-of-the art digital infrastructure are expected to contribute to the improvement of the country’s competitiveness and growth potential.
(34)Overall, the reforms proposed in the plan are expected to contribute to addressing Belgium’s main challenges and to have a long-term impact, even though for some of them, such as the reform of the pension system, the extent of the impact will depend on their implementation. The reforms related to the quality of the public spending, to labour market participation and to remove regulatory bottlenecks for the deployment of 5G are expected to produce long-lasting effects. In the area of taxation, the reform of company car scheme is expected to contribute to the decarbonisation of transport. While the plan refers to a proposal for a broad tax reform, with potentially important impact on disincentives to work and the green transition, a firm commitment to its adoption is lacking. Lasting impact of the plan can also be enhanced through synergies between the plan and other programmes financed by the cohesion policy funds, notably by addressing in a substantive manner the deeply rooted territorial challenges and promoting a balanced development.
Monitoring and implementation
(35)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (h) and section 2.8 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the arrangements proposed in the recovery and resilience plan are adequate (Rating A) to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the envisaged timetable, milestones and targets, and the related indicators.
(36)The governance structure and organisational arrangements proposed by the Belgian authorities for the implementation of the Belgian plan ensure the involvement of the responsible actors in monitoring, reporting and administrative follow-up of the reforms and investments under their responsibility. Inter-federal coordination between the entities involved is ensured at both political and administrative level. The monitoring of indicators described by the Belgian authorities, is sufficiently clear and comprehensive to ensure that their completion can be traced and verified. Milestones and targets should represent mostly the key elements of the measures and as such can be considered relevant for their implementation. The verification mechanisms, data collection and responsibilities described in the plan appear sufficiently robust to justify in an adequate manner the disbursement requests upon completion of the milestones and targets. Milestones and targets are also relevant for measures already completed which are eligible according to Article 17(2) of the Regulation. The satisfactory fulfilment of these milestones and targets over time is required to justify a disbursement request.
(37)Member States should ensure that financial support under the Facility is communicated and acknowledged in line with article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. Technical support may be requested under the Technical Support Instrument to assist Member States in the implementation of their plan.
Costing
(38)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (i) and section 2.9 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the justification provided in the plan on the amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan is to a medium extent (Rating B) reasonable and plausible, is in line with the principle of cost efficiency and is commensurate to the expected national economic and social impact.
(39)The costing information and evidence presented in the plan is, for the most part, detailed and clear for a majority of measures. For a large majority of measures, there is sufficiently detailed information and comprehensive supporting evidence that the estimated total cost of the plan is reasonable and plausible. In most cases, Belgium provided information either on actual or similar past investment projects, or on comparative cost data for the main costs drivers that allow substantiating most cost estimates. For most projects the costing information includes clear supporting evidence or relevant references justifying reference unit costs. Nevertheless, the specificity and relevance of costing justifications provided is not uniform throughout the plan. For certain measures, further information presenting more detailed estimations and justifications could have increased the level of assurance that costs are reasonable and plausible. Finally, the estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan is in line with the principle of cost-efficiency and is commensurate to the expected national economic and social impact.
Protection of financial interests
(40)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (j) and section 2.10 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the arrangements proposed in the recovery and resilience plan and the additional measures contained in this Decision are adequate are adequate (Rating A) to prevent, detect and correct corruption, fraud and conflicts of interests when using the funds provided under that Regulation, and the arrangements are expected to effectively avoid double funding under the Regulation and other Union programmes. This is without prejudice to the application of other instruments and tools to promote and enforce compliance with EU law, including for preventing, detecting and correcting corruption, fraud and conflicts of interests, and for protecting the Union finances in line with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
(41)The plan describes in an appropriate way the system put in place for its implementation. The overall framework represents a robust internal control system whereby clear roles and responsibilities are distributed to the competent entities involved. At federal level, the Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments coordinates the implementation of the plan, while monitoring is performed at political level by the Inter-ministerial Conference and at administrative level by the Inter-federal Monitoring Committee. The Belgian plan identifies the different bodies in charge of the implementation, monitoring and control of the projects in each of the six entities (Federal State, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Brussels-Capital Region, French Community and German-speaking Community).
(42)Each entity is responsible for collecting the data of the projects under their responsibility, and ensure the regular update of their progress in their monitoring tools. With regard to audit, the entities appointed are also in charge of the audit of EU funds under shared management and are independent from the entities implementing the plan. The plan sets out the different control procedures of each entity for the prevention, detection and correction of fraud, corruption and conflict of interest, when using the funds provided under Regulation (EU) 2021/241.
(43)Overall, the arrangements proposed by Belgium in the recovery and resilience plan to prevent, detect and correct corruption, fraud and conflicts of interest when using the funds provided under the Facility, including the arrangements aimed to avoid double funding from the Facility and other Union programmes, are assessed as adequate, provided that the milestones pertaining to a repository system for monitoring the implementation of the Facility and adequate coordination arrangements to avoid double funding are fulfilled before the first payment request.
Coherence of the plan
(44)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (k) and section 2.11 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the plan includes to a medium extent (Rating B) measures for the implementation of reforms and public investment projects that represent coherent actions.
(45)The plan displays a set of reforms and investments that support the objectives to stimulate the recovery of the Belgian economy, to contribute to its green and digital transition and to increase its resilience on the path towards a more sustainable and inclusive growth. The individual measures included in the plan are coherent with the overarching objectives announced. The plan does not present inconsistencies or contradictions between the content of the different components. Some measures are mutually reinforcing and complementary, also across government levels. However, in some instances, the potential of some of the investments could have been further reinforced by more far-reaching complementary reforms. For example, whereas the plan contains a number of investments and reforms geared towards energy-efficient renovation of buildings, there is no firm commitment to reform the energy taxation system to incentivise more energy-efficiency investments in building renovations. While the plan supports the deployment of green hydrogen, there is only limited support for increasing renewables production. The measures to increase employment and improve labour market performance are not accompanied by concrete measures to reduce disincentives to work from the tax system.
Equality
(46)The plan contains a series of measures expected to contribute to addressing the challenges in the area of gender equality and equal opportunities for all. The Belgian Institute for the Equality of Women and Men considers that 52% of investment measures in the plan will have a potential positive gender equality impact. These include measures dedicated to attracting more women to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics studies and increasing the employment rate of women. Although the plan falls short of defining a comprehensive and holistic approach towards vulnerable groups, the objectives of equal opportunities for all are reflected in measures in several policy areas in the plan, such as education, social housing, labour market inclusion, mobility and digital inclusion. These include reforms of the regulatory framework for discrimination tests and the available tools and knowledge in administration that could contribute to a higher employment rate of people with a migrant background. Other relevant measures include investments expected to increase the accessibility of railway stations to people with reduced mobility and investments in social housing equipped with assistive technologies in order to support the independent living of persons with disabilities and elderly people.
Security self-assessment
(47)A security self-assessment has not been provided as it has not been considered appropriate by Belgium, in accordance with Article 18(4) point (g) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241.
Cross-border and multi-country projects
(48)The plan contains a number of investment measures with a significant cross-border dimension, and in line with the objectives of the updated European industrial strategy. A prominent share of investments (at federal, Flemish and Walloon level), which jointly focus on supporting an industrial value chain in the field of hydrogen, should form part of the planned wider cross-border Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on hydrogen. Likewise, the investment project ‘Backbone for H2 and CO2’ of the federal level should result in interconnections with neighbouring countries of the initial H2 and CO2 transport networks that are to be constructed in the framework of the plan. Moreover, the investment measure ‘Off-shore energy island’ of the federal level aims at developing a multifunctional offshore energy hub (‘energy island’) in the North Sea, which aims among other things to facilitate the integration and import of more renewable energy in and around the North Sea by connecting to other countries or regions. Finally, a measure to strengthen R&D aims at financing the participation of businesses in the Flemish region in the planned IPCEI on microelectronics.
Consultation process
(49)The plan describes that Belgium has consulted a wide range of stakeholders in the plan’s adoption process to increase national ownership of the plan. At the federal level, a large number of stakeholders were consulted, including social partners, civil society and the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men. The federal government set up an advisory committee, consisting of the Central Economic Council and the Federal Council for Sustainable Development, bringing together social partners and civil society (environmental organisations, organisation for development cooperation, consumer organisation, youth organisations and academia) that provided advice at different stages in the plan’s preparation process. Moreover, the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men was consulted to assess the impact of the plan on gender equality and formulate recommendations. Regional and community governments consulted social partners on their respective reform and investment projects, and also exchanged with regional parliaments.
(50)Belgium is committed to keeping on engaging with social partners and civil society during the implementation of the plan. To ensure ownership by the relevant actors, it is crucial to involve all regional and local authorities and stakeholders concerned, including social partners, throughout the implementation of the investments and reforms included in the plan.
Positive assessment
(51)Following the positive assessment of the Commission concerning Belgium’s recovery and resilience plan with the finding that the plan satisfactorily complies with the criteria for assessment set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/241, in accordance with Article 20(2) and Annex V to that Regulation, this Decision should set out the reforms and investment projects necessary for the implementation of the plan, the relevant milestones, targets and indicators, and the amount made available from the Union for the implementation of the plan in the form of non-repayable financial support.
Financial contribution
(52)The estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan of Belgium is EUR 5 924 952 328. As the recovery and resilience plan satisfactorily complies with the criteria for assessment set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and, furthermore, as the amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan is (slightly)higher than the maximum financial contribution available for Belgium, the financial contribution allocated for Belgium’s recovery and resilience plan should be equal to the total amount of the financial contribution available for Belgium/amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan.
(53)In accordance with Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the calculation of the maximum financial contribution for Belgium is to be updated by 30 June 2022. As such, in accordance with Article 23(1) of that Regulation, an amount for Belgium should be made available now for a legal commitment by 31 December 2022. Where necessary following the updated maximum financial contribution, the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, should amend this Decision to include the updated maximum financial contribution without undue delay.
(54)The support to be provided is to be financed from the borrowing by the Commission on behalf of the Union on the basis of Article 5 of Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053The support should be paid in instalments once Belgium has satisfactorily fulfilled the relevant milestones and targets identified in relation to the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan.
(55)Belgium has requested pre-financing of 13% of the financial contribution. That amount should be made available to Belgium subject to the entry into force and in accordance with the Financing Agreement provided for in Article 23(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241.
(56)This Decision should be without prejudice to the outcome of any procedures relating to the award of Union funds under any other Union programme than Regulation (EU) 2021/241 or to procedures relating to distortions of the operation of the internal market that may be undertaken, in particular under Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty. It does not override the requirement for Member States to notify instances of potential State aid to the Commission under Article 108 of the Treaty,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan
The assessment of the recovery and resilience plan of Belgium on the basis of the criteria provided for by Article 19(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 is approved. The reforms and investment projects under the recovery and resilience plan, the arrangements and timetable for monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the relevant milestones and targets, the relevant indicators relating to the fulfilment of the envisaged milestones and targets, and the arrangements for providing full access by the Commission to the underlying relevant data are set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
Financial contribution
1.The Union shall make available to Belgium a financial contribution in the form of non-repayable support amounting to EUR 5 923 953 327 4 . An amount of EUR 3 645 626 483 shall be available to be legally committed by 31 December 2022. Subject to the update provided for in Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 calculating an amount for Belgium equal to or more than this amount, a further amount of EUR 2 278 326 843 shall be available to be legally committed from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2023.
2.The Union financial contribution shall be made available by the Commission to Belgium in instalments in accordance with the Annex. An amount of EUR 770 113 932 shall be made available as a pre-financing payment, equal to 13 per cent of the financial contribution. The pre-financing and instalments may be disbursed by the Commission in one or several tranches. The size of the tranches shall be subject to the availability of funding.
3.The pre-financing shall be released subject to the entry into force and in accordance with the Financing Agreement provided for in Article 23(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. Pre-financing shall be cleared by being proportionally deducted against the payment of the instalments.
4.The release of instalments in accordance with the Financing Agreement shall be conditional on available funding and a decision by the Commission, taken in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, that Belgium has satisfactorily fulfilled the relevant milestones and targets identified in relation to the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan. Subject to the entry into force of the legal commitments referred to in paragraph 1, to be eligible for payment, milestones and targets shall be completed no later than 31 August 2026.
Article 3
Addressee
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium.
Done at Brussels,
For the Council
The President
- (1) OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, p. 17-75.
- (2) Such simulations reflect the overall impact of NGEU, which also includes funding for ReactEU, and increased funding for Horizon, InvestEU, JTF, Rural Development and RescEU. Such simulation does not include the possible positive impact of structural reforms, which can be substantial
- (3) Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13).
- (4) This amount corresponds to the financial allocation after deduction of the Belgium’s proportional share of the expenses of Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, calculated in accordance with the methodology of Article 11 of that Regulation.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 23.6.2021
COM(2021) 349 final
ANNEX
to the
Proposal for a Council Implementing Decision
on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Belgium
{SWD(2021) 172 final}
ANNEX
SECTION 1: REFORMS AND INVESTMENTS UNDER THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLAN
1. Description of Reforms and Investments
A. COMPONENT 1.1: Renovation
This component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan is focused on the renovation of private and public buildings. The main objective of the component is to renovate the existing building stock and make it more energy and resource efficient. These include in particular public buildings, social infrastructure and residential housing, and more generally the less performing buildings in terms of energy efficiency. Therefore, this component contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing job opportunities and growth in sustainable construction, as well as social resilience through the reduction of energy bills.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.3, calling on Belgium to focus investment-related economic policy on, inter alia, the low carbon and energy transition.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Reform R-1.01: ‘Improved energy subsidy scheme’ of the Flemish Region
The measure is composed of several reform and investment sub-measures whose overall objective is to provide more efficient renovation incentives and to accelerate private energy efficiency investments in Flanders: (i) reform of the subsidies for energy efficiency and renewable energy and subsidies by target groups for improving housing quality which shall be integrated into a single scheme. The new one-stop-shop, user-friendly and transparent system shall be available as from 2022 and is expected to support the energy efficient renovation of 202.000 dwellings; (ii) revision of the energy label scheme which is expected to support the energy efficient renovation of 8.400 dwellings; (iii) introduction of a demolition-reconstruction grant complementing the federal reduced VAT scheme which is expected to support the reconstruction of 1760 dwellings; (iv) revision of the renovation support scheme for smart control of heat pumps, electrical boilers, electric storage heating and home battery intended which is expected to support 8.400 households. All aspects of this reform shall enter into force by 1 April 2022 at the latest.
Reform R-1.02: ‘Improved energy subsidy scheme’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
This reform consists of reforming and merging the energy bonuses and housing renovation premiums into a single regional mechanism for individuals as from 2022. Thanks to the unified system, citizens shall have a clearer picture of the amount they are entitled to for their renovation work and shall see a simplification of the administrative procedures for obtaining financial support through regional bonuses. Only one regional web portal shall inform applicants about the premiums available and there shall only be a single digitalised procedure for citizens. The investment is expected to support 3717 energy efficiency renovations.
The regulation reforming the energy grant schemes for residential and private renovations in the Brussels-Capital Region shall enter into force by 31 March 2022.
Reform R-1.03: ‘Improved energy subsidy scheme’ of the German-speaking Community
The measure shall introduce a new system of energy premiums in the German-speaking Community as from July 2021. The purpose of the bonus project is, in particular, to create incentives for the implementation of energy saving measures and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions for existing residential buildings in the German-speaking Community. The reform aims at distinguishing between small works, allowing access to bonuses in a simplified way, and major works, which shall require more detailed administrative procedures. The investments is expected to support 815 medium to deep energy-efficient renovations. The regulation reforming the energy grant schemes for residential and private renovations in the German Community shall enter into force by 31 March 2022.
Investment 1A in ‘Renovations of private and social housing’ (I-1A)
The objective of the investment is to stimulate the energy-efficient renovation of private and social housing. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2025. The investment is composed of the following six sub measures:
·Investment I-1.01: ‘Renovation of social housing’ of the Flemish Region
·Investment I-1.02: ‘Renovation of social housing’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
·Investment I-1.03: ‘Renovation of social housing’ of the German-speaking Community
·Investments part of Reform R-1.01: ‘Improved energy subsidy scheme’ of the Flemish Region
·Investments part of Reform R-1.02: ‘Improved energy subsidy scheme’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
·Investments part of Reform R-1.03: ‘Improved energy subsidy scheme’ of the German-speaking Community
Investment I-1.01: ‘Renovation of social housing’ of the Flemish Region
The objective of the measure is to stimulate and accelerate the energy renovation of social housing by increasing the support from the Flemish Climate Fund to social housing companies and the Flemish Housing Fund. Financing under the RRF is expected to allow around 4 050 social housing units to benefit from support for energy renovation. In addition, in 2021, the Flemish Region shall increase by EUR 250 million the authorisation for a subsidised loan to the Flemish social housing company (Vlaamse Maatschappij voor Sociaal Wonen) to allow it to step up renovations.
Investment I-1.02: ‘Renovation of social housing’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The measure consists in contributing to financing the renovation of 1711 social housing units in Brussels, leading to a reduction of 53 % of the energy consumed and lead to an estimated reduction of 4452 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. The project involves the publication, award and performance of 15 public works contracts by the Brussels social housing company (Société du Logement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale).
Investment I-1.03: ‘Renovation of social housing’ of the German-speaking Community
The measure consists in supporting the multiannual renovation programme of an estimated 509 social housing units representing about a third of the total social housing stock of the German-speaking Community. The measure will support the German-speaking Community equity participation in the social housing company “Öffentliche Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Ostbelgien”, which shall allow the social housing investment programme to be carried out, with priority given to most urgent works.
Investment 1B ‘Public building renovation’ (I-1B)
The objective of the investment is to renovate and improve the energy-efficiency of public buildings. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026. The investment is composed of the following nine sub measures:
·Investment I-1.04: ‘Renovation of public buildings’ of the Federal State
·Investment I-1.05: ‘Renovation of public buildings’ of the Flemish Region
·Investment I-1.06: ‘Renovation of public buildings’ of the Walloon Region
·Investment I-1.07: ‘Renovation of public buildings - local authorities & sport’ of the Walloon Region
·Investment I-1.08: ‘Renovation of public buildings’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
·Investment I-1.09: ‘Renovation of public buildings - schools’ of the French Community
·Investment I-1.10: ‘Renovation of public buildings - sport & IPPJ’ of the French Community
·Investment I-1.11: ‘Renovation of public buildings - universities’ of the French Community
·Investment I-1.12: ‘Renovation of public buildings - culture’ of the French Community
Investment I-1.04: ‘Renovation of public buildings’ of the Federal State
The investment measure consists in renovating the historical building of the Brussels Stock exchange, which shall lead to a substantial improvement in its energy performance with the aim of creating a new economic, tourism and socio-cultural hub. The estimated total surface area of the building is approximately 12.000 m2 (including basement and archaeological site). The compound is designed to host temporary exhibitions and events, as well as a permanent exhibition on Belgian brewing traditions (Belgian Beer World) on the upper floors.
Investment I-1.05: ‘Renovation of public buildings’ of the Flemish Region
The investment measure consist in stepping up investments in building stock renovation to accelerate the energy renovation of public buildings. Support shall be granted via the Flemish Energy Company (Vlaams Energiebedrijf) which acts as the central purchasing body and service provider for other public services (in particular the central administration) in the field of energy-related services. The measure involves (i) direct support actions in the form of energy-efficient works and (ii) indirect support action like energy audits. The measure is expected to result in the renovation of an estimated 86.711 m² in public buildings.
Investment I-1.06: ‘Renovation of public buildings’ of the Walloon Region
The investment measure aims at putting in place an innovative renovation facilitation system, including the necessary accompanying measures, in order to bring about deep renovations of between 750 and 1000 public buildings in the Walloon region, (corresponding to an estimated surface of 300000 m²). For this purpose the existing UREBA subsidy scheme shall be adjusted in the years 2021-2026 to further facilitate deep renovations. Support shall cover only energy-saving investments out of a total investment of EUR 375 million.
Investment I-1.07: ‘Renovation of public buildings — local authorities & sport’ of the Walloon Region
The measure aims to improve the energy performance of (i) public buildings of local authorities and of (ii) sports infrastructure in the Walloon region. Support shall be awarded via a call for applications open to local authorities and eligible sports structures. The measure is expected to lead to the renovation by 30 June 2026 of a total estimated surface of 202359 m² of public building of local authorities, achieving on average at least a 30% reduction in primary energy demand, as well as 84122 m² of sport infrastructures.
Investment I-1.08: ‘Renovation of public buildings’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The investment measure consists of two parts: (i) the development of a one-stop-shop (to be managed by SIBELGA, the operator of the electricity and gas distribution network in the Brussels Region, under a public service obligation) to facilitate and accelerate deep energy renovations of public buildings of local and regional authorities in Brussels; (ii) energy subsidies for the selected public renovation works. The measure aims to cover all types of use of public buildings and renovate an estimated total surface of 34000 m² by 30 June 2026 achieving on average at least a 30% reduction of primary energy demand. The electricity ordinance defining the public service mission of Sibelga, including the operation of the one-stop shop for public renovations in Brussels shall enter into force by 1 February 2022.
Investment I-1.09: ‘Renovation of public buildings - schools’ of the French Community
The investment measure shall (i) support an investment plan in school buildings owned by the French Community and (ii) via a call for projects to grant support for the renovation of school buildings in educational networks subsidised by the French Community. The expected total construction and renovation target is 320709 m² by 30 June 2026, structured around light, medium and deep renovations, as well as demolitions and reconstructions.
Investment I-1.10: ‘Renovation of public buildings - sport & IPPJ’ of the French Community
This investment measure supports (i) the renovation of sport infrastructures and (ii) the renovation of facilities dedicated to youth (Institutions Publiques de Protection de la Jeunesse -IPPJ). A total of 30150 m² is expected to be renovated by 30 June 2026 achieving on average a reduction in primary energy demand of at least a 30%.
Investment I-1.11: ‘Renovation of public buildings - universities’ of the French Community
The investment measure aims at renovating outdated and energy-inefficient university buildings of the French Community following a call for projects. The measure is expected to lead to the renovation of 34000 m² and lead on average to a reduction in primary energy demand of at least 30%.
Investment I-1.12: ‘Renovation of public buildings - culture’ of the French Community
The investment measure aims at the energy efficient renovation of cultural public buildings in the French Community. The measure consists in two parts: (i) energy renovation of cultural infrastructure belonging to the French Community and (ii) grants for energy renovation projects of cultural infrastructure not owned by the French Community (such as infrastructure owned by the local authorities) awarded through a call for project. The measure is estimated to allow an estimated surface of 51290 m² to be renovated, of which 29225 m² with an average reduction in primary energy demand of at least a 30% (7000 m² under (i) and 22225 m² under (ii)).
Investment I-1.13: ‘Renolab: Renovation laboratory’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The investment measure is composed of two complementary mechanisms aiming at demonstrating innovative, circular and sustainable energy-efficient renovations in Brussels: (i) call for projects to support pilot projects, and (ii) a call for projects for the sustainable and exemplary renovation of the Brussels buildings, focusing either on financing innovative concepts, or on innovative and exemplary renovation works. The measure would support an estimated total of 25 pilot projects, 50 project concepts and an estimated surface of 20000 m² renovated through financial support to exemplary renovation works. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 March 2024.
A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
1 |
Improved energy grant scheme in the Flemish region(R-1.01) |
Milestone |
Improved energy grant schemes in Flanders |
Publication in Official journal |
- |
- |
- |
Q1 |
2022 |
Adoption by the Flemish Government / Parliament of new regulation: revising energy label scheme, revising the grant schemes for residential and private renovations, introducing grants for demolition-reconstruction for private housing and introducing the smart control and home battery grants; together providing more efficient incentives to accelerate private energy efficiency investments. |
|
2 |
Improved energy grant scheme of the Brussels-Capital region (R-1.02) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of new regulation on energy grant schemes in Brussels |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of the new regulation |
- |
- |
- |
Q1 |
2022 |
Entry into force of regulation to reform the energy grant schemes for residential and private renovations in Brussels-Capital Region |
|
3 |
Improved energy grant scheme of the German-Community (R-1.03) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of new regulation on energy grant schemes in the German-speaking Community. |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of the new regulation |
- |
- |
- |
Q1 |
2022 |
Entry into force of regulation to reform the energy grant schemes for residential and private renovations in the German Community. |
|
4 |
Renovation of public buildings (I-1.06) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of new regulation on energy grant schemes in Wallonia |
Provision in the legislation indicating the entry into force of the new regulation |
- |
- |
- |
Q1 |
2022 |
Entry into force of the regulation for the reform of the Ureba scheme for public building renovations in Wallonia. |
|
5 |
Renovation of private and social housing (I-1A) |
Target |
Renovation of private residential and social housing (step1) |
|
Dwellings |
0 |
64140 |
Q2 |
2023 |
Renovation of 63776 residential dwellings (social housing and private) with the support of energy grants achieving primary energy demand reduction in line with climate tagging requirements. |
|
6 |
Renovation of private and social housing (I-1A) |
Target |
Renovation of private residential and social housing (step 2) |
|
Dwellings |
64140 |
132028 |
Q2 |
2024 |
Renovation of 131664 residential dwellings (social housing and private) with the support of energy grants achieving primary energy demand reduction in line with climate tagging requirements. |
|
7 |
Renovation of private and social housing (I-1A) |
Target |
Renovations of private residential and social housing (step 3) |
|
Dwellings |
132028 |
200264 |
Q2 |
2025 |
Renovation of 199899 residential dwellings (social housing and private) with the support of energy grants achieving primary energy demand reduction in line with climate tagging requirements. |
|
8 |
Renovation of private and social housing (I-1A) |
Milestone |
Renovation of private residential and social housing (step 4) |
Report delivered on the full budgetary execution of renovation works |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
Renovation of social housings by the social housing companies in Flanders, in line with tagging requirement, financed through EUR 250 million in loans. |
|
9 |
Renovation of private and social housing (1-1A) |
Target |
Award of grants for home batteries and smart control appliances in Flanders |
|
Grants awarded |
0 |
8460 |
Q2 |
2023 |
Award of 8460 grants to households for home batteries and smart control appliances in Flanders since Q2 2021. |
|
10 |
‘Renolab: Renovation laboratory’ of the Brussels-Capital Region (I-1.13) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts to demonstration of renovation projects |
Governmental decision on award to Renolab projects |
- |
- |
- |
Q1 |
2024 |
Award of contracts through the adoption of a governmental decision to 75 pilot and concept projects for exemplary energy efficiency and renovation practices and of execution projects accounting for 20,000m² of floor surface (Renolab). |
|
11 |
Public building renovations (I-1B) |
|
Adaptation of the electricity ordinance to introduce a one-stop shop for renovations |
Publication in Official Journal of the electricity ordinance |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2022 |
Adoption by the Parliament of the electricity ordinance defining the public service mission of Sibelga, including the operation of the one-stop shop for public renovations in Brussels. |
|
12 |
Public building renovations (I-1B) |
Target |
Renovation of public buildings (step 1) |
|
m² |
0 |
523852 |
Q2 |
2024 |
Renovation of 523.852 m² of public buildings, achieving primary energy demand reduction in line with climate tagging requirements. |
|
13 |
Public building renovations (I-1B) |
Target |
Renovation of public buildings (step 2) |
|
m² |
523852 |
650097 |
Q2 |
2025 |
Renovation of 650.097 m² of public buildings, achieving primary energy demand reduction in line with climate tagging requirements. |
|
14 |
Public building renovations (I-1B) |
Target |
Renovation of public buildings (step 3) |
|
m² |
650097 |
1121342 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Renovation of 1.121.342 m² of public buildings, achieving primary energy demand reduction in line with climate tagging requirements. |
B. COMPONENT 1.2: Emerging energy technologies
This component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aims at providing a strong impetus to technological developments to support the energy transition to further reduce CO2 emissions, with emphasis on system integration and industrial decarbonisation.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.3, calling on Belgium to focus investment-related economic policy on, inter alia, the low carbon and energy transition, and research and innovation, as well as Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 to front-load mature public investment projects.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
B.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Reform R-1.04 ‘Regulatory framework for the H2 and CO2 markets’ of the Federal State
The reform consists of the necessary steps to allow for legislative revisions aimed at establishing a more detailed regulatory framework for the functioning of H2 and CO2 markets, covering topics such as supervision, non-discriminatory access to transmission networks and setting of network access charges. The reform is expected to clarify the competences between federal and regional authorities is foreseen. A New Gas Law shall enter into force by 31 March 2022.
Investment I-1.14 ‘Backbone for H2 and CO2’ of the Federal State
This measure consists of two parts: (1) the development of a hydrogen transport network, the primary focus of which is on the main industrial clusters of Flanders (Antwerp, Ghent), Wallonia (Hainaut, Liège) and Brussels. The projects to be implemented shall be determined on the basis of a validation of market needs, and shall form part of a planned wider cross-border Important Project of Common European Interest (“IPCEI”) on hydrogen; (2) the development of an initial CO2 transport network and terminal units in the main industrial clusters of Flanders (Antwerp, Ghent) and Wallonia (Hainaut, Liège and the Sambre and Meuse valley), open to all market players.
The following three measures, at Federal, Flemish and Walloon level focus on ‘An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition’.
Investment I-1.15 ‘An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition’ of the Federal State
The federal measure shall promote various demonstration projects related to the production and use of hydrogen under the competence of the federal government. The aim is to stimulate innovative projects with high potential to accelerate the energy transition, so that they reach maturity and scale up for commercial use. The projects shall be selected via a call for tender, which shall cover demonstration plants for green and low-carbon hydrogen production as well as the use of hydrogen, for instance in vessels, insofar as the projects fall under the competence of the federal government. As regards demonstration plants for green and low carbon hydrogen production, the call shall be open for all technologies with zero process emissions, such as electrolysis powered by renewable electricity or methane pyrolysis.
Investment I-1.16 ‘An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition’ of the Flemish Region
This measure aims at supporting the transition to a sustainable hydrogen industry in Flanders through investment and project financing. In large part, the funding shall support a portfolio of projects which, like the planned wider cross-border Important Project of Common European interest (IPCEI) 1 project, of which it shall form an integral part, aims at developing an industrial value chain towards hydrogen production, transport, storage and related applications. Outside the IPCEI portfolio, additional projects with a focus on hydrogen are also included, mostly both in the field of research and development and investment projects.
Investment I-1.17 ‘An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition’ of the Walloon Region
This Walloon measure aims at reducing the carbon footprint of industry, transport and building sectors through project financing and investment. It shall consist of a series of coherent sub-projects (mostly in the field of research and development and first industrial development) covering the whole green hydrogen production value chain, as well as developing various applications of hydrogen as an energy carrier and the adaptation of devices (such as engines), that enable the use and valorisation of hydrogen. This project shall be divided into three distinct windows, one of them being part of the planned cross-border IPCEI 2 project on hydrogen. The second window will include (R&D) projects focussing on hydrogen tanks and fuel cells. The third window will support the integration of green hydrogen production, transport and use processes in both industry and transport sectors.
Investment I-1.18 ‘Developing the low-carbon industry’ of the Walloon Region
The investment measure shall promote various projects aimed at reducing CO2 emissions resulting from energy consumption and emissions from industrial processes. It shall be implemented through a project call for R&D partnership projects aimed at bringing technologies to the level of (pre)-industrial demonstration or pilot versions in the following domains: electrification of industrial processes, hydrogen production by electrolysis or by methane pyrolysis, direct use of hydrogen in industrial applications, capture and concentration of CO2 emissions and decarbonisation of ammonia production processes.
Investment I-1.19 ‘Research platform for energy transition’ of the Walloon Region
This measure consists of investments in a series of large R&D facilities and equipment for the benefit of French-speaking universities willing to establish an interdisciplinary (and “trans-technological”) cooperation platform to develop research actions on complex energy systems. The technologies targeted by this measure relate to the following areas: renewable and low carbon energy production; energy production, conversion and storage; CO2 capture and valorisation; rational use of energy in buildings and in mobility; electricity grid operation.
Investment I-1.20 ‘Renewable heat networks’ of the Flemish Region
The investment measure aims at supporting the development of heat networks in order to unlock the potential of green heat as well as waste heat. Calls are expected to be launched twice a year for investment support. The objective of the calls is the selection of projects aimed at increasing green heat production or improve the use of residual heat (and thus lower use of fossil fuels). The calls are expected to allow investors to receive a contribution to ensure that the high initial investment cost in a heat network is partially funded.
Investment I-1.21 ‘Off-shore energy island’ of the Federal State
This investment measure aims at developing a multifunctional offshore energy hub (‘energy island’) in the Belgian part of the North Sea. The realisation of this energy hub has three main objectives. First, it shall allow the connection of 2.1 GW of future offshore wind energy to the onshore electricity grid. Second, it shall facilitate the integration and import of more renewable energy in and around the North Sea by connecting to other countries or regions, as well as the production of green molecules (such as hydrogen). Third, it is expected to act as an operating and maintenance base for offshore operations as well as other public purposes (such as hosting 5G antennas or radar equipment).
B.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
|
15 |
Regulatory framework for the H2 and CO2 markets (R-1.04) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of New Gas Law and related regulations to enable market development of H2 and CO2 |
Publication of the New Gas Law and all related regulations (Official Journal) |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2022 |
Entry into force of the New Gas Law and all related regulations to: -enable market development of H2 and CO2, -cover topics such as supervision, non-discriminatory access and tariffs. |
|
|
16 |
Backbone for H2 and CO2 (I-1.14) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the investment plan for H2 & CO2 backbone infrastructure. |
Adoption of the investment plan “Backbone for H2 & CO2” by the Federal Government |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2022 |
Adoption by the Federal Government of the investment plan “Backbone for H2 & CO2” after, based on market needs to develop the first clusters for H2 & CO2 backbone projects, after consultation with the competent regulatory body (CREG). The investment plan shall contain a proposed selection of projects, meeting the following conditions: (DNSH conditions) for H2 pipelines shall be met: 1. Construction or operation of new transmission and distribution networks dedicated to hydrogen (within this point shall fall also the expansion of existing dedicated hydrogen pipelines and changes made to these pipelines to assure more connection points and an open access methodology); 2. Conversion/repurposing of existing natural gas networks to 100% hydrogen; (DNSH conditions) for CO2 pipelines shall be met: 1. The CO2 transported from the installation where it is captured to the injection point does not lead to CO2 leakages above 0.5 % of the mass of CO2 transported. 2. The CO2 is delivered to a permanent CO2 storage site that meets the criteria for underground geological storage of CO2 set out in Section 5.12 of that Annex; or to other transport modalities, which lead to permanent CO2 storage site that meet those criteria. 3. Appropriate leak detection systems are applied and a monitoring plan is in place, with the report verified by an independent third party. 4. Where assets that increase the flexibility and improve the management of an existing network are installed, the installation is eligible. |
|
|
17 |
Backbone for H2 and CO2 (I-1.14) |
Target |
Construction and operation of 150 km of pipeline for H2 and CO2 |
Final Project Report approved |
km |
0 |
150 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Construction and operation of 150 km of pipeline for H2 and CO2 (or realized via re-purposing of pipelines hitherto used for transporting other gases).
(DNSH conditions) for H2 pipelines shall be met: 1. construction or operation of new transmission and distribution networks dedicated to hydrogen (within this point shall fall also the expansion of existing dedicated hydrogen pipelines and changes made to these pipelines to assure more connection points and an open access methodology); 2. conversion/repurposing of existing natural gas networks to 100% hydrogen;
(DNSH conditions) for CO2 pipelines shall be met: 1. The CO2 transported from the installation where it is captured to the injection point does not lead to CO2 leakages above 0.5 % of the mass of CO2 transported. 2. The CO2 is delivered to a permanent CO2 storage site that meets the criteria for underground geological storage of CO2 set out in Section 5.12 of that Annex; or to other transport modalities, which lead to permanent CO2 storage site that meet those criteria. 3. Appropriate leak detection systems are applied and a monitoring plan is in place, with the report verified by an independent third party. 4. Where assets that increase the flexibility and improve the management of an existing network are installed, the installation is eligible. |
|
|
18 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.15) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts under the call for tender |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
Award of contracts under the call for tender “An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (federal level). The projects shall be selected via a call for tender, which shall cover demonstration plants for clean hydrogen production as well as the use of hydrogen, for instance in vessels, insofar as the projects fall under the competence of the federal government. As regards demonstration plants for clean hydrogen production, the call shall be open for all technologies with zero process emissions, such as electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, pyrolysis.
Call for tender for research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions: - The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as. renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations )or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as.. technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies)
- Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as. using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. |
|
|
19 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.15) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts under the 2nd call for tender |
Written notification of contract award to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2023 |
Award of contracts under the 2nd call for tender “An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (Federal level). The projects shall be selected via a call for tender, which shall cover demonstration plants for clean hydrogen production as well as the use of hydrogen, for instance in vessels, insofar as the projects fall under the competence of the federal government. As regards demonstration plants for clean hydrogen production, the call shall be open for all technologies with zero process emissions, such as electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, pyrolysis.
Call for tender for research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions: - The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations); or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies) - Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. |
|
|
20 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.15) |
Milestone |
Completion of all awarded projects in the calls for tender |
Final Project Report approved |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2025 |
Completion of projects awarded in the call for tender “An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition” (federal level), with EUR 45 000 000 executed. Are excluded: all activities under the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 equivalent emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation.
Call for tender for research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions: - The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations); or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies) - Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as. using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. |
|
|
21 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.16) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts to hydrogen IPCEI projects |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
Award of contracts to hydrogen IPCEI projects (defined as those projects forming the subject of the IPCEI State aid notification) under the measure “An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition” (Flanders). Are excluded from selected projects: all activities under the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 equivalent emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation.
Selected research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions: - The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations); or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies) - Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. |
|
|
22 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.16) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for non-IPCEI hydrogen projects |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
Award of contracts to additional non-IPCEI hydrogen projects. Are excluded from selected projects: all activities under the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 equivalent emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation.
Selected research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions:
- The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations); or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies) - Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. |
|
|
23 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.16) |
Milestone |
Completion of projects awarded under the call for tender |
Final Project Report approved |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
Completion of projects awarded under the call for tender “An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition” (Flanders), with EUR 112 500 000 executed, including new hydrogen electrolysis capacity of 150 MW operational.
All awarded research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions:
- The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations) ; or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as. technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies) - Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. |
|
|
24 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.17) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for hydrogen IPCEI projects |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2022 |
Award of contracts to hydrogen IPCEI projects (defined as those projects forming the subject of the IPCEI State aid notification) under the measure “An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition” (Wallonia). The specifications of the call for projects shall ensure the exclusion of all activities under the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 equivalent emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation.
All awarded research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions: - The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations); or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies) - Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. |
|
|
25 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.17) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for non-IPCEI projects |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2023 |
Award of contracts to additional non-IPCEI projects. The specifications of the call for projects shall ensure the exclusion of all activities under the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 equivalent emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation.
All awarded research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions:
- The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations); or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies)
Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. |
|
|
26 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.17) |
Milestone |
Completion of all projects (IPCEI and non-IPCEI) awarded under the call for tender |
Final Project Report approved |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
Completion of all projects awarded under the call for tender “An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition” (Wallonia), with EUR 105 500 000 executed, including entry into operation of green electrolysis capacity of minimum 1 MW (infrastructure included).
Are excluded: all activities under the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 equivalent emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation.
All awarded research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions:
- The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations such as pyrolysis; or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies) - Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. |
|
|
27 |
Developing the low-carbon industry (I-1.18) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
Award of contracts under the measure “Developing the low-carbon industry”. The specifications of the call for projects shall ensure the exclusion of all activities under the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 equivalent emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation.
All awarded research and innovation (R&I) projects shall comply with the following conditions: - Either the R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as renewable hydrogen production or other zero emission environmental innovations); or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies) - Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as using RES-e) or based on green PPAs.
- A plan shall be provided by the Walloon government (SPW EER) demonstrating : - that the use of imported natural gas shall be transitionary and - the increased use of biogas/mine gas |
|
|
28 |
Developing the low-carbon industry (I-1.18) |
Milestone |
Completion of projects awarded under the call for tender |
Final Project Report approved |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
Completion of projects awarded under the call for tender “An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition” with EUR 45 000 000 executed, including completion of a demonstration project with theoretical long term potential of 2 millions of tons CO2 reduction p.a. The final project report shall demonstrate that: -Any electricity used in the projects is of green origin (such as using RES-e) or based on green PPAs. -The use of imported natural gas has been-transitionary and a plan for the increased use of biogas/minegas has been provided. |
|
|
29 |
Research platform for energy transition (I-1.19) |
Milestone |
Release of public tenders for equipment. |
Release of public tenders |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2023 |
Release of public tenders to procure targeted equipment under the project “Research platform for energy transition” (Fedération Wallonie-Bruxelles) satisfying the following conditions as regards the intended research and innovation (R&I) activities: - The R&I exclusively or primarily focuses on low-impact options (such as.. renewable hydrogen production or zero emission environmental innovations); or - The R&I is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology (such as technologies with the most limited impact (but not zero / low impact) among those currently available), and appropriate flanking measures are put in place to prevent lock-in effects (measures enabling the uptake of low impact technologies, or their development); or - The results of the R&I process are technologically neutral at the level of their application (i.e. they may be applied across all available technologies). |
|
|
30 |
Research platform for energy transition (I-1.19) |
Milestone |
Procurement of equipment |
Final Project Report approved |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2025 |
EUR 23 850 000 executed upon completion of the procurement of equipment and the remaining 2 650 000 has been ordered. |
|
|
31 |
Renewable heat networks (I-1.20) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for renewable or waste heat projects |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates (VEKA) |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2023 |
Award of contracts under the calls for renewable or waste heat projects under the measure “Renewable heat networks (Flanders)”. The specifications of the call for projects shall ensure the exclusion of all activities under the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 equivalent emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation. |
|
|
32 |
Renewable heat networks (I-1.20) |
Milestone |
Completion of projects awarded under the call for tender |
Final Project Report approved (VEKA) |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
Completion of projects awarded under the call for tender “Renewable heat networks” (Flanders), with EUR 39 870 000 executed. Are excluded: all activities under the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) with projected CO2 equivalent emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation. |
|
|
33 |
Off-shore energy island (I-1.21) |
Milestone |
Finalisation of FEED and environmental studies |
Publication of FEED and environmental studies |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
Finalisation of FEED (Front-end engineering design) and environmental studies for the measure “Off-shore energy island”. Island must be ready for offshore connection cables with Princess Elisabeth offshore wind zone. Island shall enable future interconnection link with (an)other country(ies). |
|
|
34 |
Off-shore energy island (I-1.21) |
Milestone |
Permits for energy island obtained |
Permits for energy island obtained
|
|
|
|
Q3 |
2023 |
Permits obtained by the consortium for works an energy island in the North Sea, comprising five hectares of useful surface and permits for the deployment of offshore connection cables with Princess Elisabeth offshore wind zone. |
|
|
35 |
Off-shore energy island (I-1.21) |
Milestone |
Completion of works |
Final Project Report approved (CREG) |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2025 |
Completion of the works related to the energy island, comprising five hectares of useful surface and ready for offshore connection cables with the Princess Elisabeth offshore wind zone. Island shall enable future interconnection link with (an)other country(ies). |
|
C. COMPONENT 1.3: Climate and environment
Measures under this component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aim to conserve and restore biodiversity by ensuring the sustainable use and restoration of forests, marshes, meadows and grasslands. Measures under this component also contribute to the sequestration of CO2. Furthermore, the measures prepare for the impacts of climate change by improving water management and green infrastructure. As a result, resilience to drought and heavy rainfall shall increase, bringing about benefits to agriculture, tourism, citizens and the environment as a whole.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.3, calling on Belgium to focus investment-related economic policy on, inter alia, the low carbon and energy transition, as well as Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 to focus investment on the green and digital transition.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
C.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment I-1.22: ‘Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change’ of the Walloon Region
The investment aims to support the conservation, restoring and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services, which shall improve the carbon storage capacity and resilience to climate change effects such as floods and droughts. The measure consists of four sub-actions: (1) support to forest owners for the regeneration of forests, (2) the strengthening of the network of protected areas within the priority action framework for the protection of certain species and habitats, (3) the creation of two national parks in Wallonia and (4) the re-meandering of rivers and creation of wetlands. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-1.23: ‘Ecological defragmentation’ of the Flemish Region
This investment in ecological defragmentation of existing regional transport infrastructure shall contribute to the restoration of ecosystems and the development of a coherent nature network in Flanders. The measure includes 15 concrete projects for eco-ducts and eco-tunnels (preparatory studies or construction works). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-1.24: ‘Blue Deal’ of the Flemish Region
The Blue Deal investment is part of a bigger plan of 80 projects and actions aiming for better preparedness for longer periods of drought and more frequent heat waves by addressing drought problems in a structural way. Under the plan, nine sub-actions of diverse nature shall be supported, addressing different actors, including industry, farmers and municipalities. The actions cover: (A) landscape projects for drought mitigation, (B) a research program in agriculture, (C) two projects on waterway pumps and locks, (D) a water management support scheme for companies that invest in innovative water saving technologies, (E) urban green-blue projects with 15 municipalities, (F) innovative projects on circular water use and digital monitoring and smart water data systems, (G) implementation of nature-based solutions in four defined areas, (H) 30 projects for green-blue waterways and (I) wetland restoration projects. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
C.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
36 |
Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change (I-1.22) |
Target |
Land management measures applied (forests, protected area) and remeandering projects in progress |
|
hectare |
0 |
2340 |
Q2 |
2024 |
Land management measures applied to 2340 hectares to enhance biodiversity and resilience to climate change in forests and protected area and progress on remeandering projects. None of the forest projects shall include drainage operations. |
|
37 |
Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change (I-1.22) |
Target |
Land management measures applied (forests and protected area) and remeandering projects finalised |
|
hectare |
2340 |
8460 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Land management measures applied to 8460 hectares to enhance biodiversity and resilience to climate change in forests and protected area and remeandering projects finalised. None of the forest projects shall include drainage operations. |
|
38 |
Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change (I-1.22) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts to projects for creation of two national parks |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2023 |
Award of contracts to two projects and written notification sent to the successful candidates by the Walloon Minister of Environment following the call for proposal for two national parks of a total area between 5000 and 15000 hectares. |
|
39 |
Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change (I-1.22) |
Target |
Completion of two projects for national parks |
|
projects |
0 |
2 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Completion of infrastructure works for two national parks of total area between 5000 and 15000 hectares. |
|
40 |
Ecological defragmentation (I-1.23) |
Target |
Completion of projects on ecological defragmentation |
|
projects |
0 |
15 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Completion of infrastructure works for seven projects on ecological defragmentation (such as eco-ducts or eco-tunnels) and completion of eight projects covering only preparatory phases (such as localisation and design phases) for eight future defragmentation projects. |
|
41 |
Blue Deal (I-1.24) |
Milestone |
Start of projects to reinforce biodiversity and/or mitigate climate change effects. |
Written contractual or legal document to testify the start |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2023 |
Written contractual or legal document signed or adopted to testify the start of 82 out of 91 projects to reinforce biodiversity and/or mitigate climate change effects like drought & floodings: 35 landscape projects for drought mitigation (projects A in the description of the measure), one research program in agriculture (B), two projects on waterway pumps and locks (C), one water management support scheme (D), urban green-blue projects with 15 municipalities (E), two smart water data modules and circular water projects (F), four areas for nature-based solutions (G), 30 projects for green-blue waterways (H) and wetland restoration (I). |
|
42 |
Blue Deal (I-1.24) |
Milestone |
Land purchases to reinforce biodiversity and/or mitigate climate change effects |
Title deeds |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
Land purchases finalised for wetland restoration projects (I) and for areas for nature-based solutions (G) (Approximately 2000 hectares) |
|
43 |
Blue Deal (I-1.24) |
Target |
Completion of Blue Deal projects |
|
projects |
0 |
82 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Completion of 82 out of 91 Blue Deal projects to increase resilience to drought (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I), covering 2255 hectares (A, E, G, H, I), four pumping installations built and four lock doors restored (C) and including the completion of an operational smart water monitoring network and circular water projects (F). |
D. COMPONENT 2.1: Cybersecurity
This component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan is expected to strengthen the overall cyber resilience and cyber crisis preparedness of Belgian society.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendations 2019.3 and 2020.3 to focus investment on the digital transition and to Country Specific Recommendations 2019.4 and 2020.3 to improve the business environment.
D.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment I-2.01: ‘Cybersecure and resilient digital society’ of the Federal State
The investment consists of measures to (1) strengthen cyber capabilities of SMEs and self-employed through cybersecurity awareness raising campaigns, a website, offering services such as a free cyberscan to quickly identify areas where cyber resilience may be improved and projects supporting SMEs in the field of cybersecurity such as exchanges of best practices, (2) combat cyber criminality through targeted warnings of cyber vulnerabilities and IT infections for professional IT users (Be Guard), an online registry of validated websites to allow a quick check of websites’ reliability (Validated Web Sites), and an online questionnaire to evaluate cyber maturity of businesses as well as recommendations to increase their cyber resilience (Cyber Fundamentals), (3) combat phishing through updated and new anti-phishing platforms (StopPhishing), (4) introduce a global cybersecurity governance framework within the Foreign Affairs Department based on ISO27000 3 and CIS20 4 norms, and (5) offer cyber resilience services to the Belgian public at large, consisting of (i) incident-handling services of cyber-attacks on IT infrastructure and systems of private businesses, citizens, and government services and (ii) services to enable attribution of such cyber-attacks (i.e. the identification of the organisation or person at the origin of the attack) due to the increased cyber capabilities of the Ministry of Defence, which is the Belgian administration’s hub of cybersecurity specialists where such activities are centralised. Military operations shall not be financed and the centre of gravity of the measure is civilian, with services aimed to protect and increase the cyber resilience and cyber security of society at large, i.e. private businesses, citizens and government services. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-2.02: ‘Cybersecurity: 5G’ of the Federal State
The investment is expected to reinforce interception capabilities of private communications by the judicial police in a 5G context due to investments in a sweeping and a jamming suite, systems to capture audio in houses and vehicles, capabilities to locate and track vehicles and objects, and a transmission system of images acquired during special investigation methods. Those investments shall be adapted to 5G. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment I-2.03: ‘Cybersecurity: NTSU/CTIF interception and safeguard’ of the Federal State
The investment shall introduce a digital registry of intercepted private communications (Li-Vault) managed by the National Technical and Tactical Support Unit of the Belgian federal police, for use by the justice system, the police and intelligence services. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2025.
D.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
44 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Target |
Notifica-tion of award for eight public tenders |
Written notification of awards sent to successful candidates |
Awards for public tenders |
0 |
8 |
Q4 |
2022 |
Notification of awards for eight public tenders (i) by the Ministry of Economy for the delivery of the website that allows SMEs and self-employed to carry out a free cyber scan to quickly identify areas where cyber resilience may be improved, (ii) by the Ministry of Economy for a yearly cybersecurity awareness campaign targeted towards SMEs and self-employed, (iii) by the Centre for Cyber security for the delivery of an online platform where companies can register their websites and extended validated certificates can be distributed allowing visitors to quickly identify the reliability of websites, (iv) by the Centre for Cyber security for the delivery of a platform where larger SMEs may self-asses their cyber maturity based on an online survey; (v) by the Belgian federal telecommunications regulator for the implementation of an anti-phishing solution for emails, (vi) SMS, (vii) fraudulent calls and (viii) fraudulent signalisation messages in telecom operators infrastructure. |
|
45 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Milestone |
Delivery of first cybersecu-rity awareness campaign |
First cybersecurity awareness campaign targeted towards SMEs and self-employed on cyber resilience risks delivered |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
First cybersecurity awareness campaign targeted towards SMEs and self-employed on cyber resilience risks delivered and website deployed. This website shall offer a free cyberscan to SMEs and self-employed to quickly identify areas where cyber resilience may be improved. |
|
46 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Target |
Instruments to increase cyber resilience available to the general public |
|
Number of Instruments |
0 |
4 |
Q4 |
2023 |
Four tools aimed at increasing cyber resilience capabilities are available to the general public, i.e. (i) BeGuard, (ii) Validated Web Sites; (iii) Cyber fundamentals, and (iv) StopPhishing. |
|
47 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Milestone |
Global cybersecurity governance framework within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Global cybersecurity governance framework within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs implemented and in force |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
A global cybersecurity governance framework based on ISO27000 and CIS20 norms is in force and implemented within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
|
48 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Milestone |
Delivery of cyber resilience services to Belgian society at large by the Ministry of Defence |
Entry in operation of Ministry of Defence cyber resilience platform and publication of cyber threats report |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
Cyber resilience capabilities of the Ministry of Defence are enhanced to offer cyber resilience services to Belgian society at large, including citizens, businesses and civil services. These services shall be delivered through one platform integrating relevant cyber threat intelligence, and through the oversight of actors potentially representing cyber threats. This oversight shall consist of a periodic report containing cyber actor updates. |
|
49 |
Cybersecuri-ty: 5G (I-2.02) |
Milestone |
Reinforced interception capabilities of the judicial police in a 5G context |
Reinforced interception capabilities of the judicial police in a 5G context on the entire Belgian territory through five operational elements |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2025 |
Interception capabilities of private communications by the judicial police in a 5G context are reinforced on the entire Belgian territory. This shall be achieved through the entry in operation of the following: - a sweeping suite adapted to 5G; - a jamming suite adapted to 5G; - systems to capture audio in houses and vehicles adapted to 5G; - capabilities to locate and track vehicles and objects adapted to 5G; and - a transmission system of images acquired during special investigation methods. |
|
50 |
Cybersecuri-ty: NTSU/CTIF interception and safeguard (I-2.03) |
Milestone |
Digital registry of intercepted private communications managed by the National Technical and Tactical Support Unit of the Belgian federal police |
Entry in operation of the digital registry of intercepted private communications |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2025 |
Digital registry of intercepted private communications (Li-vault) managed by the National Technical and Tactical Support Unit of the Belgian federal police, operational and ready for use by the justice system, the police and intelligence services. |
E. COMPONENT 2.2: Public administration
This component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aims at increasing the efficiency of the public administration by digitalising its services.
This component contributes to addressing the Country Specific Recommendations 2019.3 and 2019.4 calling on Belgium to focus investment-related economic policy on, inter alia, digitalisation and to reduce the regulatory and administrative burden to incentivise entrepreneurship. It is also related to Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 to improve the business environment, to front-load mature public investment and to focus investment on the digital transition.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
E.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment I-2.04: ‘Digitalisation IPSS’ of the Federal State
This measure aims at the acceleration of the digitalisation of the public social security institutions. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 August 2026. It consists of three sub-measures:
Investment I-2.04: ‘Digitalisation IPSS; sub-measure 1: Digital platform for interaction between Social Security and the citizens and businesses’ of the Federal State
The objective of this investment is to provide better access to social security services for citizens, businesses, including self-employed people, and on the other hand, to achieve performance gains for administrations and businesses. The investment is also intended to make Belgian social security more accessible in a European context. This investment shall make it possible to improve the communication and exchange of data among the institutions of the Member States, in particular in the context of rights clearance, fraud detection, the transmission of digital European forms and the use of a unique European citizen identification number.
Investment I-2.04: ‘Digitalisation IPSS, sub-measure 2: Digital account management for each company’ of the Federal State
This investment shall make it possible to digitalise financial flows between social security and businesses and potential financial intermediaries and service providers. Some of the applications for managing employers’ accounts date from 1979 and are very heterogeneous. This constitutes a technological and human risk. Their overhaul and the establishment of an integrated, efficient, evolving and high-quality information system is essential for the digitalisation and opening up of employers’ accounts.
Investment I-2.04: ‘Digitalisation IPSS, sub-measure 3: Improving data quality for automated decision-making and providing an independent social security platform – INASTI’ of the Federal State
This measure includes the creation of a central database by the Institut national d'assurances sociales pour travailleurs indépendants (INASTI), the social security institution for self-employed. This database is meant to contain all career data, as well as all rights and obligations of the self-employed. The creation of a single self-employed database is a prerequisite, for INASTI to create the social security platform for self-employed persons. Through such a platform, the provision of interactive electronic forms, automation of processes based on new technologies shall make it possible to record all social security information in the self-employed people’s ‘individual’ file, which may be consulted immediately by stakeholders at any time.
Investment I–2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF’ of the Federal State
This measure aims at the acceleration of the digitalisation of different administration services under the Federal State. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026. It consists of 12 sub-measures:
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at increasing the overall level of digitalisation of the Belgian judicial system, which is expected to have a positive impact on its overall efficiency. The sub-measure aims at addressing various identified weaknesses, starting from the digitalisation of the internal processes. The focus shall notably be on investments to tackle the current limitations and inefficiencies by improving case management and introducing data collection automation. In addition, the project aims at increasing the rate of online publication of judgments which is currently low and is essential to help citizens and businesses comply with the law.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 2: Digitalisation of judicial business processes’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at responding to the technical and technological challenges faced by the Federal Judicial Police in increasingly complex operations. The sub-measure shall enable the members of the federal judicial police to gain in efficiency: a) in solving problems encountered today as decryption, 5G, internet research; b) through an increased automation of certain actions and use of artificial intelligence tools; c) through better data management and better understanding of data by the modernisation of forensic centres. The sub-measure includes the purchase of specific software solutions and IT equipment (servers).
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 3: Support to the development of digital tools and the increased digitalisation of the foreign trade agency’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at supporting trade through the development of digital tools and increased digitalisation of the Foreign Trade Agency to enable a modern and digital transition of federal services in charge of promoting foreign trade. The sub-measure includes the development of a specific application and the corresponding training for 25 users.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 4: Crisis management and security’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at ensuring that the National Crisis Centre is provided with the capacity of hosting many partners in safe and secure circumstances, and for them to be able to connect to the digital infrastructure. A highly available and secure communication network among security partners involved in national crisis management needs to be developed to allow the release of confidential and classified information. To this end, the development of a new digital crisis infrastructure, a secure communication network and of a crisis management platform are included in the sub-measure.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 5: Digital Bozar’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at adopting digital technologies, which shall make it possible to create 100% digital events (such as music, exhibitions, BOZAR LAB) with the aim of gaining access to new markets for artists and cultural partners and increasing access to culture for people and groups located remotely (including in other countries), or facing mobility challenges (such as elderly people). To this end the sub-measure includes an infrastructure component with the laying of optical fiber between the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie and the Centre for Fine Arts, a cybersecurity component and the deployment of digital activities including IT training for the staff.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 6: Digital government for citizens and businesses’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at putting in place a strategy for radical transformation of the current model of related administration services and increase the uptake of digital public services by citizens and businesses. It provides for the development of a digital platform for the interaction between the government and the citizens and businesses.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 7: Digitalisation of asylum and immigration management processes’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at modernising the digital infrastructure to allow for a better and controlled integration with internal and public offices, modernising and developing migration services with a focus on user experience; standardising and securing the mutual exchange of data and documents. The project includes the setting of a digital integration platform, a crossroads database for foreign nationals and the development of a data warehouse, which shall make it possible to generate, store, structure and combine migration-related data and statistics.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 8: Digitalisation of the AFSCA’s services for operators and consumers’ of the Federal State
The sub-measure aims to contribute to the digital transformation of the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA), which is responsible for monitoring the safety of the food chain and the food quality. In particular, this project aims at modernising existing applications and better integrating them to form a coherent system, ensuring rapid, efficient and fully digital processing of files. The project includes the digitalisation of the internal procedures, the development of two applications, one for the operators and one for the consumers and the setting-up of an open data platform.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 9: Investment in the digitalisation of the SPF Foreign Affairs and the services offered by the SPF Foreign Affairs’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at modernising the Foreign Affair administration. This project comprises the development of several applications, including the recast of Belpas (the passport applications), which is necessary in view of the evolution and modernisation of passports and biometric data. The sub-measure also involves the development of a new application for the management of the human resources, the digitalisation of the consular registers and the modernisation of the IT network.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 10: Single Digital Gateway’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at fostering a far-reaching transformation of the Belgian administrative landscape to support the recovery and reap the full potential of the internal market. In order to achieve this, full use of Belgian authentic sources shall be made which consist in databases where genuine data are kept and which serve as a reference for data on persons and legal fact. Such databases allow for simplification since the data may be reused by all the authorities having the appropriate authorizations and no longer shall be requested from citizens or businesses, in application of the ‘Only once’ principle. Furthermore, the sub-measure aims at maximising secure access to public online applications through electronic identification, digitalising back-office functions related to citizens and businesses; extend the Single Digital Gateway core support services to fully user-centric support services by sending questions from citizens and businesses to targeted administrations and by monitoring statistics.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 11: Unleashing government data’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure aims at reaching a greater overview of available government data through the expansion of a register of authentic sources, increase the availability and reliability of data and make it easier to access them. Furthermore, this sub-measure is expected to increase trust in the correct use of data, or maximise its re-use through standardisation and the use of artificial intelligence. This project includes the support for the extension of a number of platforms and the development of new services or expansion of existing services.
Investment I-2.05: ‘Digitalisation SPF, sub-measure 12: Digitalisation SPF Employment’ of the Federal State
This sub-measure consists of two parts. The first part aims at the creation of a digital individual training account for each person participating to the labour market dynamics. The account shall contain a number of information such as a skills assessment, trainings followed and a formal validation of the acquired competencies. This account shall be accessible to the concerned people. The second part aims at the creation of a database to monitor changes in working conditions. A user-friendly website shall be created for the presentation of the collected data and of the relative reports.
Investment I-2.06: ‘eHealth Services and Health Data’ of the Federal State
The objective of this project is to increase the quality, speed and agility of healthcare through digitalisation of health processes by stimulating innovative digital systems. In addition, it also aims at ensuring the administrative and technical means and availability of well anonymised and secure health data. Different actions are foreseen under the project, among which the extension of the e-prescription capabilities, improvement of the quality of prescriptions and cost reductions achieved for instance through clinical decision support systems or the operationalisation of tele-consultancy.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment I-2.07: ‘Digitalisation of ONE’ of the French Community
The measure aims to contribute to the digital transformation of the Office de la Naissance et de l’Enfance (ONE), a public reference body in the French Community for all matters relating to childhood, child policies, mother and child protection, medico-social support for the (future) mother and child, childcare outside their family environment and support for parenthood.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment I-2.08: ‘Digitalisation of the cultural and media sector’ of the French Community
The objective of the measure is to equip the Belgian French-speaking media and cultural sectors with tools assisting them in the digitalisation of the audio-visual and audio works and enhancing the visibility of those works. To increase the visibility of the Belgian French-speaking media and cultural sector over the different digital platforms, a set of technological tools shall be developed, which shall provide for the automatic referencing of the content of the audio-visual and audio works and for a system of shared authentication. The measure includes as well the digitalisation of 50 audio-visual and audio works produced in the French-speaking community.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-2.09: ‘Digitalization of the Flemish Government’ of the Flemish Region
This measure has four main objectives:
·automating as many services as possible, notably those involving automatic entitlements, payments and proactive information,
·enabling quick and effective government decisions with data, where the use of data increasingly feeds government decisions. In this regard, investments are foreseen in the development of sensor data platforms, particularly in the areas of mobility and the environment.
·ensuring that a reliable basic infrastructure is put in place by strengthening the common basic information and ICT modules and by providing support,
·offering a hybrid future-oriented workplace to each Flemish official.
The measure will consist in a number of 18 projects that will be realised under the following 4 schemes: 1. Towards a low-cost public service for citizens, businesses and associations; 2. Enable quick and effective decisions with data; 3. Ensuring a reliable basic infrastructure by strengthening common information and ICT building blocks; and 4. Providing a hybrid workplace of the future for each Flemish official.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 December 2025.
Investment I-2.10: ‘Regional data exchange platform’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The aim of this project is to make use of the data available in the Brussels Region for the benefit of Brussels citizens and businesses by developing a Brussels data exchange platform. In particular, the platform shall facilitate the establishment of urban “digital twins” (virtual representations of a city's physical assets).
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.
Investment I-2.11: ‘Digitalisation of citizen-business processes’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The objective of this project is to address the growing need for administrative simplification and to enable citizens and businesses to complete their procedures in a coherent, efficient and transparent manner. In this regard, four projects shall contribute to the objective of administrative simplification:
·the implementation of a Brussels Regional Platform for Citizens Relations Management (CIRM),
·the launch of platform for digitalisation of planning permitting procedures,
·the launch of a platform for the digitalisation of urban information procedures and urban archives. This project shall be accompanied with the reforms and adjustments required for its proper implementation.
·the launch of a platform for the digitalisation of environmental permit procedures.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment I-2.12: ‘Digitalisation of regional and local government’ of the Walloon Region
This project aims at addressing the fragmentation of the services offered online by the administrations and make them more user friendly. It shall modernise the applications used by the public administration services. The projects consists in four elements:
·improvement of services to users,
·development of new digital platforms,
·development of data governance in view of their valorisation,
·IT infrastructure and related training to improve the IT knowledge of the staff.
The project includes, among others, the development of four digital platforms (platform Subsidies, Penalties, Authorisations and Archive) and two projects in relation with urban and environment permits.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Reform R-2.01: ‘Simplification of administrative procedures: e-government for businesses, simplification of administrative procedures’ of the Federal State
This reform aims at administrative simplification notably by fully digitalising the procedure for the creation, alteration and dissolution of a legal person. In particular, measures to digitalise administrative procedures with the objectives (i) to reduce the number of forms for the creation, modification and dissolution of legal persons from 3200 forms to three forms; and (ii) to make possible the creation, modification and dissolution of legal persons gradually for all legal forms in full electronic form via notaries or via e-Greffe shall be adopted.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Reform R-2.02: ‘E-government: Tendering procedure’ of the Federal State
This reform consists of a coherent set of measure to expand the use of eProcurement including a new Royal Decree, which shall adapt the federal regulatory framework for conducting tendering procedures in order to facilitate the ease of use of the new and improved e-government platform.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2024.
E.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
51 |
Digitalisation IPSS (I-2.04) (sub-measure 2) |
Target |
All Public Institute for Social Security (IPSS) communications are digital and data is centralized / consolidated |
|
% |
0 |
100 |
Q2 |
2024 |
100% of communication between Public Institute for Social Security (IPSS) and the employers in terms of the billing/payment are digitalised. The National Social Security Office (RSZ/ONSS) billing system is integrated in the Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line (PEPPOL) network. |
|
52 |
Digitalisation IPSS (I-2.04) (sub-measure 1) |
Milestone |
Digital solution available - web interface (IPSS) |
Final version of the IPSS web interface is operational. |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2026 |
The final user rights management interfaces for the Public Institute for Social Security (IPSS) communications are available. Partners, businesses and citizens have new, efficient interfaces for managing their declarations and communications with social security. Communication channels have been automated and modernized. The management tools for all the new applications developed to manage the user rights and access, to register new employers and to declare new or updated relations between the social security and an employer/employees are in place and allow easy maintenance and facilitated future evolutions. Stakeholders have access to their data which is searchable and open. The new platform is fully operational, modern, maintainable and scalable. The infrastructure is in place to support all the new applications to register new employers and to declare new or updated relations between the social security and an employer/employee. |
|
53 |
Digitalisation IPSS (I-2.04) (sub-measure 3) |
Milestone |
Digital solution available - Interactive platform (IPSS) |
Interactive platform for self-employed is fully operational. |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
A Public Institute for Social Security (IPSS) interactive platform for self-employed is fully operational and provide for the following: ·interactive electronic forms and automation of processes, such as the bridging right and the exemptions to which self-employed are entitled. ·All information relating to social security are recorded in the self-employed person’s “individual” file, which may be consulted immediately at any time by the parties involved. ·The platform makes it possible to automate processes, speed up the communication of decisions and automatically grant derived rights. ·The platform is connected to other institutions, including the National Social Security Office (NSSO) and the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) or platforms and allows exchanges with other countries in the social security sector. |
|
54 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (sub-measure: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12) |
Milestone |
Requirements are defined |
The requirements, design and solutions for the different sub-measures are defined and approved |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
The requirements, design and solutions necessary for sub-measures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are defined by the competent administrations and approved by the competent Ministry. |
|
55 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (sub-measure: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12) |
Milestone |
Projects are completed and the output is operational |
Projects are completed and operational. |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
Projects corresponding to sub-measures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are completed and operational. EUR 92 500 000 have been paid out. |
|
56 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
Project management in place for the digital transformation of justice following the adoption of a decree |
Adoption of the ministerial Decree of a program management office, which set up for the digital transformation of justice |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2021 |
Adoption of a Ministerial Decree by the Minister of Justice to set up a Program Management Office with a clear governance structure to digitalise SPF Justice. This includes a clear definition of tasks and competences, and clear arrangements for the different parties that shall participate in the digital transformation. |
|
57 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
Publication of the JustOnWeb online portal |
The JustOnWeb basic portal is put on line. |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
The JustOnWeb basic portal is put on line. JustOnWeb shall be the “One Stop” web portal, where individuals, businesses, lawyers and public authorities may access justice services and information. At an initial stage, the JustOnWeb base portal shall provide a limited number of services such as filing procedural documents in a case, consulting criminal cases with regard to sexual offences, consultation and payment of traffic fines, consultation of personal official acts (such as marriage, adoption), starting a case on the protection of persons. |
|
58 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
Internal centralization of court decisions |
Judicial verdicts are available for consultation through the just-on-web portal. |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
The relevant new judicial verdicts of the courts of first instance (including the justices of the peace and the police courts) and the courts of appeal shall be centralized internally. A fully automated pseudonymisation algorithm shall convert this centralized data source into a publishable version compliant with privacy regulations. 50% of the total amount of judicial verdicts are available for consultation through the just-on-web portal. |
|
59 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
Database for the collection of real-time data |
A database for the collection of real-time data on the progress of legal proceedings is operational. |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2024 |
A database for the collection of real time data on the conduct of court proceedings is operational. The published data shall cover the number of new cases, the number of cases closed, pending cases and the average lead time, for both civil, business and criminal cases. |
|
60 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
New Case Management System for seven entities |
A new case management system shall be developed and deployed for seven entities |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2025 |
A new case management system shall be developed and deployed for seven entities that use an outdated file management system, to make the judicial system more efficient by focusing on far-reaching digitization, which shall allow to process files faster and in larger quantities than today. The choice of entities shall be made in consultation with the College of Courts and Tribunals, the College of the Public Ministry, the College of the Court of Cassation and the ICT Steering Committee, but priority shall in principle be given to entities that are not included in the Mammouth at Central Hosting (MaCH) Phase 2 contract. |
|
61 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 10: Single Digital Gateway) |
Milestone |
The front-end interface is developed |
A Fully Only Once-compliant front end has been developed, tested and validated for 10 domains of activities. |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
A Fully Only Once-compliant front end has been developed, tested and validated for 10 domains (i.e., civil register, population register, social security (employees), social security (employers), motor vehicle register, professional qualifications, legal entities, starting a business, modifying a business, closing a business). The system shall ensure compliance with eIDAS (Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services) regulation and shall be fully user centric by fully applying the "no wrong door" principle.
The “no wrong door” principle in this context means that the end user (citizen or entrepreneur) shall be able to get in touch with the assistance services no matter his/her entrance point, whether it shall be “your Europe”, or “Belgium.be”, a regional portal site, a local entrance point or any public service, no matter the device he/she uses (such as mobile phone, tablet, laptop) and no matter the subject of his/her question. The administrative logic behind the entrance point, at the back office level, shall make sure that the question of the end user shall arrive at the right desk without the end user having to wonder which administration is responsible for which topic. |
|
62 |
eHealth Services and Health Data (I-2.06) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the law setting up the Health Data Authority |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of the law |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2022 |
Entry into force of the law setting up the Health Data Authority, defining in particular the role and the responsibilities of the Authority. Development and validation of the various specifications (called ‘Care Set’ which may be integrated in the Computerised Patient Records) for their integration of into the providers' software. |
|
63 |
eHealth Services and Health Data (I-2.06) |
Milestone |
Design and solution for the subprojects |
Publication of the technical specifications for the eHealth sub-projects |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
The requirements, design and solutions necessary for the different eHealth subprojects are defined. |
|
64 |
eHealth Services et Health Data (I-2.06) |
Milestone |
Full roll-out of the project |
Successful completion of the different eHealth sub-projects |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2025 |
All sub-projects related to eHealth services and Health Data resulted in full operational and integrated services and capabilities. |
|
65 |
Digitalisation of ONE (I-2.07) |
Milestone |
Entry in operation of new digital platforms |
Digital platforms have been created and are available to all users. |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2025 |
Digital platforms shall be created and are available to all users. This includes the following platforms: MY: Beneficiary Platform, which aims to provide beneficiaries, in a secure and private manner, with relevant and targeted information according to their (the beneficiary's) needs and situation (the principle of "segmentation"). PRO: Professional Platform, which aims to provide childcare professionals with the tools to manage the various business processes, as well as the information that shall support their development, and the interactions with the ONE OFFICE: Platform Agents, which is intended for ONE's agents and brings together all the applications for managing business processes, support services, decision aids, dashboards and relevant information. It is one of the components of the Digital Workplace. PARTNERS: ONE Partner Platform, which is intended for ONE's partners who do not have to be on the PRO platform. |
|
66 |
Digitalisation of the cultural and media sector (I-2.08) |
Target |
Completion of projects for digitized and enhanced audiovisual and audio works |
|
Projects be completed |
0 |
50 |
Q2 |
2022 |
Full completion of 50 projects falling within the following categories: · digitized and enhanced audiovisual and audio works: 30 projects ·native digital works created: 20 projects |
|
67 |
Digitalisation of the cultural and media sector (I-2.08) |
Target |
Adoption by cultural and media operators of technological tools |
|
% |
0 |
30 |
Q2 |
2026 |
30% of cultural and media operators adopt and implement in their online platforms the technological tools developed for the digitalisation of the cultural and media sector.
These cultural and media operators come from a list of 276 operators likely to adopt technological tools: ·62 cultural venues structurally subsidized by the FWB and with a capacity of more than 250 places ·41 museum places, recognized in category A and B within the meaning of the Decree of June 19, 2019 of the Government of the French Community implementing the Decree of April 25, 2019 relating to the museum sector in the French Community ·1 national television, 3 private channels, 12 local TV, 5 Web TV, 88 independent local radio stations, 10 network radio stations ·6 daily press titles ·48 magazine / information periodical titles
The technological tools developed shall use the sovereign and standardized analysis and machine learning models (Artificial Intelligence) which allow the automatic analysis and annotation of the image, sound and text, taking into account the context data of '' cultural and media content produced in the French Community. It shall be developed in "open source" and made available free of charge under a "creative commons" license. |
|
68 |
Digitisation of the Flemish Government (I-2.09) |
Milestone |
Contract award for 18 projects |
Notification of award for a number of projects |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
Notification of award sent by the Flemish Government or by the respective entity (notification authority) for a number of 18 projects (i.e. 100% of total) to the successful candidates following the call for proposal under the 4 schemes (1. Towards a low-cost public service for citizens, businesses and associations; 2. Enable quick and effective decisions with data; 3. Ensuring a reliable basic infrastructure by strengthening common information and ICT building blocks; and 4. Providing a hybrid workplace of the future for each Flemish official) |
|
69 |
Digitisation of the Flemish Government (I-2.09) |
Milestone |
Development of 4 new digital features |
All awarded projects are completed |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2025 |
All awarded projects under the 4 schemes (1. Towards a low-cost public service for citizens, businesses and associations; 2. Enable quick and effective decisions with data; 3. Ensuring a reliable basic infrastructure by strengthening common information and ICT building blocks; and 4. Providing a hybrid workplace of the future for each Flemish official) are completed. |
|
70 |
Regional data exchange platform (I-2.10) |
Milestone |
Award of the public contract |
A mission order document shall be published |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2021 |
A mission order document shall be published presenting the high level requirements of the solution for a data exchange platform as well as the distribution of roles between the Brussels Regional Informatics Center (BRIC) and the subcontractors and the needs in terms of data governance and the governance required for the platform. |
|
71 |
Regional data exchange platform (I-2.10) |
Target |
10 public administrations are supported for the deployment of projects on the regional data platform |
|
Public administrations |
0 |
10 |
Q4 |
2024 |
A number of ten public administrations are supported for the development of projects on the new regional data exchange platform of the Brussels Region. The support shall consist in data integration development, data analysis, but also in specific resources assignment from Brussels Regional Informatics Center (BRIC) to help the public administrations in their projects, like Data Specialists and Data analysts. The public administrations shall be selected among the most important administrations of the region where the need for data exchange has been identified as required and where it shall provide added value for the Brussels region. |
|
72 |
Digitalisation of citizen-business processes (I-2.11) |
Milestone |
Entry in operation of new digital platforms |
A new platform (CRM) facilitating the interaction between the administration and citizens/enterprises and between administrations is operational in the Brussels Region. |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2021 |
A new platform (CRM) facilitating the interaction between the administration and citizens/enterprises and between administrations is operational in the Brussels Region. The CRM foundation platform shall be available for the development of specific CRM projects within the Brussels Region. The goal is to deploy by end of 2024 16 projects spread over regional and/or local administrations (Parking.Brussels, Hub.Brussels, Bruxelles Economie and Emploi). |
|
73 |
Digitalisation of citizen-business processes (I-2.11) |
Target |
Entry in operation of 3 online platforms (town planning permit, town planning information and environmental permit) |
. |
Digital platforms |
0 |
3 |
Q4 |
2025 |
Three digital platforms respectively for urban planning permits, urban planning information and environmental permits are operational in the Brussels Region.
The Platform for the digitalization of the building permits shall allow citizens and enterprises to make digitally their request for the different types of building permits, they shall be able to follow-up online the status of their permits, exchange digitally the required documents, and follow the process of their permits delivery.
The platform for the digitalization of the urban planning information shall offer services to manage the requests and the follow-up of the urban planning information, by integrating the third parties (such as real estate agencies, notaries). It shall offer services to digitalize urban planning archives on the basis of standards.
The platform for the digitalization of the environmental permits shall allow citizens and enterprises to introduce demands for the different types of environmental permits, including: normal permits, classes, extensions, specific permits, mixed permits. The platform shall also integrate all stages of the procedure from request for complements, modification of the request, until delivery of the permit. |
|
74 |
Digitalisation of regional and local government (I-2.12) |
Milestone |
Awards of three calls for projects |
|
|
|
|
Q2 |
2023 |
Notification of the awards of three calls for projects in the context of digitalisation of the Walloon public sector in view of :
·Improving transparency for the benefit of users. ·Improving data governance at the local level: identification of resource people, usable data sets, control rules, a policy for making data available to citizens and businesses. ·Improving pooling and interoperability between tools and applications. The pooling and the interoperability of the applications and software solutions must bring added value and improving the global connectivity of citizens on the territory. This point must be developed for the benefit of all local policies: mobility, access to local services, connected public spaces, etc. |
|
75 |
Digitalisation of regional and local government (I-2.12) |
Target |
Training upskilling reskilling |
|
Number |
0 |
100000 |
Q4 |
2024 |
Regional, local municipality agents have been trained in the use of new platforms that shall be set-up (platform Subsidies, Penalties, Authorisations and Archive) and new technologies. Management and elected officials were trained in concepts associated with digitization and digital transformation (such as data approach, open data, big data, AI, user approach, regulation, GDPR, accessibility, innovation, interoperability, operational excellence). The target audience for the training is as follows: -10,000 regional agents -90,000 local agents -10,000 agents |
|
76 |
Digitalisation of regional and local government (I-2.12) |
Milestone |
Completion of awarded projects |
All projects completed |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
All awarded projects under the three calls for projects launched in the context of digitalisation of the Walloon public sector have been completed. |
|
77 |
Simplification of administrative procedures (R-2.01) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of measures to simplify the online creation of a business |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of the measures to digitalise administrative procedures |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
Entry into force of measures to digitalise administrative procedures with the objectives (i) to reduce the number of forms for the creation, modification and dissolution of legal persons from 3200 forms to three forms; and (ii) to make possible the creation, modification and dissolution of legal persons gradually for all legal forms in full electronic form via notaries or via e-Greffe. Where multiple policy levels are involved, a cooperation agreement shall be adopted. |
|
78 |
E-government : tendering procedure (R-2.02) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a new regulatory context |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of the new Royal Decree |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
Entry into force of a new Royal Decree which adapts the federal regulatory framework for conducting tendering procedures in order to facilitate the ease of use of the new and improved e-government platform. The new Royal Decree aims to: ·Alignment of federal procurement policy participants (one member / one vote) to improve the penetration rate of federal joint procurement; ·Adopts a common roadmap - response to more targeted objectives in terms of sustainable development and access to SMEs (including innovation); ·Development of purchasing strategies by purchasing segments with category plans. ·Strengthening of the role of the federal purchasing centre of the SPF Bosa. ·Complete the administrative simplification and standardization of processes, in particular with a view to capturing the needs of federal participants |
|
79 |
E-government : tendering procedure (R-2.02) |
Milestone |
Implementation of the new tool |
A new e-procurement platform is operational |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2024 |
A new e-procurement platform is operational. The new platform shall provide real-time data on public procurement throughout the country.
The new & improved platform shall consist of at least the following modules: Internal approval flows with digital signatures eliminating paper based approvals, template engine increasing coherence and reducing errors, submission by means of structured questionnaires decreasing complexity and errors during submission and speeding up the evaluation process, a wizard-like checklist for buyers guiding them to better and more coherent procurement of services and goods; The new platform shall provide real-time data on public procurement throughout the country and shall foresee interfacing possibilities with the federal budget & invoicing tools. During the project decisions on possible additional functionalities shall be taken in light of their expected return on investment for the federal client organisations of the platform. |
F. COMPONENT 2.3: Optic fibre, 5G and new technologies
This component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan contains reforms and investments related to 5G, very high-capacity connectivity infrastructure, and Artificial Intelligence (“AI”), which are expected to deliver essential building blocks for the digital transition in Belgium.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 in that it calls for focusing investments on the digital transition, in particular on digital infrastructure, such as 5G and Gigabit Networks and to Country Specific Recommendation 2019.3 in that it calls for focusing investment-related economic policies on sustainable research and innovation, in particular in the field of digitalisation, taking into account regional differences.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
F.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment I-2.13 - Coverage of white areas by developing very high speed fibre optic networks - German-speaking Community
The investment aims at promoting the fibre readiness in Belgium. This measure consists of investments via a semi-public company in fibre deployment covering the entire German-speaking Community territory, an area where such investment is not deemed commercially viable. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-2.14 - Development of an AI institute in order to use this technology to meet societal challenges – Brussels-Capital Region
This investment shall promote the human-centric use of AI in areas such as health and well-being, environment, mobility, energy, and media and democracy, also in support of the twin green and digital transition, making sure that societal and individual interests are reflected in the AI research, innovation and rollout processes. The AI for the Common Good Institute Brussels (FARI) shall serve as a bridge between academia, businesses, policy-making and citizens and is built on three pillars: (1) AI Research and Innovation Hub: joining forces between academia, industry, policy-makers and citizens to develop AI solutions that are widely accepted, (2) AI & Society Think Tank: reflecting on and positioning of AI in society; and (3) AI test and Experience Lab: showcasing AI and data driven technologies to create awareness for the general public and industry (including a training dimension). Pillars (1) and (3) are included in the plan. Services include city-scale digital twin 5 support to local authorities in urban planning and citizen engagement. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.
Investment I-2.15 - Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of the 35 business parks in Wallonia – Walloon Region
This investment consists of four sub-measures that are expected to:
1.deploy fibre in 35 public business parks in the Walloon region by the Walloon region infrastructure financing company Sofico, where such investments are not deemed commercially viable, in order to achieve a 100% fibre coverage for all public business parks in the Walloon region (‘Fibre connectivity for 35 business parks’);
2.test 5G technology applications in the following B2B business sectors 6 to enable the Walloon region to measure the impact of 5G deployment: smart mobility and logistics, e-health, the industry of the future (improving the competitiveness of enterprises through the use of advanced digital technologies), and smart rurality (supporting the digital transition of the agricultural sector) (‘5G connectivity’);
3.deploy LAN and WLAN equipment in 1500 school locations in the Walloon region, which have not been equipped with such a professional quality equipment yet, by installing the WiFi terminals and the necessary cabling in all classes, as well as the necessary systems to ensure their secure management (‘Internal connectivity of schools’); and
4.Provide support to 750 schools (primary and secondary level) in the Walloon region that supports digital school projects, linking the allocation of digital equipment to the quality of pedagogical plans and training (‘Education 2.0’).
The implementation of the investment is expected to be completed by 30 June 2026.
Reform R-2.03 - Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan – federal and regional level
This measure consists of reforms both at the federal and regional level that are expected to remove bottlenecks, including regulatory bottlenecks, for the deployment of 5G and for the deployment of ultra-fast connectivity infrastructure, such as fibre. At the federal level, the 5G law and Royal Decrees to assign EU pioneer spectrum bands shall enter into force by 1 January 2022 at the latest. The 5G spectrum auction, under investment-friendly conditions 7 , shall be completed by 30 June 2022. Moreover, all three regions are to revise radiation standards which shall allow for effective 5G spectrum deployment for both private and industrial use, if deemed necessary and recommended by the relevant committees, in which case the revised regional standards shall enter into force by 31 March 2022.
Belgium shall also implement the Connectivity Toolbox that is to contain connectivity best practices for reducing the cost of deploying electronic communications networks and for efficient access to 5G radio spectrum tailored to Belgium. This shall include a national roadmap towards simplifying the licensing and permitting procedures relevant for the rollout of 5G and very high capacity networks, such as fibre. A report on the state of play of implementation of the Connectivity Toolbox shall be published by 30 June 2022.
F.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
80 |
Coverage of white areas by developing very high speed fibre optic networks (I-2.13) |
Target |
Coverage |
|
% (percentage) |
0 |
20 |
Q2 |
2026 |
20% of households (7.400 homes) in the German-speaking Community in fibre white zones receive access to very high-capacity fixed fibre networks. |
|
81 |
Development of an AI institute in order to use this technology to meet societal challenges (I-2.14) |
Milestone |
Completion of pilot projects by the AI for the Common Good Institute |
Final report approved on pilot projects by the AI for the Common Good Institute |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
Four pilot projects of the AI for the Common Good Institute completed, providing support services (such as training, development of proof of concepts of software solutions) to profit or non-profit organisations or public organisations in areas such as education in AI, healthcare, and employment in the Brussels Region. |
|
82 |
Development of an AI institute in order to use this technology to meet societal challenges (I-2.14) |
Milestone |
Team of experts created within the AI for the Common Good Institute |
Multi-disciplinary team of experts on AI, Data & Robotics created within the AI for the Common Good Institute |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
A multi-disciplinary team of experts on AI, Data & Robotics within the AI for the Common Good Institute is created and shall be ready to support public services provided by the Brussels-Capital Region and to the digital transition of this region. |
|
83 |
Development of an AI institute in order to use this technology to meet societal challenges (I-2.14) |
Target |
AI services delivered by the AI for the Common Good Institute |
|
Number |
0 |
3 |
Q4 |
2024 |
Three AI services by the AI for the Common Good Institute delivered to local authorities, i.e. digital twin support, trainings and advisory activities related to citizen services (such as engagement). |
|
84 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Target |
Fibre connectivi-ty for 32 business parks |
|
Number |
0 |
35 |
Q4 |
2025 |
35 public regional business parks in Wallonia receive access to fixed very high-capacity fibre networks. |
|
85 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Target |
Award of public procure-ment contracts for 5G proof of concept projects |
|
Number |
0 |
10 |
Q4 |
2024 |
Ten public procurement contracts awarded for 5G technology Proof of Concept projects in areas of Factory of the Future, Smart Rurality, Smart mobility and logistics and e-Health in the Walloon region. |
|
86 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Milestone |
Public procure-ment contracts for 5G proof of concept projects fully executed |
Approval of final report of public procurement contracts for 5G proof of concept |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
Full execution of 75 public procurement contracts awarded for 5G projects in areas of Factory of the Future, Smart Rurality, Smart mobility and logistics and e-Health in the Walloon region. |
|
87 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Target |
Education 2.0 projects delivered |
|
Number |
0 |
675 |
Q2 |
2026 |
675 schools in the Walloon region assisted and equipped, through specific technical and pedagogical support to set up a digital school project enabling them to implement digital technologies adapted to the specific needs of their pedagogy. |
|
88 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Target |
Internal connectivi-ty of schools projects completed |
|
Number |
0 |
1350 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Deployment of LAN and WLAN equipment completed in 1350 school locations in the Walloon region that shall increase the internal connectivity of these schools. |
|
89 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
EU Connectivi-ty Toolbox |
EU Connectivity Toolbox implemented, including roadmap |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2021 |
Plan to implement EU Connectivity Toolbox best practices adopted, including the adoption of a roadmap towards simplifying the licensing and permitting procedures relevant for the rollout of 5G and very high capacity networks, such as fibre. |
|
90 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
Publication of 5G spectrum assignment legislative framework |
Publication of the legislative framework for 5G spectrum assignment |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2021 |
Publication of 5G law and Royal Decrees to assign EU pioneer radio spectrum bands as defined by the Radio Spectrum Policy Group for 5G networks under investment-friendly conditions. |
|
91 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
5G auction |
Organisation and implementation of 5G auction under invest-ment friendly conditions by the Belgian Institute for postal services and telecommunications |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
Completion of 5G auction by the federal telecommunications regulator (Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications) under investment-friendly conditions, in particular: call for candidates, software development (based on Royal Decrees), software testing, user manuals and guidelines, verification of candidates’ eligibility, software training for auctioneer team, auction set-up, licensing decision of Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (with consultation of the regions). |
|
92 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
Status Connectivi-ty Toolbox implementation |
Publication of a report on the state of play of implementation of the Connectivity Toolbox |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
Report published by the federal Ministry of Telecommunications on state of play of implementation of the Connectivity Toolbox in accordance with the scope and process outlined in the Belgian Connectivity Toolbox implementation roadmap. |
|
93 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
Revision of the legislative framework of the three regions on radiation standards |
Revision of the regional legislative frameworks on radiation standards on the basis of recommen-dations by competent committees and commissions |
|
|
|
Q3 |
2022 |
On the basis of the recommendations put forward by the relevant committees and commissions and reports assessing the possibility to amend their respective legislative frameworks on radiation standards, adaptation and entry into force of the respective legislative frameworks of the Flemish region, Brussels Capital region and Walloon region, amending radiation standards, if deemed necessary and recommended by the relevant committees, to allow for effective 5G spectrum deployment both for private and industrial use. |
G. COMPONENT 3.1: Cycling and walking infrastructure
The measures proposed under this component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aim at extending and upgrading cycling and walking infrastructure throughout Belgium.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 calling on Belgium to focus investment on the green and digital transition, in particular on infrastructure for sustainable transport.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
G.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment I-3A: ‘Cycling infrastructure’
The objectives of the investment is to create additional cycling infrastructure and improve existing infrastructure. This measure is composed of the following four sub-measures.
·Investment I-3.01: ‘Cycling infrastructure’ of the Flemish Region
·Investment I-3.02: ‘Cycling infrastructure – Corridors Vélo’ of the Walloon Region
·Investment I-3.03: ‘Cycling infrastructure – Vélo Plus - RBC’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
·Investment I-3.03: ‘Cycling infrastructure – Vélo Plus - FED’ of the Federal State
Investment I-3.01: ‘Cycling infrastructure’ of the Flemish Region
This investment consists in building 139 km new cycling paths and refurbishing 1351km of cycling paths. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.02: ‘Cycling infrastructure – Corridors Vélo’ of the Walloon Region
This investment consists in building at least 27 km of cycling paths through two cycling corridors along motorway E411 and route N275. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.03: ‘Cycling infrastructure – Vélo Plus - RBC’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
This investment consists in building at least 7000 bicycle parking spaces and at least 15 km of cycling paths, and upgrading 5 km of cycling paths in Brussels. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.03: ‘Cycling infrastructure – Vélo Plus - FED’ of the Federal State
This investment consists in building at least 6.6 km of cycling paths along railway lines in Brussels. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.04: ‘Cycling and walking infrastructure – Schuman’ of the Federal State
This investment consists in building at least 28800 square-meters of cycling and walking infrastructure around the Schuman square in Brussels. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
G.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
94 |
Cycling infrastructure (I-3A) |
Milestone |
Start of all cycling and walking projects |
Adoption of the decision or contract award |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2024 |
Cycling infrastructure – VLA: Adoption of the decisions on budget and/or subsidy modalities for the two programs 1) of the Beleidsdomein Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken and 2) Agentschap Binnenlands Bestuur.
Cycling infrastructure – corridors vélo – WAL: Award of contracts on four stretches in Wallonia
Cycling infrastructure – VeloPlus – RBC: Adoption of decision on cycling itineraries in Brussels (RBC)
Cycling infrastructure – VeloPlus – FED: Award of building permit in Brussels. |
|
95 |
Cycling infrastructure (I-3A) |
Target |
New and refurbished cycling roads |
|
km |
0 |
204,3 |
Q1 |
2024 |
204,3 km of new and refurbished cycling paths. |
|
96 |
Cycling infrastructure (I-3A) |
Target |
New and refurbished cycling roads |
|
km |
204,3 |
1389,6 |
Q2 |
2026 |
1389,6 km of new and refurbished cycling paths. |
|
97 |
Cycling infrastructure – VeloPlus – RBC (I-3.03) |
Target |
New public cycling parking for residents |
|
Cycling parking places |
0 |
7000 |
Q2 |
2026 |
7000 new public cycling parking spaces. |
|
98 |
Cycling & walking infrastructure – Schuman (I-3.04) |
Target |
New public space for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport at Schuman |
|
m² |
0 |
25000 |
Q2 |
2026 |
25000 m2 of new public space for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport at Schuman |
H. COMPONENT 3.2: Modal shift
The measures proposed under this component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aim at supporting the modal shift by investing in rail, local public transport, smart mobility and inland waterways.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.3 calling on Belgium to “focus investment-related economic policy on sustainable transport, including upgrading rail infrastructure, the low carbon and energy transition and research and innovation, in particular in digitalisation, taking into account regional disparities. Tackle the growing mobility challenges, by reinforcing incentives and removing barriers to increase the supply and demand of collective and low emission transport.” and Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 calling on Belgium to “focus investment on the green and digital transition, in particular on infrastructure for sustainable transport”.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
H.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Reform R-3.01: ‘Performance Infrabel/NMBS-SNCB’ of the Federal State
This reform consists in adopting the new performance contracts of NMBS-SNCB and Infrabel and its pluri-annual investment plan, which shall at least ensure the following:
-Timely execution of the ‘Réseau suburbain bruxellois - Geweestelijk ExpressNet’ (RER-GEN) suburban rail investments until 2031 in line with the Law adopting the inter-regional cooperation agreement 8 on strategic railway investments 9
-Right incentives for efficiency and service quality embedded in the contract.
-Complete investments I-3.09 ‘Rail-Accessible and multimodal train stations - FED’, I-3.10 ‘Rail – efficient network - FED’ and I-3.12 ‘Rail – Smart mobility - FED’, included in this component of the RRP.
The contract shall be concluded by 30 June 2023.
Reform R-3.02: ‘Mobility budget’ of the Federal State
This reform aims at reinforcing incentives to increase demand for modes of transport between home and work that constitute a sustainable alternative to company cars (i.e. collective transport and bicycle), as the uptake of the current mobility budget scheme has remained very limited. The objective is to induce a modal shift away from cars. The reform consists in the adoption of the law defining a revised mobility budget. The chapter in the law revising the Mobility budget shall enter into force by 1 September 2021.
Investment I-3B: ‘Enhancing public transport in Wallonia’
The objectives of the investment is to enhance public transport in Wallonia. This measure is composed of the following four sub-measures:
·Investment I-3.05: ‘High Service Level Bus’ of the Walloon Region
·Investment I-3.06: ‘Tram extension’ of the Walloon Region
·Investment I-3.07: ‘Metro extension’ of the Walloon Region
·Investment I-3.08: ‘Smart road signals’ of the Walloon Region
Investment I-3C: ‘Rail refurbishment and station accessibility works’
The objective of the investment is to refurbish rails and making railway stations more accessible. This measure is composed of the following two sub-measures:
·Investment I-3.09: ‘Rail-Accessible and multimodal train stations’ of the Federal State
·Investment I-3.10: ‘Rail – efficient network’ of the Federal State
Investment I-3D: ‘Unlocking of Open Data for Smart Mobility application’
The objective of the investment is to unlock open data for a Smart Mobility application. This measure is composed of the following two sub-measures:
·Investment I-3.12: ‘Rail – Smart mobility’ of the Federal State
·Investment I-3.13: ‘Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) deployment’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
Investment I-3E: ‘Go Live of rail IT modules’
The objective of the investment is to operationalise the IT modules improving traffic management and ticketing. This measure is composed of the following two sub-measures:
·Investment I-3.10: ‘Rail – efficient network’ of the Federal State
·Investment I-3.12: ‘Rail – Smart mobility’ of the Federal State
Investment I-3.05: ‘High Service Level Bus’ of the Walloon Region
This investment consists in building a dedicated lane for a high-frequency bus in the Mons-Borinage area (Wallonia) along the N51 road. The increase in operational costs due to the entry of service of this high-frequency bus shall be compensated according to the revised public service contract of the ‘Opérateur de Transport de Wallonie’ granted by the Walloon Region. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.06: ‘Tram extension’ of the Walloon Region
This investment consists in extending the Liège tram by 5.8 km to Herstal and Seraing. The increase in operational costs to compensate the extended tram service shall be included in the revised public service contract of the ‘Opérateur de Transport de Wallonie’ granted by the Walloon Region. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.07: ‘Metro extension’ of the Walloon Region
This investment consists in refurbishing and extending the Charleroi light metro network by 5.5 km up to the Grand Hôpital de Charleroi (Viviers). The increase in operational costs to compensate the extended tram service shall be included in the revised public service contract of the ‘Opérateur de Transport de Wallonie’ granted by the Walloon Region. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.08: ‘Smart road signals’ of the Walloon Region
This investments consists in installing smart traffic lights for public transport busses in Wallonia in at least 400 crossroads. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.09: ‘Rail-Accessible and multimodal train stations’ of the Federal State
This investment consists in building at least 6000 bicycle parking spaces in railway stations 10 and making at least 25 stations 11 accessible in accordance with the technical specifications for interoperability of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.10: ‘Rail – efficient network’ of the Federal State
This investment consists in upgrading 36 rail sections in the overall network, modernising 24 dedicated rail freight infrastructures, removing six infrastructure bottlenecks that hinder the performance of the Brussels-Luxembourg line (Eurocap rail), removing four rail bottlenecks in Brussels and to develop an IT module for traffic management. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-3.11: ‘Canal Albert and Trilogiport’ of the Walloon Region
This investment consists in extending the multimodal platform of Trilogiport in Liège and in increasing the height of 4 bridges above the Albert-Canal (Lanaye, Lixhe, Haccourt and Hermalle-sous-Argenteau bridges) to allow barges to transport freight of up to 9.1m of height (4 layers of freight). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment I-3.12: ‘Rail – Smart mobility’ of the Federal State
This investment consists in setting up an open data route-planner and eight IT modules with a ticketing platform interoperable with other Belgian regional transport operators (STIB-MIVB, De Lijn, TEC). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 March 2025.
Investment I-3.13: ‘Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) deployment’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
This investment consists in setting up a Brussels Data Hub to allow a swift storage, handling, analysis and exchange of mobility data generated by mobility service providers and Mobility-as-a-Service aggregators (“MaaS-aggregators”). The Brussels Data Hub shall cover not only public transport but also cycling. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 March 2025.
Investment I-3.14: ‘Modal shift grants’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
This investment consists in supporting a new revised modal shift grant replacing the “Bruxelles’Air” grant, by extending it to all new types of sustainable modes of transport (car-sharing, bike-sharing, scooters) to reinforce incentives to increase demand for collective and low emission transport. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Investment I-3.15: ‘Smart move’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
This investment consists in developing a mobility-as-a-service IT system (“SmartMove”) in the Brussels-Capital Region with an “app” interface to provide users with complete and accurate information on available modes of transport, including their respective cost, with particular attention to the impact on congestion and the environment. The investment also covers notably back office tracking, a website, authentication and a software for pricing and pricing simulation and for cross-referencing data with automatic number plat recognition. The IT systems include also a road charging component, with road charging still the subject of discussions between the different Regions. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2022.
H.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
99 |
Enhancing public transport in Wallonia (I-3B) |
Target |
Start of major infrastructure works for bus (Mons and smart road signals), tram (Liège) and light metro (Charleroi) |
|
Projects |
0 |
4 |
Q3 |
2023 |
High Service Level Bus – WAL -Award of contracts for all public works (contract award notification has been published) Tram extension Liège – WAL -Completion of preliminary study -Completion of environmental impact assessment -Gathering of all preliminary documents needed to request building and environmental permits -Delivery of all building and environmental permits for extension to Herstal and Seraing. Extension metro Charleroi – WAL -Delivery of all building and environmental permits Feux intelligents – WAL -Award of contracts for all public works (contract award notification has been published) |
|
100 |
Enhancing public transport in Wallonia (I-3B) |
Target |
Completion of works and operationalisation of smart road traffic lights |
|
Km: Number of smart road traffic lights crossroads |
0 0 |
6 260 |
Q2 |
2025 |
High Service Level Bus – WAL
6 km of additional public transport infrastructure for zero-emission High Service Level bus (Mons), tram extension (Liège) and metro extension (Charleroi) Feux intelligents – WAL -Equipment of 260 crossroads with smart road signals. |
|
101 |
Enhancing public transport in Wallonia (I-3B) |
Target |
Completion of works and crossroads with smart road traffic lights |
|
Km: Number of crossroads with smart road traffic lights in the centralised platform |
6 260 |
18 400 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Completion of works of 18km additional public transport infrastructure for zero-emission High Service Level Bus (Mons), tram extension (Liège) and metro extension (Charleroi) and 400 crossroads with smart traffic lights for public transport busses are operational in a centralised road signalisation platform. |
|
102 |
Enhancing public transport in Wallonia (I-3B) |
Milestone |
Signature of revised public service contract of OTW (‘Organisme de Transport de Wallonie’) |
Revised public service contract of OTW (‘Organisme de Transport de Wallonie’) |
- |
- |
- |
Q2 |
2024 |
Signature of the revised public service contract of OTW (‘Organisme de Transport de Wallonie’) with committed compensation for the additional operational expenditure of the zero-emission high-level frequency bus service in Mons, the metro of Charleroi and the tram of Liège. |
|
103 |
Rail refurbishment and station accessibility works (I-3C) |
Target |
Completion of rail refurbishment and modernisation works and station accessibility works (step 1) |
|
Completed works |
0 |
32 |
Q3 |
2022 |
Completion of 32 interventions to upgrade rail infrastructure, add 6000 bicycle parking spaces make 5 stations are accessible in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 on at least 4 criteria: - high platforms (76cm) - platforms accessible through ramps or lifts - tactile warning surface guiding system - at least one ticket vending machine accessible to persons with reduced mobility |
|
104 |
Rail refurbishment and station accessibility works (I-3C) |
Target |
Completion of rail refurbishment and modernisation works and station accessibility works (step 2) |
|
Completed works |
32 |
62 |
Q3 |
2023 |
Completion of 62 interventions to upgrade rail infrastructure, add 6000 bicycle parking spaces make 12 stations are accessible in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 on at least 4 criteria: - high platforms (76cm) - platforms accessible through ramps or lifts - tactile warning surface guiding system - at least one ticket vending machine accessible to persons with reduced mobility |
|
105 |
Rail refurbishment and station accessibility works (I-3C) |
Target |
Completion of rail refurbishment and modernisation works and station accessibility works (step 3) |
|
Completed works |
62 |
82 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Completion of 82 interventions to upgrade rail infrastructure, add 6000 bicycle parking spaces make 25 stations are accessible in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 on at least 4 criteria: - high platforms (76cm) - platforms accessible through ramps or lifts - tactile warning surface guiding system - at least one ticket vending machine accessible to persons with reduced mobility |
|
106 |
Canal Albert et Trilogiport (I-3.11) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for the works of the bridges over Canal Albert / and a new platform at Trilogiport |
Written notification of contract awards |
- |
- |
- |
Q3 |
2023 |
Award of all contracts for the works of the new multimodal platform of Trilogiport in Liège and the 4 bridges above the Albert-Canal (Lanaye, Lixhe, Haccourt and Hermalle-sous-Argenteau bridges). |
|
107 |
Canal Albert et Trilogiport (I-3.11) |
Target |
Completion of the works of the bridges over Canal Albert / and a new platform at Trilogiport |
|
Number of works |
0 |
5 |
Q4 |
2025 |
Completion of the works in the multimodal platform of Trilogiport in Liège (reception of “procès-verbal de reception provisoire”) and of the works to increase the height of 4 bridges above the Albert-Canal (Lanaye, Lixhe, Haccourt and Hermalle-sous-Argenteau bridges). |
|
108 |
Unlocking of Open Data for Smart Mobility application (I-3D) |
Target |
Unlocking of Open Data for Smart Mobility application |
|
Projects |
0 |
3 |
Q1 |
2025 |
Unlocking of Open Data for Smart Mobility application: - SNCB ticketing (1project), - SNCB planning & realtime data (1 project) - Brussels mobility services (1 project) |
|
109 |
Go Live of rail IT modules (I-3E) |
Target |
Go Live of rail IT modules |
|
Modules |
0 |
10 |
Q4 |
2024 |
Go Live of rail IT modules: - Infrabel traffic management system (1 module) SNCB-NMBS Routeplanner (1 module) SNCB-NMBS Ticketing components (8 modules) enabling better operations and customer experience in freight and passenger railway. |
|
110 |
Mobiliteitsbudget (R-3.02) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the mobility budget |
Adoption of the mobility budget |
- |
- |
- |
Q3 |
2021 |
Adoption of the mobility budget. |
|
111 |
SNCB/INFRABEL Performance (R-3.01) |
Milestone |
Approval of the new performance contracts of NMBS-SNCB and Infrabel and the pluri-annual investment plan, contract |
Approval of contracts |
- |
- |
- |
Q2 |
2023 |
The new performance contract shall include provisions to ensure: - the timely execution of the works for the RER-GEN in line with the law adopting the inter-regional cooperation agreement on strategic railway investments (Annex Ia of the Loi portant assentiment à l’accord de coopération du 5 octobre 2018 entre l’Etat fédéral, la Région flamande, la Région wallonne et la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale relatif au financement des infrastructures ferroviaires stratégiques / Wet houdende instemming met het samenwerkingsakkoord van 5 oktober 2018 tussen de Federale Staat, het Vlaamse Gewest, het Waalse Gewest en het Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Gewest betreffende de financiering van de strategische spoorweginfrastructuren, Moniteur belge – 11.03.2019 – Belgisch Staatsblad) - Right incentives for efficiency and service quality embedded in the contract - the completion of investments I-3.09 ‘Rail-Accessible and multimodal train stations - FED’, I-3.10 ‘Rail – efficient network - FED’ and I-3.12 ‘Rail – Smart mobility - FED’, included in this component of the RRP |
|
112 |
Smart Move (I-3.15) |
Milestone |
Smart Move application is operational |
Go live of Smart Move application |
- |
- |
- |
Q2 |
2022 |
The Smart Move application is operational and the testing phase is completed. - Monitoring and evaluation of Hyper Care - Evaluation of impact and identification of the enhancement processes |
|
113 |
Modal shift grants (I-3.14) |
Target |
First 5.000 new modal shift grants applications |
|
Number |
0 |
5000 |
Q4 |
2023 |
First 5.000 new modal shift grants have been applied for. |
I. COMPONENT 3.3: Greening road transport
The measures proposed under this component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aim to support low-emission road transport.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.3 to focus investment-related economic policy on sustainable transport, including upgrading rail infrastructure, the low carbon and energy transition […] Tackle the growing mobility challenges, by reinforcing incentives and removing barriers to increase the supply and demand of collective and low emission transport and Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 to focus investment on the green and digital transition, in particular on infrastructure for sustainable transport.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
I.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment I-3F: ‘Charging stations’
The objectives of the investment are to deploy electric charging stations. This measure is composed of the following four sub-measures:
·Reform R-3.04: ‘Charging stations - WAL’ of the Walloon Region
·Reform R-3.05: ‘Charging stations - RBC’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
·Investment I-3.18: ‘Charging stations - FED’ of the Federal State
·Investment I-3.19: ‘Charging stations - VLA’ of the Flemish Region
·Investment I-3G: ‘Greening the bus fleet’
·Investment I-3.16: ‘Greening the bus fleet - VLA’ of the Flemish Region
·Investment I-3.17: ‘Greening the bus fleet - RBC’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
Reform R-3.03: ‘Zero-emission company cars -FED’ of the Federal State
This reform consists in phasing-out the existing company car tax scheme to conventional cars and limiting it as from 2026 to electric cars. The reformed company car taxation scheme shall foresee: (1) No deductibility of conventional company cars acquired of conventional company cars acquired as from 2026 (2) a progressive reduction of the tax deductibility rate of conventional company cars, acquired between July 1st and 31 December 2025, to reach 0% by 2028, (3) a progressive reduction of the tax deductibility rate of zero-emission company cars to reach at most 67,5% by 2031, and (4) a tax deductibility of petrol and diesel fuel for hybrid company cars, acquired between 2023 and 2025, reduced to 50% by January 2023. Furthermore, (5) for conventional cars acquired from July 1st 2023, the CO2 contribution will rise at a rate of 2.25 from July 1st, 2023 and increase progressively in 2025, 2026 to a factor of 5.50 in 2027. (6) For zero-emission company cars, acquired from July 1st 2023, the minimum solidarity contribution will increase, starting from the year 2025, in such a way that, in the long run, for the average company car, the same amount of social security contributions will be owed as is the case at the time of adoption of the plan. The reform, including the transition periods and implementation phases mentioned above, shall be adopted by 30 September 2021 and shall enter into force on 1 January 2023.
Reform R-3.04: ‘Charging stations - WAL’ of the Walloon Region
This reform consists in adopting a Government decision and award of concessions for charging infrastructure in the Walloon Region and installing 6.000 public charging points equivalent. The target for the number of public charging points equivalent (CPE) to be installed shall take into account of the indicative target of one CPE for ten electric vehicles. The plan to deploy electric charging stations shall be adopted by 30 September 2022 by the Walloon Government and shall be implemented immediately in order to reach its objectives by 30 June 2026.
Reform R-3.05: ‘Charging stations - RBC’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
This measure consists in adopting a legislative framework and award of concessions for charging infrastructure in the Brussels-Capital Region and installing 400 public charging points equivalent by 31 December 2023. This plan shall be in line with the Directive 2014/94/EU on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure and shall be regularly updated and shall ensure that the Region’s target is met. The decree specifying the security standards to be followed for installing off-street charging points in the Brussels-Capital Region shall be adopted by 1 March 2022 at the latest and enter into force by 31 July 2022. The implementation of the measure as a whole shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Reform R-3.06: ‘Stimulation zero-emission transport - VLA’ of the Flemish Region
This measure consists in adopting a legislative framework to incentivise the deployment of public charging points through concessions and semi-public points through grants in the Flemish region. The legislative framework shall enable the mapping of the future charging points, launch the concession tenders for public charging points, stimulate the deployment of semi-public charging points on private properties, reduce administrative burden to shorten the lead time for the installation of charging points and stimulate smart electricity charging to balance the supply and demand of electricity. The legislative framework shall enter into force by 1 January 2022.
Reform R-3.07: ‘Emission Fraud’ of the Flemish Region
This measure consists in (i) adopting a new legal framework for NOx tests (if ongoing research yields a feasible procedure), large-scale vehicle-emission monitoring, improved road-side inspections and a efficient in service conformity test program and (ii) an IT system that integrates emission data with observations of periodic technical and roadside inspections to further improve the in service conformity test program.
The legal framework shall be published by April 2023 and enter into force according to the following timeframe. Before 1 July 2023, large-scale vehicle emission monitoring will be deployed, improved road-side inspections implemented and efficient in service conformity test program started. In case a feasible NOx testing procedure for technical inspection is developed before 31 March 2022, it will be implemented in 2023. At the latest by 31 December 2024 the full measure shall be completed and implemented (full completion of IT system which allows further integration of road-side and periodic technical inspection with in service conformity program).
Investment I-3.16: ‘Greening the bus fleet - VLA’ of the Flemish Region
This investment conducted for ‘VVM-De Lijn’, the Flemish regional public transport operator, consists in the:
- retrofit of at least 235 M3 low-floor hybrids buses into plug-in hybrid buses,
- procurement of at least 35 M3 low-floor plug-in hybrid buses,
- procurement of at least 60 M3 low-floor electric buses,
- installation of at least 345 bus charging stations.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment I-3.17: ‘Greening the bus fleet - RBC’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
This investment conducted for ‘STIB-MIVB’, the public transport operator of the Brussels-Capital Region, consists in the:
- procurement of at least 50 M3 low-floor articulated electric buses,
- installation of at least 50 bus charging stations.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment I-3.18: ‘Charging stations - FED’ of the Federal State
This investment consists in supporting a tax incentive for private and semi-public charging stations for electric cars. The tax incentive allows for the deductibility of the installation costs of a charging point at home and in shopping centres, supermarkets and corporate parking. The tax incentive shall allow for the deployment of at least 51.000 private charging points. The tax incentive shall enter into force by 30 September 2021.
Investment I-3.19: ‘Charging stations - VLA’ of the Flemish Region
This investment consists in installing 30.000 charging points equivalent (public and semi-public charging points) throughout the Flemish Region. The Flemish Region shall develop plans to optimise the deployment of charging points that are accessible 24 hours and support the development of storage facilities in areas far away from charging areas in motorways. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
I.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
114 |
Greening the bus fleet (I-3G) |
Target |
Formal order for green busses and related charging infrastructure in Flanders and Brussels |
|
Orders |
0 |
6 |
Q4 |
2024 |
Greening the bus fleet – VLA -Order placed for the retrofitting of hybrid buses into e-hybrid buses through an amendment to the existing framework contract -Order placed for plug-in hybrid buses within the existing framework contract -Order placed for fully electric buses -Order placed for the installation of charging infrastructure in the depots of the (fully) electric buses and the plug-in hybrid buses Greening the bus fleet – RBC -Reception of the tenders offers, tenders award and ordering of the works and charging infrastructure for the bus store -Reception of the tenders offers, tenders award and ordering of 50 articulated full electrical buses |
|
115 |
Greening the bus fleet –(I-3G) |
Target |
Green buses placed in service and depots technically adapted in Flanders and Brussels |
|
Vehicles |
0 |
356 |
Q4 |
2025 |
Greening the bus fleet – VLA -New and retrofitted plug-in e-hybrid buses are delivered and placed in service (the buses are adapted to provide services in the area where they are assigned) -Fully electric buses are delivered and placed in service (the buses are adapted to provide services in the area where they are assigned -Charging infrastructure is placed in service in the bus depots in the assigned areas Greening the bus fleet – RBC -Completion of general works (also electricity infrastructure for the charging stations) and charging infrastructure delivered to the bus store -Delivery of articulated electrical busses and tests |
|
116 |
Stimulating zero-emission transport – VLA (R-3.06) |
Milestone |
Adoption of a framework for the deployment of charging infrastructure in the Flemish Region |
Adoption of the framework |
- |
- |
- |
Q4 |
2021 |
Adoption of a policy framework for the deployment of charging infrastructure in the Flemish Region. The policy framework shall enable to: - map the future charging points - launch the concession tenders for charging points on public domain - stimulate the deployment of (semi-)public charging points on private domain - shorten the time line for the installation of charging points by reducing the administrative burden - stimulate smart electricity charging |
|
117 |
Charging stations – VLA (I-3.19) |
Milestone |
Award of concessions for charging infrastructure |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates |
- |
- |
- |
Q2 |
2022 |
Award of concessions for charging infrastructure. The framework for the roll out of public charging infrastructure is ensured through concessions awarded by the Flemish government, while the roll out is left out to private operators. |
|
118 |
Charging stations – RBC (R-3.05) |
Milestone |
Adoption of a decree specifying the security standards and of an infrastructure delivery plan |
Adoption of the decree specifying the security standards and of an infrastructure delivery plan |
- |
- |
- |
Q1 |
2022 |
Adoption of a decree specifying the security standards to be followed for installing off-street charging points in the Brussels-Capital Region, including a minimum ratio to be installed in each parking by 31 December 2025 at the latest. And adoption of an infrastructure delivery plan, that shall include:
- A geographical distribution of public charging points to be installed in Brussels, that shall subsequently be updated every three years
This plan shall be in line with the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive, it shall be regularly updated and shall ensure that the Region’s target is met. |
|
119 |
Charging stations- WAL (R-3.04) |
Milestone |
Adoption of a plan to deploy electric charging stations |
Adoption of a plan to deploy electric charging stations |
|
|
|
Q3 |
2022 |
Adoption of a plan for the deployment of charging stations, which shall include : - The number of charging points that must be installed by 31 December 2026 - The procedures to deploy the infrastructure - The ad hoc support mechanisms to reduce the administrative burden - The necessary basis to launch the calls for tender - The target for the number of public charging points equivalent (CPE) to be installed till 2026, which shall take into account of the indicative target of one CPE for ten electric vehicles. |
|
120 |
Charging stations – FED (I-3.18) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the tax incentive to install private and semi-public charging points |
Adoption of the tax incentive |
- |
- |
- |
Q4 |
2021 |
Adoption of the tax incentive to install private and semi-public charging points. |
|
121 |
Charging stations (I-3F) |
Target |
Additional operational semi-public and public charging points (step 1) |
|
Charging points (CPE) |
0 |
8460 |
Q2 |
2023 |
Charging infrastructure – VLA Charging infrastructure – RBC Reach an additional 8460 operational semi-public and public charging point equivalents (CPE) |
|
122 |
Charging stations (I-3F) |
Target |
Additional operational private, semi-public and public charging points (step 2) |
|
Charging points (CPE) |
8460 |
32760 |
Q2 |
2025 |
Charging infrastructure – FED Charging infrastructure – VLA Charging infrastructure – WAL Reach 32760 additional operational private, semi-public and public charging point equivalents (CPE). |
|
123 |
Charging stations (I-3F) |
Target |
Additional operational private, semi-public and public charging points (step 3) |
|
Charging points (CPE) |
32760 |
78660 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Charging infrastructure – FED Charging infrastructure – VLA Charging infrastructure – WAL Reach 78660 additional operational private, semi-public and public charging point equivalents (CPE). |
|
124 |
Emission fraud (R-3.07) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the legal framework for vehicle emission monitoring in Flanders |
Adoption of the legal framework |
- |
- |
- |
Q1 |
2023 |
Adoption of: - Legislation required to implement a pragmatic NOx test procedure to strengthen periodic technical inspection available with aim to introduce test in Q3 2023 - Legal enhancements to extend the scope of roadside inspections to include all vehicle types (aim: 2022) - New legislation: legal framework available to allow for large scale on-road vehicle emission monitoring (Remote Sensing and potentially plume chasing) and its applications for improved enforcement and policy evaluation (aim: 2022) |
|
125 |
Emission fraud (R-3.07) |
Milestone |
IT system that integrates emission data with observations of periodic technical and road safety inspections operational |
Entry into service of IT system |
- |
- |
- |
Q4 |
2024 |
IT system that integrates emission data with observations of periodic technical and road safety inspections ready and available for all stakeholders |
|
126 |
Zero-emission company cars (R-3.03) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the law reforming the company car tax scheme |
Adoption of the draft adaptation of the law reforming the company car tax scheme |
- |
- |
- |
Q3 |
2021 |
Adoption by the federal parliament of a reformed company car taxation scheme in which new company cars need to be zero emission from 2026 onwards in order to benefit from the existing preferential scheme. The reformed company car taxation scheme shall foresee (1) No deductibility of conventional company cars acquired of conventional company cars acquired as from 2026 (2) a progressive reduction of the tax deductibility rate of conventional company cars, acquired between July 1st 2023 and 31 December 2025, to reach 0% by 2028, (3) a progressive reduction of the tax deductibility rate of zero-emission company cars to reach at most 67,5% by 2031, and (4) a tax deductibility of petrol and diesel fuel for hybrid company cars, acquired between 2023 and 2025, reduced to 50% as from 1st January 2023. Furthermore, (5) for conventional cars acquired from July 1st 2023, the CO2 contribution will rise at a rate of 2.25 from July 1st, 2023 and increase progressively in 2025, 2026 to a factor of 5.50 in 2027. (6) For zero-emission company cars, acquired from July 1st 2023, the minimum solidarity contribution will increase, starting from the year 2025, in such a way that, in the long run, for the average company car, the same amount of social security contributions will be owed as is the case at the time of submission of the Plan. |
J. COMPONENT 4.1: Education 2.0
The measures proposed under this component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aim at improving the inclusiveness of education systems while strengthening their performance to ensure that the competences taught better match those required in the labour market.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.2 to improve the performance and inclusiveness of the education and training systems and address skills mismatches.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
J.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Reform R-4.01: ‘Digisprong’ of the Flemish Community
This reform consists of actions related to four pillars: (1) ICT education, media literacy and computational thinking reforms, (2) promoting effective ICT school policies, by strengthening the role of ICT coordinators, (3) digitally skilled teachers and trainers for teachers and (4) creation of a knowledge and advisory centre to support schools in digitalising their educational provision. The legislation on the new ICT framework for compulsory education in Flanders shall enter into force by 1 October 2022.
Reform R-4.02: ‘Higher education advancement fund’ of the Flemish Community
This reform aims at delivering a vision paper on the following three objectives: (1) create a future-proof and flexible offer in Flemish higher education institutions, (2) further development of lifelong learning in higher education and (3) making the most of digital forms of education. Concretely, a vision note shall (i) define a new profile for higher education in Flanders to ensure that higher education institutions are state of the art and (ii) develop a vision on lifelong learning. The vision paper will be endorsement by the Minister of education and training of the Flemish government by 31 December 2023.
Reform R-4.03: ‘Global action plan against early school leaving’ of the French Community
This reform consists of a comprehensive strategy covering three strands - prevention, intervention, compensation- and development in a coherent and concrete manner, based on a new (reinforced) coordination of stakeholders active in different fields and of different support services. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022.
Investment I-4.01: ‘Digisprong’ of the Flemish Community
This investment consists of the three following elements: (1) provide all schools with a digital device for each student, (2) provide teachers with effective learning tools and training to improve their digital skills and (3) support schools in digitalising their curricula by setting up a central knowledge and advisory centre. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2022.
Investment I-4.02: ‘Higher education advancement fund’ of the Flemish Community
This investment consists of (1) the creation of a future-proof and flexible offer in Flemish higher education institutions, (2) the further development of lifelong learning in higher education and (3) supporting the sustainable implementation of new digital forms of education. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Investment I-4.03: ‘Personalised guidance in compulsory education’ of the French Community
This investment is developed to respond to the psychosocial, educational and pedagogical problems of pupils in primary and secondary schools and to combat the spread of the phenomena of educational disadvantage and early school leaving, as a result of COVID-19. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2022.
Investment I-4.04: ‘Digital strategy for higher education and adult learning’ of the French Community
This investment consists of (1) equipping schools and higher education institutions with digital equipment, (2) developing the digital skills of students and teachers with the help of dedicated digital skills tools and methods. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-4.05: ‘Digital turnaround for Brussels schools’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
This investment consists of (1) digital equipment for schools with a high level of vulnerable pupils and (2) strengthening the internal connectivity of Brussels schools. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.
Investment I-4.06: ‘Digital transformation of education’ of the German-speaking community,
This investment aims at the digital transformation of education via standardising and consolidating the IT environment of education in a sustainable manner by providing the necessary infrastructure and IT support, school and teacher management and by promoting IT skills/training for pupils and teachers. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-4: ‘Provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools’
The objective of the investment ‘provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools’ is to ensure the provision of the necessary digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools.
The investment is composed of the following sub measures/ actions:
·Investment I-4.01: ‘Digisprong’ of the Flemish Community
·Investment I-4.04: ‘Digital strategy for higher education and adult learning’ of the French Community
·Investment I-4.06: ‘Digital transformation of education’ of the German-speaking community
J.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
127 |
Digisprong (R-4.01) |
Milestone |
Adoption of new ICT framework for compulsory education in Flanders |
Adoption of new legislation by the Flemish Parliament to improve the ICT framework |
|
|
|
Q3 |
2022 |
Adoption by the Flemish Parliament of the new legislation to improve the current ICT framework on two aspects: - the role of ICT coordinators in schools - and the ICT attainment levels/learning outcomes The legislation shall allow to (i) strengthen the role of ICT coordinators in all levels of education and ensure better supervision on ICT policy in schools through the amendment of decree 31 and (ii) ratify the final terms on ICT learning outcomes and attainment levels for all levels of education following the European DigComp reference framework |
|
128 |
Higher education advancement Fund (R-4.02) |
Milestone |
Vision paper for a future oriented, agile, and digital higher education |
Adoption of a vision note by the Flemish government |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
Endorsement by the Minister of education and training of a vision note by the Flemish government laying out the profile for higher education and life-long learning in Flanders The new text aims at setting the vision to develop a Flemish high education portfolio that is future-proof and agile. It shall be elaborated in consultation with a broad spectrum of stakeholders including: higher education institutions, the professional field, and social partners. Concretely, it shall (i) define a new profile for higher education in Flanders to ensure that higher education institutions are state of the art and (ii) develop a vision on lifelong learning. |
|
129 |
Global action plan against early school leaving (R-4.03) |
Milestone |
New comprehensive plan against school dropout |
Adoption by the French Community of new legislative acts against school dropout |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
The overall plan against school dropout includes reviewed decrees addressing 4 key areas: (1) ‘Centres Psycho-Médicaux-Sociaux’ (CPMS)’: the decree shall review their role to strengthen the focus of their mission on school drop-out. (2) School exclusion: the decree shall limit the grounds for exclusion and establish a single board of appeal to ensure equal treatment of students. (3) Prevention and intervention: the decree shall reinforce the support and prevention mechanisms for students demonstrating particular signals of potential drop out (such as students with 10 half days of unjustified absence). (4) Compensation: the decree shall promote compensation mechanisms to allow students - especially those who have accumulated a period of absence of several months - to be taken in charge by 3rd line workers in order to provide transitional support with an SAS or within the framework of an internship or citizen project. |
|
130 |
Provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools (I-4) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
Number of schools/institutions receiving funds to update their ICT infrastructure or equipment |
0 |
2738 |
Q1 |
2022 |
Upgrade of ICT infrastructure in 2,738 schools and/or educational institutions in Belgium, including: - Flemish Community: 2695 compulsory education schools - German-speaking Community: 43 schools where all teachers shall be equipped (from Kindergarten to secondary school) and 12 schools where all students of secondary schools shall be equipped with a laptop. |
|
131 |
Provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools (I-4) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
Number of schools/Institutions receiving funds to update their ICT infrastructure or equipment |
2738 |
3840 |
Q4 |
2022 |
3,840 schools and/or educational institutions in Belgium have received funds to upgrade of ICT infrastructure, including: - Flemish community: 1090 compulsory education schools - -German-speaking community: 12 secondary schools where all students of 1st and 2nd level shall be equipped with a laptop. |
|
132 |
Provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools (I-4 |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
Number of schools/Institutions receiving funds to update their ICT infrastructure or equipment |
3840 |
3852 |
Q4 |
2024 |
3,852 schools and/or educational institutions in Belgium have received funds to upgrade of ICT infrastructure, including: - German-speaking community: 12 schools where all students (i.e., students of remaining levels not covered by the previous milestone) of secondary schools shall be equipped with a laptop. |
|
133 |
Provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools’ (I-4) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
Number of schools/institutions receiving funds to update their ICT infrastructure or equipment |
3852 |
3929 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Upgrade of ICT infrastructure in 3,929 schools and/or educational institutions in Belgium to improve the overall performance of education systems, including: French Community, 40% (77) of institutions of Social Promotion Education and Higher Education. The increment in the target is lower than in the previous milestones, given that the largest part comes from the Flemish Digisprong project, for which the infrastructure deployment would have been completed by 2022. |
|
134 |
Higher Education Advancement Fund (I-4.02) |
Target |
Improving High Education offering in Flanders to make it more future-proof and agile |
|
Number of schools/institutions receiving funds to update their ICT infrastructure or equipment |
0 |
7 |
Q4 |
2023 |
7 higher education institutions have benefitted from the Higher Education Advancement Fund. Through the Higher Education Advancement Fund, higher education institutions, based on analyses of training portfolios, shall draw up action plans to adjust and reduce the existing offerings and, where necessary, create new ones. In addition, attention shall be paid to adapting programs, based on the requirements of the labour market and society. All Flemish higher education institutions shall be eligible to suggest and submit projects under this call for projects. However participation in this call is not obligatory for higher education institutions, nor is submitting a plan a guarantee of acceptance. If all higher education institutions participate and if all plans affect all of their students, 21 higher education institutions and almost 300.000 students shall benefit from this fund. 1/3 of the institutions shall receive funding from this Fund. |
|
135 |
Personalised guidance in compulsory education (I-4.03) |
Milestone |
Adoption of a new decree framework that sets the terms of intervention of the system |
Adoption by the Parliament of the French Community of the decree framework that sets the terms of intervention of the system |
|
|
|
Q3 |
2021 |
Adoption by the Parliament of the French Community of a new decree framework, regulating a transitional system including provisions related to: (1) the granting of resources to schools in connection with differentiation-remediation strategies and the fight against dropping out of school, (2) the modification of PR-FPO/WBE contracts in the context of the crisis and (3) the missions of the CPMS in the context of the crisis. |
|
136 |
Personalised guidance in compulsory education (I-4.03) |
Target |
Deployment of a reinforced support mechanism for students in need |
|
Schools (and CPMS) benefiting from support and coaching |
0 |
531 |
Q4 |
2022 |
Deployment of additional resources (such as teachers, educators, psychological support staff) to support 531 schools/CPMS based on identified needs. |
|
137 |
Digital turnaround for Brussels schools (I-4.05) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
ICT devices and WIFI hotspots installed in schools |
900 |
2200 |
Q4 |
2021 |
2200 ICT devices (such as laptops, tablets, interactive dashboards) and WIFI access points shall be installed in Brussels schools. The distribution shall be based on the needs of schools (with a focus on schools with a lower socio-economic index) |
|
138 |
Digital turnaround for Brussels schools (I-4.05) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
ICT devices and WIFI hotspots installed in secondary schools |
2200 |
3500 |
Q4 |
2024 |
3500 WIFI hotspots shall be delivered in Brussels schools. |
K. COMPONENT 4.2: Training and employment of vulnerable groups
The measures proposed under this component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aim at strengthening the social and labour market integration of vulnerable groups, including people with a migrant background, women, people with disabilities, prisoners and people at risk of digital exclusion. Several of the measures aim at fostering digital inclusion and enhancing access to essential services, such as e-government, by combining the provision of digital equipment with training in digital skills.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.2 on strengthening the labour market integration of vulnerable groups and to Country Specific Recommendation 2020.2 on the mitigation of the employment and social impact of the crisis.
K.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Reform R-4.04: ‘Tackling discrimination at the labour market’ of the Federal State
The reform aims at tackling discrimination at the labour market and consists of (1) improving the regulatory framework of discrimination tests (2) improving the available tools and data for targeted checks and (3) training and strengthening social law monitoring services of the Federal Public Service for Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue in order to improve the effectiveness of discriminatory tests. The adapted regulatory framework on discrimination tests shall enter into force by 1 January 2024.
Reform R-4.05: ‘Re-qualification strategy’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The reform aims at promoting the sustainable integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market and consists of the adoption of three regulatory texts intended to: (1) the introduction of a systematic digital and language skills assessment and/or of a development pathway for Brussels jobseekers, (2) the introduction of a specific bonus scheme to support employers in the recruitment of job seekers with disabilities and (3) the establishment of institutional steering of the existing training provision and its reorientation. The regulatory acts promoting the integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market shall be adopted by 30 September 2023 and published in the Moniteur Belge by 15 October 2023. They shall enter into force by 1 September 2024.
Reform R-4.06: ‘An inclusive labour market’ of Flemish Community
The reform aims at integrating people with a migrant background into the labour market and consists of (1) developing an integrated trajectory to support newcomers (migrants with a non-EU nationality) in their integration into society and in particular into the labour market and (2) strengthening the non-discrimination policy at sector level, including by enhanced monitoring and setting up of specific actions, such as trainings on how to deal with discrimination and actions specific to disadvantaged groups. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Investment I-4.07: ‘Re-qualification strategy’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The investment aims at promoting the sustainable integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market and consists of (1) setting up a systematic training trajectory, focused on strengthening language and digital skills of unemployed, (2) providing ‘emergency’ childcare for parents that were recruited or follow a training and (3) supporting social innovation, including pilot projects linked to social innovation. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment I-4.08: ‘E-inclusion for Belgium’ of the Federal State
The investment aims at fostering the social and economic integration of vulnerable groups into society by improving their digital skills. The investment consists of a call for projects to support the digital inclusion of vulnerable groups. Projects shall aim at either (1) raising awareness for vulnerable target groups to get acquainted with relevant ICT in order to improve their personal situation and strengthen social integration, (2) improving the digital skills of vulnerable target groups in order to improve their personal situation and strengthen social integration, or (3) improving the digital skills of the caregivers of vulnerable target groups. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2024.
Investment I-4.09: ‘Digital platforms for prisoners’ of the Federal State
The investment aims at fostering the social and economic integration of prisoners into society through digital services. The investment consists of developing a digital platform within prisons to enable prisoners to follow trainings, access prison services and rehabilitation services, as well as to seek or apply for a job. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.
Investment I-4.10: ‘Gender and work’ of the Federal State
The investment aims at analysing gender inequality on the labour market and promoting the integration of women into the labour market. The investment consists of launching a call for projects focused on the integration of vulnerable women on the labour market. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.
Investment I-4.11: ‘Digibanks’ of Flemish Region
The investment aims at promoting the social and economic integration of vulnerable groups by fostering their digital inclusion at municipal level. The investment consists of (1) lending digital hardware to ensure equal access to digital technology, (2) providing training and knowledge sharing to strengthen digital skills, including technical skills (such as repair of IT equipment) and (3) providing assistance to enhance digital access to essential services (such as digital services from the Flemish Government, Tax-on-web) via so-called physical hubs. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2022.
K.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
139 |
Re-qualification strategy (R-4.05) |
Milestone |
Adoption of regulatory texts by the Brussels Government to promote integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market |
Publication of regulatory texts in the Official Journal |
|
|
|
Q3 |
2023 |
Adoption by the Brussels Government of three regulatory texts aimed at promoting the sustainable integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market, in particular (1) the introduction of a systematic digital and language skills assessment and/or of a development pathway for Brussels jobseekers, (2) the introduction of a specific bonus scheme to support employers in the recruitment of job seekers with disabilities and (3) the establishment of institutional steering of the existing training provision and its reorientation. |
|
140 |
Tackling discrimination at the labour market (R-4.04) |
Milestone |
Adapted regulatory framework and improved application of discriminatory tests |
Publication of the adapted regulatory framework in the Official Journal |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
(1) Publication in the Official Journal of the adapted regulatory framework on discriminatory tests (art.42/1 Social Criminal Code), (2) improved tools and data for targeted checks and (3) training and strengthened social law monitoring services of the Federal Public Service for Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue in order to improve the effectiveness of discriminatory tests. |
|
141 |
An inclusive labour market (R-4.06) |
Target |
Completion of sectoral non-discrimination action plans |
|
Sectors |
0 |
37 |
Q4 |
2021 |
37 professional sectors implement an action plan on non-discrimination (see Addenda non-discrimination and inclusion 2021-2022). The Flemish government assesses the implementation of each action plan on the basis of the individual predetermined commitments of each sector. |
|
142 |
An inclusive labour market (R-4.06) |
Target |
New integrated path for newcomers |
|
Participants |
0 |
2000 |
Q4 |
2023 |
2000 newcomers, participating to the new integrated path. |
|
143 |
Re-qualification strategy (I-4.07) |
Milestone |
Award of grants related to social innovation initiatives |
Written notification of contract awards to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2023 |
Award of grants by the Public Employment Services to social innovation initiatives in accordance with the criteria laid down in the public procurement specifications. |
|
144 |
Re-qualification strategy (I-4.07) |
Target |
Competence profile and job counselling |
|
Jobseekers |
0 |
6000 |
Q1 |
2023 |
6000 jobseekers in Brussels have benefited from a competence profile and systematic job counselling, focusing on the language and digital skills introduced by the Public Employment Service. |
|
145 |
Re-qualification strategy (I-4.07) |
Target |
Sustainable integration pathway for people with disabilities |
|
Persons with disabilities |
0 |
450 |
Q4 |
2025 |
450 people with disabilities (jobseekers or workers) have followed a training module of the sustainable integration pathway. |
|
146 |
E-inclusion for Belgium (I-4.08) |
Target |
Award of grants |
|
Grants awarded |
0 |
15 |
Q2 |
2024 |
Award of 15 grants by the KBF (King Boudewijn Foundation) and the PPS Social Integration to the projects matching the criteria of document “Project e-inclusion for Belgium - grants criteria.pdf”, published on 15 December 2021. Projects shall aim at (1) raising awareness for vulnerable target groups to get acquainted with relevant ICT in order to improve their personal situation and strengthen social integration, (2) improving the digital skills of vulnerable target groups in order to improve their personal situation and strengthen social integration, and (3) improving the digital skills of the caregivers of vulnerable target groups. |
|
147 |
Digital platforms for prisoners (I-4.09) |
Target |
Completion of roll-out |
|
Prisons |
0 |
32 |
Q4 |
2024 |
Completion of roll out of a digital platform in 32 prisons, allowing prisoners to: (1) follow training from his/her cell or carry out the exercises requested in an online or face-to-face training course; (2) access prison services and rehabilitation services; (3) have restricted and secure access to internet to seek or apply for a job, access digital works or exchange information with relatives and support services. |
|
148 |
Gender and work (I-4.10) |
Target |
Participation of women to field-projects |
|
Women |
0 |
250 |
Q4 |
2024 |
250 women participating in on-field projects matching the criteria set out in the call for proposals document, published in September 2022. |
|
149 |
Digibanks (I-4.11) |
Target |
Signature of partnerships to promote digital inclusion |
|
Municipalities |
0 |
100 |
Q4 |
2022 |
Signature of a Digibank partnership by 100 municipalities in Flanders with the Department of Work and Social Economy of Flanders aiming at (1) ensuring equal access to digital technology through the conditional provision of laptops, screening and other hardware and support in a specific context (such as lending service); (2) strengthening digital skills, both personal skills and technical skills (such as repair of IT equipment) through training and knowledge sharing; (3) procuring digital access to essential services (such as digital services from the Flemish Government, Tax-on-web) via so-called physical hubs. |
L. COMPONENT 4.3: Social infrastructure
The measures under this component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan pursue two objectives:
·increasing the supply of social housing to provide vulnerable groups (homeless, persons with disabilities or loss of autonomy) decent housing conditions, as part of a deinstitutionalisation strategy;
·improving the coverage in early childcare, in particular for vulnerable households in Wallonia, including women and single parents with low-income.
As such, this component aims at providing vulnerable groups with infrastructure to facilitate their integration in the labour market and more broadly in society.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.2 on disincentives to work and strengthening the labour market integration of vulnerable groups and to Country Specific Recommendation 2020.2 on mitigating the employment and social impact of the crisis.
L.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment I-4.12: ‘Development of public utility housing and housing for vulnerable persons’ of the Walloon Region
This investment aims at increasing the supply of social housing for vulnerable groups, also as part of a deinstitutionalisation strategy. The investment includes the construction and energy-efficient renovation of low-rent housing, of inclusive and solidarity-based housing, as well as of homeless accommodation places. Part of this housing shall be equipped with modern technologies assisting the people concerned in their daily lives, in order to delay or avoid institutionalisation of persons with reduced autonomy or to reduce the length of their hospitalisation. Prior to this investment, the Walloon government shall adopt a deinstitutionalisation strategy for long-term care. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-4.13: ‘Creation and renovation of early childcare infrastructure’ of the Walloon Region
The investment aims at improving the coverage in early childcare. The investment includes the construction and energy-efficient renovation of childcare places. New places shall be created in those municipalities, which combine a low childcare coverage with a low female employment rate, a high share of single parents and a low per capita income. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
L.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
150 |
Development of public utility housing and housing for vulnerable persons (I-4.12) |
Milestone |
Walloon Strategy for deinstitutionalisation (Walloon health policy) |
Endorsement by the Walloon Government of a Walloon strategy for deinstitutionalisation |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2021 |
Endorsement of a strategy of the Walloon Region on deinstitutionalisation in the context of the Walloon Health Policy, in particular for the elderly and people with disabilities: (1) specifying the concept of deinstitutionalisation, (2) establishing criteria for institutionalisation and de-institutionalisation, (3) providing a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the de-institutionalisation initiated by the host and accommodation institutions, (4) drawing up a state of play on the provision of services (5) and making recommendations for the operationalisation of the strategy. |
|
151 |
Development of public utility housing and housing for vulnerable persons (I-4.12) |
Target |
Award of part of the works |
|
Housing units |
0 |
280 |
Q3 |
2023 |
Award of works contracts by operators for 280 of the 700 public utility housing, inclusive and solidarity-based housing, as well as accommodation places for poorly-housed groups. Are understood as ‘poorly-housed groups’ homeless people, migrants, women victims of violence, single people and people in situations of exclusion. |
|
152 |
Development of public utility housing and housing for vulnerable persons (I-4.12) |
Target |
Installation of remote assistance for people in loss of autonomy |
|
Remote assistance boxes installed |
0 |
5000 |
Q3 |
2025 |
5000 remote assistance boxes installed in public utility housing, inclusive and solidarity-based housing. |
|
153 |
Development of public utility housing and housing for vulnerable persons (I-4.12) |
Target |
Housing units ready to be occupied |
|
Number of new or renovated housing units |
0 |
1600 |
Q3 |
2026 |
1600 public utility housing units built or renovated in the Walloon Region are ready to be occupied. |
|
154 |
Building and renovation of early childcare infrastructure (I-4.13) |
Milestone |
Award of works contracts for project promoters |
|
Childcare places |
0 |
255 |
Q3 |
2023 |
Award of works contracts by operators (crèches) for 15 % of the newly created childcare places, i.e. 255. |
|
155 |
Building and renovation of early childcare infrastructure (I-4.13) |
Target |
Opening of childcare places |
|
Number of created or renovated childcare places |
0 |
1700 |
Q3 |
2026 |
1700 new childcare places have been created as part of the early childcare infrastructure in Wallonia. New childcare places include both places that are created as a result of the construction of new buildings or of the renovation of existing buildings. |
M. COMPONENT 4.4: End of career and pensions
This component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aims at providing a policy response to the challenges of the pension system in terms of social adequacy and fiscal sustainability.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.1 to ensure the fiscal sustainability of the pension system.
M.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Reform R-4.07: ‘End of career and pensions’ of the Federal State
This reform aims at (1) making the pension system future-proof, (2) improving the financial sustainability of the social security system and of public finances, (3) increase the solidarity role of the pension system, (4) strengthen the ‘insurance principle’, (5) introducing a ‘gender test’, (6) ensuring the convergence between and within different pension systems, (7) improving the efficiency of the administrative services dealing with pensions. The law to reform the pension regime shall be adopted by 30 June 2024 and enter into force on 1 January 2025, it being understood that it may provide for reasonable transition periods for certain provisions.
To involve stakeholders, the federal government plans to organise a conference on employment in 2021, which shall focus on “career ends” and employment of older workers. Based on the conclusions of this conference, an action plan with proposals for concrete measures shall be put forward to the federal government.
M.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
156 |
Pension and end of career (R-4.07) |
Milestone |
Action plan based on output of the employment conference |
Livestreaming (and its recording) of employment conference debates and proposed action plan put on the agenda of the federal Council of Ministers |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
Livestreaming (and its recording) of the Employment conference debates by the administration (SPF ETCS). A proposed action plan for raising employment rate of employees approaching their ends of career, based on a mapping of existing relevant federal measures, drafted by the federal ministry of labour, and the input from social partners, regions and other stakeholders before and during the conference is drafted and put on the agenda of the Council of Ministers. The objective of this action plan is to be translated in concrete regulatory proposals (legislative or administrative) to be adopted by the federal authorities (if needed the federal parliament). |
|
157 |
Pension and end of career (R-4.07) |
Milestone |
Pension reform proposal |
Reform proposal submitted to the Council of Ministers of the federal government |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2021 |
Proposal submitted for approval to the Council of Ministers of the federal government to reform the pension regime, which shall include the following elements: (i) Measures to improve the financial and social sustainability of the pension system; (ii) Measures to incentivize people to remain active on the labour market after meeting early retirement conditions; (iii) Measures to increase its solidarity role to ensure a decent minimum pension, its insurance role, gender balance, taking into account the overall pension regime financial and social sustainability improvement objective; (iv) Measures to ensure convergence between and within the different systems. |
|
158 |
Pension and end of career (R-4.07) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the pension reform |
Adoption by the federal Parliament of the law to reform the pension system |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2024 |
Adoption of the law to reform the pension regime by the federal Parliament. The law shall include the following elements: (i) Measures to improve the financial and social sustainability of the pension system; (ii) Measures to incentivize people to remain active on the labour market after meeting early retirement conditions; (iii) Measures to increase its solidarity role to ensure a decent minimum pension, its insurance role, gender balance, taking into account the overall pension regime financial and social sustainability improvement objective; (iv) Measures to ensure convergence between and within the different systems. |
N. COMPONENT 5.1: Training and labour market
This component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan is composed of measures aiming at increasing the employment rate while ensuring an inclusive labour market. The measures consist in equipping the workforce with skills corresponding to current and future labour market needs, including green and digital transitions, and increasing labour market participation through training, activation and coaching, but also by tackling employment traps and making work pay.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.2 to reduce skills mismatches and to Country Specific Recommendation 2020.2 to mitigate the employment and social impact of the crisis.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
N.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment I-5.01: ‘A6K/E6K Digital and Technological Innovation and Training Hub’ of the Walloon Region
The investment measure shall develop a multidisciplinary centre for engineering science (A6K), co-locating industrial enterprise teams, start-ups, universities and research centres to stimulate innovation and industrial transformation in Wallonia, as well as a technological education centre (E6K), an innovative physical platform bringing together public and private digital and technological education operators in the city centre of Charleroi offering varied training in content and duration. The investment consists in the renovation and construction of buildings hosting the centres, and the support of activities necessary for the acceleration and scaling-up of the project. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-5.02: ‘EU Biotech School and Health Hub’ of the Walloon Region
The investment measure shall cover the construction and equipment of a training centre of 5.500 m² located in the Bio-park in Gosselies (Hainaut Province, Walloon Region) focused on developing skills for the further development of the biotech/biopharma sector. The EU Biotech School & Health Hub shall focus on delivering training programmes structured around four pillars: STIM immersion, Bioproduction and supply chain, Data and digital, General and mini MBA. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 September 2025.
Investment I-5.03: ‘Upgrading of advanced training infrastructure’ of the Walloon Region
The investment measure shall cover the construction, renovation, renewal of state-of-the-art equipment, of eight projects to support skills development in Wallonia: (i) the Belgrade Training Centre (Namur); (ii) the extension and fitting-out of the CEFOCHIM Competence Centre; (iii) the extension of the Technocity Competence Centre; (iv) the renovation of the Technical Competence Centre (Seraing); (v) the extension of the AutoFORM Competence Centre; (vi) the extension of the Green Sectors Competence Centre (Ath); (vii) the extension of Forem’s classical training centre infrastructure; (viii) the creation of a Centre for Contemporaines Eco-Technologies and Continuous Training (Mons). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-5.04: ‘Learning and career offensive’ of the Flemish Region
The measure implements the agreement concluded between the Flemish government and social partners, which includes the objective of boosting training and life-long learning. The measure consist in a set of five sub-measures (i) competency checks and transition points; (ii) widening the online training offer; (iii) training for temporary unemployed; (iv) strong social entrepreneurship; (v) extra support to training leave. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.
Investment I-5.05: ‘Strategy for relaunching the labour market’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The investment consists of implementing a labour market recovery strategy in the Brussels-Capital Region. The strategy focuses on the efficiency and optimisation of activation and training policies and the support of job seekers and workers towards future jobs or jobs in shortage. The investment measures is composed of three actions: (i) the development of an online management tool for the beneficiaries of employment and/or training support schemes, and of a tool for quantitative and qualitative monitoring; (ii) the establishment of a regional fund to assist workers in the event of restructuring or bankruptcy of undertakings; (iii) support for retraining or re-orientation towards shortage occupations. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.
Investment I-5.06: ‘Digital skills’ of Flemish Region
The measure implements the agreement concluded between the Flemish government and social partners, which include the objective of the ‘digital transformation of Flanders’ (pillar II of the agreement). The project consists of three separate initiatives: (i) “eLearning action plan”, with calls for public training providers to develop their online training offer, (ii) “career digital tools and services”, with the development of an individual training and career account, (iii) “digital tools and services for employers and partners”, with the digital transformation of Flanders public employment service (VDAB) and of the Department of Labour and social economy (Werk & Social Economie). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Investment I-5.07: ‘Digital lifelong learning’ of the Walloon Region
The investment measure pursues two main objectives: (i) promoting digital inclusion and (ii) strengthening digital training in Wallonia.
Under the first objective, the measure shall provide ICT equipment to 285 public digital spaces, shall provide requalified PCs to 9445 households, and shall support 240 digital inclusion projects.
Under the second objective, digital equipment shall be provided for the development of 22 immersive training spaces in training centres and 17 smart corners for local services of the Walloon Institute for Alternate Training for the Self-Employed and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (IFAPME). A report mapping digital training needs and professional curricula development needs shall be produced. An estimated 10.000 hours of pedagogical training for the digital transition shall be provided to teaching staff.
Five new training sites of the public employment service (FOREM) shall be constructed, a new “reengineering and STEM” platform shall be built and four existing sites shall be renovated. Digital equipment allowing the creation of 9 immersive training spaces (‘digital factories’) and the digitalisation of the ‘reengineering and STEM platform’ shall be provided. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Reform R-5.01: ‘Cumulation regime and mobility to sectors with shortages’ of the Federal State
The reform measure is composed of two strands with the objective of (i) making work more rewarding and (ii) promote labour mobility towards sectors facing shortages.
The first reform strand is to make employment more rewarding for those benefiting from unemployment benefits or an integration income. This shall be done by ensuring that, in case of a combination of (part-time) work and receipt of (partial) unemployment benefit or (part-time) integration income, it is financially and socially more advantageous for the person concerned to increase his/her part-time working time. After consultation of social partners, a decision shall be taken on expanding the possibilities to combine temporarily or in a limited way wage and social benefits.
For the second reform strand, the objective of the measure is to promote labour mobility of workers made redundant in a given sector towards sectors where there are shortages of skilled workers, by making the necessary training sufficiently rewarding. For this purpose, the government, in consultation with the social partners, shall define how Article 39b of the Act of 3 July 1978 on employment contracts may be reformed and made enforceable.
The decision of the federal government laying down the reform shall enter into force by 1 January 2024.
Reform R-5.03: ‘Learning account’ of the Federal State
The reform measure consist in three parts. The measure aims (i) to grant an individual right to training to each worker; (ii) to develop tax advantages for companies which provide employees with more hours of training than those already provided for by law and (iii) to remove, in consultation with the federated entities, obstacles to participation in training for workers in temporary unemployment. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
In order to grant each worker an individual right to training (i), an amendment to the Act of 5 March 2017 on workable and manageable work is envisaged. Under the current legislation, it is necessary to ensure at cross-industry level that each worker is entitled to an average of five days of training (or the equivalent number of hours) per year. The ambition of the reform is to achieve an individual right to training for each employee before the end of the parliamentary term. Enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and enterprises with fewer than 20 employees remain, mutatis mutandis, subject to exceptions or derogations.
For (ii) the reform entered into force on 1 January 2021 as set out in Section 4 of Chapter 1 of Title 2 of the Programme Law of 20 December 2020 published in the Official journal on 30 December 2020. Tax advantages take the form of an exemption from the payment of advance tax for employees who have completed a training course of at least 10 days in an uninterrupted period of 30 calendar days (for enterprises with shift or night work for an uninterrupted period of 60 calendar days; for small enterprises, the threshold is 5 days in an uninterrupted period of 75 calendar days).
The possibility of ensuring a better flow of data between the National Employment Office and the regional employment services (VDAB/ACTIRIS/FOREM/Arbeitsambt) is being explored for the organisation of a training offer for workers whose temporary unemployment is prolonged or more structural (iii). The information shall allow regional employment services to offer training for the temporary unemployed much more precisely, and to ensure that at least 25.000 workers in long-term or structural temporary unemployment shall have received training from the regional employment services to reintegrate the labour market.
The amendment to the Act of 5 March 2017 on workable and manageable work shall enter into force by 1 January 2022.
Reform R-5.04: ‘Life-long learning’ of the Flemish Community
The reform measure shall pave the way towards an individual learning and career account which shall make all training incentives clearly visible together in a single central place so that citizens know clearly their learning rights and the available support. Social partners and Flemish government shall agree on a vision paper, setting out how a learning and career account shall be introduced in Flanders, taking into consideration the need to increase transparency to citizens, better inclusion of vulnerable groups and ensuring alignment with digital learning account platform set up at the federal level. The vision paper will be delivered by 30 June 2022.
Reform R-5.05: ‘Reform of support to jobseekers in Wallonia’ of the Walloon Region
The reform measures aim to improve the efficiency of activation of jobseekers in Wallonia by adapting the decree relating to coaching and solutions-oriented support for job seekers. The new coaching and solutions-oriented support for job seekers aims to support all job seekers, to capitalize on all the information available, to verify skills upon registration and optimise collaborations between the Walloon public employment service (Forem) and support partners. The reform shall take advantage of efficient digital tools making it possible to manage distance and / or face-to-face career paths for the most independent job seekers while strengthening face-to-face support for those most in need of support. The decree relating to coaching and solutions-oriented support for job seekers shall be adopted by 30 September 2021 and enter into force ten days after its publication in the Moniteur Belge/Belgisch Staatsblad.
N.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
159 |
A6K/E6K Digital and Technological Innovation and Training Hub (I-5.01) |
Milestone |
Activity developed through A6K-E6K |
Report on business steps completed delivered by the steering committee |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2023 |
Completion of business development steps for the establishment of the Digital and Technological Innovation and Training Hub: development of the incubation offer by setting up a venture builder, development of digital training offer, call for projects for start-ups completed, technological demonstrators and infrastructure linked to collaborative and projects operational. |
|
160 |
Upgrading of advanced training infrastructure (I-5.03) |
Target |
Fully equipped building for training, employment services (step 1) |
|
m2 |
0 |
16000 |
Q2 |
2025 |
16000 m² cover the renovation, construction and equipment of the following buildings: -Cefochim -Technocité -Forem -Technifutur -Autoform -Secteurs Verts -Centre des Ecotechnologies – Mons |
|
161 |
EU Biotech School and Health Hub (I-5.02) |
Target |
Building and equipment of the EU Biotech School and Health Hub |
|
m2 |
0 |
5500 |
Q3 |
2025 |
5500 m² of fully equipped building for training, employment and incubation services, as part of a construction by SODEVIMMO of a polyvalent building, named Biotech 5 of 25.000 m² at the BioPark in Gosselies. Equipment shall notably include virtual reality modules, a STEM immersion room, digital twin equipment, digital equipment for learning rooms and a robotized production line. |
|
162 |
A6K/E6K Digital and Technological Innovation and Training Hub (I-5.01) |
Target |
Finalisation of A6K-E6K renovation and extension |
|
m2 |
5000 |
25000
|
Q2 |
2026 |
25.000 m² of fully equipped building for training, employment and incubation services. |
|
163 |
Upgrading of advanced training infrastructure (I-5.03) |
Target |
Fully equipped building for training, employment services (step 2) |
|
m² |
16000 |
39000
|
Q2 |
2026 |
Total of 39.000 m2 renovated and equipped buildings, with an additional 23 000 m² covering the ‘Ecocentre de formation’ in Belgrade and the ‘Centre des Ecotechnologies’ in Jemappes. |
|
164 |
Learning and career offensive (I-5.04) |
Target |
Support for training leaves and online training offer in Flanders |
|
Persons |
0 |
307500 |
Q4 |
2022 |
307.500 persons since 2021 have made use of their training leave right or enrolled in online training offer, which includes labour market-oriented digital courses with focus on technical and/or soft skills. |
|
165 |
Learning and career-offensive (I-5.04) |
Target |
Support to enterprises in Flanders via competency checks, transition points and calls for projects |
|
SMEs |
0 |
600 |
Q4 |
2024 |
600 enterprises falling within one of the following categories have benefitted from the support under the measure: (i) SMEs reached with a competency check (ii) social economy enterprises supported in their innovative strategic transformation through the calls ‘open innovation strategic transformation’ and ‘future-oriented training to support the most vulnerable groups in the social economy’ (iii) enterprises starting a transition path through the transition test-beds or transition points. |
|
166 |
Strategy for relaunching the labour market focused on the efficiency and optimisation of activation and training policies (I-5.05) |
Target |
Activation support to job seekers and workers in Brussels |
|
Persons |
0 |
600 |
Q4 |
2024 |
600 people have benefitted from the measures of the Brussels strategy to relaunch the labour market, including the online management tool, the Regional Accompanying Fund and the support scheme for retraining or redirecting to occupations in shortage or growth in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Beneficiaries are job seekers/workers who have been activated on the online management tool and/or have had access to the Regional Accompanying Fund and/or have had access to the support scheme for retraining or redirecting to occupations in shortage or growth. |
|
167 |
Learning and career-offensive (I-5.04) |
Milestone |
Support to the temporary unemployed in Flanders |
VDAB Report delivered attesting of the outreach effort |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
All persons temporarily unemployed since 01/01/2021 shall be contacted by the Flemish Public Employment Service (VDAB) to enrol in a training, internship, temporary job or volunteering job. |
|
168 |
Life-long learning’ of the Flemish Community (R-5.04) |
Milestone |
Vision paper on learning and career account in Flanders |
Publication of agreement by the Government |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
Agreement between social partners and Flemish government on vision paper, setting out how a learning and career account shall be introduced in Flanders, taking into consideration the need to increase transparency to citizens, better inclusion of vulnerable groups and ensuring alignment with digital learning account platform set up at the federal level. |
|
169 |
Digital Skills (I-5.06) |
Target |
Development of e-learning offer in Flanders |
|
E-learning projects |
0 |
70 |
Q4 |
2022 |
70 e-learning projects are approved, launched and completed following a call for project. |
|
170 |
Digital Skills (I-5.06) |
Milestone |
Digital tools and services to citizens, employers and the Flemish Public Employment Service (VDAB) partners fully deployed in Flanders |
Management and policy monitoring report of VDAB and Department WSE |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
The report certifies the full deployment of the following digital tools and services to citizens, employers and VDAB partners fully deployed in Flanders: 1. A personalised digital career platform, coupled with a personalised offer of training opportunities and incentives for citizens is accessible and operational. 2. Digital employer counter of VDAB and digital partner are operational, allowing VDAB mediators to actively contact all employers with vacancies under shared management and support them digitally in filling the vacancies. The follow-up of all VDAB partners is also done through the digital partner platform. 3. Digital services to employers have been extended by means of a digital employer counter of Department WSE accessible to all employers. 4.Department WSE data ecosystem for partners is made operational : 15 relevant datasets are made available on the open data platform for research and other purposes |
|
171 |
Life long digital training (I-5.07) |
Milestone |
Modernisation of the provision of coaching and training in digital skills, including basic digital skills in Wallonia, through digital tools, state-of-the-art infrastructure, competent mentoring and innovative projects. |
Report delivered on the completion of the different projects |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
ICT equipment shall be made available and operational for 9.000 households (requalified PC's), 285 public digital spaces, 39 immersive training spaces of the Walloon Institute for Alternate Training for the Self-Employed and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (IFAPME) (22 training centres & 17 local services sites). 9 sites of the Walloon public employment services (FOREM) shall be transformed and equipped in Digital factories (4 renovated and 5 built) and 1 site shall be equipped as a re-engineering & STEM platform. A report mapping digital training needs and professional curricula development needs shall be provided, and on this basis, 10.000 hours of pedagogical training for the digital transition shall be provided to teaching personnel and trainees. 7500 m² of training infrastructures hosting digital skills training shall be constructed or adapted. |
|
172 |
Learning account (R-5.03) |
Milestone |
Federal reform developing individual entitlement to training for employees. |
Publication in official journal |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2021 |
Based on dialogue between social partners and the federal Government, adoption of the revision of the law of 5 March 2017 on feasible and manageable work introducing a pathway ensuring that from 2024, all workers are entitled to an average of 5 days of training per year. |
|
173 |
Learning account (R-5.03) |
Milestone |
Federal reform creating incentives for companies to provide training |
Publication in official journal |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2021 |
Adoption of the Programme Law of 20 December 2020 by the Parliament, establishing a partial exemption (11,75%) from payment of withholding tax for workers following a training of at least 10 days. |
|
174 |
Learning account (R-5.03) |
Target |
Reform for improved collaboration between the National Employment Service (ONEM) and the regional employment services allowing to increase training for the unemployed. |
|
Workers |
0 |
25000 |
Q4 |
2023 |
As a result of the better collaboration between the National Employment Service (ONEM) and the regional employment services, 25,000 workers in long-term or structural temporary unemployment shall have received training from the regional employment services to reintegrate the labour market. |
|
175 |
Cumulation regime and mobility to sectors with shortages (R-5.01) |
Milestone |
Federal reform of cumulation regime |
Decision of the federal government laying down how the reform shall enter into force |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
After consultation with social partners, decision of the federal government on expanding the possibilities to combine temporarily or in a limited way wage and social benefits and to ensure, in line with the tax reform on labour tax, that the persons involved shall not be fiscally punished. |
|
176 |
Cumulation regime and mobility to sectors with shortages (R-5.01) |
Milestone |
Federal reform of mobility to sectors with shortages |
Decision of the federal government laying down how the reform shall enter into force |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
After consultation of social partners, decision of the federal government on the implementation of art.39 ter of the employment contracts Act of 3 July 1978 to ensure greater mobility of workers from one sector to another. |
|
177 |
Reform of support to jobseekers in Wallonia (R-5.05) |
Milestone |
Reform of support for jobseekers in Wallonia |
Publication in official journal |
|
|
|
Q3 |
2021 |
Adoption by the Parliament of Wallonia of the decree relating to coaching and solutions-oriented support for job seekers. |
O. COMPONENT 5.2: Supporting economic activity
This component of the Belgian recovery and resilient plan is aimed at contributing to the economic recovery and facilitating the transition to a greener and more digitalised economy by focussing resources on innovation and support to promising sectors. The measures brought together under this component have three more specific objectives:
·supporting the development of activities which offer promising opportunities in terms of adding value to and enhancing the value of the territory;
·advancing and supporting research and innovation in order to develop the country’s future economic potential and to ensure its excellence and competitiveness;
·encouraging the implementation of more efficient production processes based in particular on emerging technologies.
In this component, particular attention is dedicated to SMEs, which make up the bulk of Belgium’s economic fabric and have been particularly affected by the economic crisis.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.3 in that it calls for focusing on research and innovation and on the low carbon and energy transition and to Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 calling for improving the business environment, front-loading public investment projects and promoting private investment to foster economic recovery.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
O.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment I-5.08 - ‘Nuclear medicine’ of the Federal State
This investment comprises two actions. The first action addresses two challenges related to ensuring future sufficient availability of two of the most promising radioisotopes within nuclear medicine for cancer treatment – 177Lu and 225Ac. This first action is itself composed of two elements. The first one addresses the need for new infrastructure at SCK CEN (the Belgian nuclear research centre), which is necessary to ensure an increase in the supply of 177Lu, taking into account projected future needs, expected to grow from 16.000 patients in 2020 to 138.000 patients in 2026 in the EU. The main objective of the second element is to carry out a study with the aim to close the gap between existing technologies and the needs identified for enabling a large-scale production of radioisotope 225 Ac.
The second action includes the SMART technology development project, which ultimately aims at the construction of a Mo-99 production tool from Molybdenum 100, an isotope present in the natural molybdenum, by subjecting it to an electron beam from a linear accelerator. This technology would therefore make it possible to supply the Mo-99 market in the future without recourse to research reactors and without the use of uranium. Radioisotope Mo-99 is used in 80 % of medical imaging procedures worldwide. The action is intended to finance the conduct of certain essential parts of the R&D study necessary to reach a sufficiently mature technology.
The implementation of the investment shall be finalised within 30 June 2025.
Investment I-5.09 ‘R&D: Call for proposals in support of R&D of the aeronautics and space sector’ of the Federal State
This investment aims to support Belgian aeronautics and space companies through an ambitious R&D&I policy, to improve their competitiveness and thus enable them to participate in the development of advanced and sustainable technologies (such as clean aviation). This support shall be provided through calls for aeronautical and space projects. These calls for projects shall cover aspects such as sustainable aviation or space connectivity. The call for projects in the field of aviation shall only cover clean aviation projects. Project proposals shall be examined to determine whether they are in line with the concept of clean aviation. In order to make this screening possible, specific criteria shall be established. Projects shall be geared to the practical search for solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of the sector (30 % reduction in fuel consumption of liner aircraft by 2035, reduction or even prohibition of leaded fuels (Avgas) for light aviation, consumption reduction). As regards the spatial sector, projects shall be assessed on the basis of their impact in terms of sustainability. In addition, connectivity, cybersecurity or spatial data management aspects shall contribute to the digital transition. Projects may be at rather low maturity levels (TRL) while being part of the innovation processes in these sectors in the longer term.
In order to ensure that the measure complies with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for upcoming calls for projects shall ensure that only projects on “best in class” technologies in aeronautics with the highest contribution to the green transition and carbon neutrality are selected.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed within 30 June 2026.
Investment I-5.10 ‘R&D: Minimization of waste during dismantling’ of the Federal State
This investment aims at funding the necessary investments that shall allow the scaling up to industrialisation of Belgian expertise in radiological characterisation and decontamination techniques and methodologies towards their application during the decommissioning of the Belgian nuclear power plants, to be carried out in the framework of the planned phase-out of nuclear power generation in Belgium and the possible valorisation in other decommissioning and site remediation projects. The project’s aim is to minimise the amount of waste that shall be produced during the eventual decommissioning of the Belgian nuclear power plants. For example, it shall maximise the re-use and recycling of metals and concrete. All the activities shall take place in highly secured SCK CEN facilities and shall comply with the environmental permit obtained. Finally, cradle to grave solutions shall be provided, not leading to secondary waste that cannot be managed. The project shall only focus on the re-use, recycling and final disposal of non-nuclear waste, while the disposal of radioactive waste issued from decommissioning operations is outside of the scope of the project.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-5.11 ‘Strengthen R&D’ of the Flemish Region
This investment aims at boosting innovation of Flanders’ economic operators through R&D, with a particular focus on three areas: digitalisation, sustainability and health. Three different axes are foreseen. A first axis shall target R&I projects in areas where Flanders already performs well, with a focus on sustainable, digital and health related activities. Under the same axis R&D on bio-economy shall be financed, and a part of the budget shall be dedicated to support SMEs and young enterprises. Projects related to the green transition shall also be part of this axis. A second axis shall target investment in state-of-the-art research and technological infrastructure. For example, it is foreseen to finance an incubator for the start-ups in the bio-economy sector, or some pilot facilities related to the digitalisation of the manufacturing industry. The third axis shall focus on current instruments targeting R&D support to companies. Under this axis R&D projects can for example relate to the pharmaceutical sector, and to 3D printing technology. The support for the participation to the planned IPCEI on micro-electronic is also foreseen. Under the measure at least 220 projects will be awarded covering all areas of intervention of the measure.
In order to ensure that the measure complies with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for upcoming calls for projects shall exclude the following list of activities: (i) activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use; (ii) activities under the EU Emission Trading System achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks 12 ; (iii) activities related to waste landfills, incinerators 13 and mechanical biological treatment plants 14 ; and (iv) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The terms of reference shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 August 2026.
Investment I-5.12 ‘Relocation of food and development of logistics platforms’ of the Walloon Region
The objective of this investment is to support the development of new agricultural sectors based on the principle of short supply chains and the development of missing tools (“links”) within the existing supply chain. It is divided into two sub-measures:
·the creation of 30 small-scale pieces of infrastructure (small infrastructures are projects of a surface between 400 – 800 m2) to support the production, the storage, the transport and the small-scale processing of products coming from four food chains (fruit, vegetables, cereals and vegetable proteins). It shall also include four projects, one for each food chain, to support the development and the production of seeds, seedlings and techniques adapted to climate change and cultivation without phytosanitary inputs;
·the construction of three logistic hubs dedicated to the activities of wholesalers, food processing of primary products and incubator of cooperatives. It shall be complemented by the construction of critical infrastructure (at least five pieces of infrastructure including one storage hall, one mill, two canneries and one mobile infrastructure related to animal welfare) which shall contribute to the deployment of the sustainable agri-food chain throughout the Walloon Region.
In order to ensure that the measure complies with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for upcoming calls for projects shall exclude the following list of activities: (i) activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use; (ii) activities related to waste landfills, incinerators and mechanical biological treatment plants 15 ; and (iii) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The terms of reference shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment I-5.13: ‘Digitisation of the Walloon tourism sector’ of the Walloon Region
The objective of this investment is to make the tourism industry in the Walloon Region more resilient. The project shall focus on the digitalisation of the sector, by implementing actions to increase the on-line presence of touristic operators (SMEs, self-employed persons, and non-profit associations) and their independence from third party platforms.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Reform R-5.06: ‘Optimisation of procedures: Faster permit and appeal procedures’ of the Flemish Region
This reform aims at the simplification of the environmental permit procedures, including by introducing conditions on the possibility to appeal decisions. It shall consist in a review of the existing regulation, with the objective to reduce the time needed to process a case and to provide greater legal certainty. At the end of the review, a report shall be published providing an overview of new and reviewed measures.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022.
Reform R-5.07: ‘Widening the innovation base’ of the Flemish Region
This reform aims at ensuring that the existing instruments do not put constraints on the access to innovation subsidies by SMEs. It shall consist in a review of the existing instruments aimed at stimulating innovation that is more easily accessible and adapted to the needs of SMEs. At the end of the review, a report shall be published providing an overview of new and reviewed measures.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022.
O.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
178 |
Nuclear medicine (I-5.08) |
Milestone |
All R&D activities in nuclear medicine finalised. |
A comprehensive evaluation report published. |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2023 |
Publication of a comprehensive evaluation report on the results and the conclusions of the study for all three R&D subprojects included in the measure. |
|
179 |
Nuclear medicine (I-5.08) |
Milestone |
Radioisotope facility constructed and commissioned (FANC and FAGG) |
Facility constructed and operational. |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2025 |
The 177LU radioisotope facility has been constructed and is operational, having obtained all the necessary licenses from the Agence fédérale de Contrôle nucléaire (FANC) and the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAGG) and in compliance with all the applicable legislation on the Federal and Flemish level related to Directive 2011/92. |
|
180 |
Nuclear medicine (I-5.08) |
Milestone |
Technology package finalised |
Feasibility report describing the technological package needed for investors to proceed to the large-scale production of 225Ac from 226Ra published |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2024 |
A feasibility report describing the technological package needed for investors to proceed to the large-scale production of 225Ac from 226Ra has been published. The report shall include the following elements: 1) Operational hot cell installation at SCK CEN to handle 226Ra sources 2) Electron - to - gamma converter design to be built for large scale production 3) Target and irradiation module design to be built for large scale production 4) A fully scaled-up radiochemical separation method and 226Ra recycling process - ready for large-scale implementation 5) A conceptual design of the 225Ac production facility 6) Roadmap on licensing of the building for handling of radioactivity (FANC) and GMP licensing (FAGG) |
|
181 |
R&D: Call in support of the aeronautics and space sectors (I-5.09) |
Milestone |
Launch of the call for proposals for aeronautical and space projects |
Publication of notice for call for proposals |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2022 |
Launch of the call for proposals under the clean aviation and space sector schemes, with terms of reference including eligibility criteria that ensure that the selected projects comply with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) ensuring that the R&D is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology. The projects selected under the space scheme shall be focussed on digital related R&D and shall therefore be eligible under the intervention field 009bis from Annex 7 of the EU Regulation 241/2021. |
|
182 |
R&D: Call in support of the aeronautics and space sectors (I-5.09) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for aeronautical and space projects |
Notification of the award of public contracts for aeronautical and space projects |
|
|
|
Q3 |
2022 |
Notification of the awards of all public contracts by the Federal Secretary of State responsible for scientific policy for at least 10 projects following the call for proposals under the clean aviation and space sector schemes, with terms of reference including eligibility criteria that ensure that the selected projects comply with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) ensuring that the R&D is dedicated to improving “best in class” technology. The projects selected under the space scheme shall be focussed on digital related R&D and shall therefore be eligible under the intervention field 009bis from Annex 7 of the EU Regulation 241/2021. |
|
183 |
R&D: Call in support of the aeronautics and space sectors (I-5.09) |
Target |
Completion of aeronautical and space projects |
|
Projects |
0 |
10 |
Q3 |
2026 |
10 projects notified for award following the call for proposals for both the clean aviation and space sector schemes have been executed. |
|
184 |
R&D: Minimization of waste during dismantling (I-5.10) |
Milestone |
Award of public contract for the construction of a Material Treatment facility (MaT) |
Written notification of the award of the public contract for the construction of a Material Treatment facility (MaT) |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
Notification of the award of the contract by the Federal Minister of Economics and Labour for the construction of a Material Treatment facility (MaT), which is needed to perform cold tests and demonstrations of the technologies to be developed for the re-use, recycling and final disposal of non-nuclear waste from the decommissioning operations of nuclear plants; necessary building permits and the license from the Agence fédérale de Contrôle nucléaire (FANC) shall be obtained. Building shall be compliant with all the applicable legislation on the Federal and Flemish level related to Directive 2011/92. |
|
185 |
R&D: Minimization of waste during dismantling (I-5.10) |
Milestone |
Material Treatment facility (MaT) constructed and commissioned; desk top study finalised |
Material Treatment facility (MaT) operational |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
The Material Treatment facility (MaT), which is needed to perform cold tests and demonstrations of the technologies to be developed technologies for the re-use, recycling and final disposal of non-nuclear waste from the decommissioning operations of nuclear plants, is constructed, equipped and operational, following the completion of the selection process of the needed infrastructures and equipment. A (desktop) case study shall be finalised within the project for the complete (cradle to grave) decommissioning of a particular component (such as a steam generator) of the Belgian nuclear power plants. |
|
186 |
Strengthen R&D (I-5.11) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for R&D and infrastructure projects |
Notification of the award projects |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
Notification, by the ‘Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek’ (FWO), VLAIO and the ‘Departement Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie’ (EWI), of the award of 220 projects to the successful candidates following the call for proposals, with terms of reference including eligibility criteria that ensure that the selected projects comply with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) through the use of an exclusion list and the requirement of compliance with the relevant EU and national environmental legislation. For projects awarded through grant schemes that do not work with calls for projects, compliance with the technical guidelines "do no significant harm" (2021/C58/01) is also enforced through an eligibility criterion based on the same exclusion list and the requirement of compliance with relevant EU and national environmental legislation. |
|
187 |
Strengthen R&D (I-5.11) |
Target |
Completion of awarded R&D and infrastructure projects |
|
Projects |
0 |
220 |
Q2 |
2026 |
220 projects following the call for proposals are completed, with EUR 252000000 executed. |
|
188 |
Relocation of food and development of logistics platforms (I-5.12) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for the construction of infrastructure for the food sector |
Written notification of the awards of public contracts for the constructions of infrastructure for the food sector |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
Notification, by Walloon Minister of Environment, of the award to the successful candidates following the call for proposals for the construction of 30 small scale infrastructures, and 4 larger structuring projects (one for each sector: fruits, vegetables, cereals, vegetable proteins) and 5 pieces of infrastructure, and by Walloon Minister of Social Economy for 3 logistic hubs with terms of reference including eligibility criteria that ensure that the selected projects comply with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) through the use of an exclusion list and the requirement of compliance with the relevant EU and national environmental legislation. |
|
189 |
Relocation of food and development of logistics platforms (I-5.12) |
Target |
Support for 30 food relocation projects and four emerging sectors |
|
Projects |
0 |
34 |
Q4 |
2024 |
Award of subsidies to 30 small scale infrastructures and to four larger structuring projects (one for each sector: fruits, vegetables, cereals, vegetable proteins) in the context of the programme Alliance Emploi-Environnement pour l'Alimentation to projects notified of award on the basis of a call for projects. |
|
190 |
Relocation of food and development of logistics platforms (I-5.12) |
Target |
Construction of three logistic hubs for a total surface of at least 8000 square meter completed |
|
Hubs |
0 |
3 |
Q4 |
2024 |
Construction and equipment of three logistic hubs, dedicated to the activities of wholesalers, food processing of primary products and incubator of cooperatives, for a total surface of 8000 square meter completed. |
|
191 |
Relocation of food and development of logistics platforms (I-5.12) |
Target |
Construction of at least five pieces of infrastructures completed |
|
Infrastructure |
0 |
5 |
Q4 |
2025 |
The construction of at least five pieces of infrastructure including one storage hall, one mill, two canneries and one mobile infrastructure related to animal welfare is completed. |
|
192 |
Digitisation of the Walloon tourism sector (I-5.13) |
Target |
Number of active users of the ‘outil regional de commercialisation’ |
|
Active users |
392 |
1500 |
Q4 |
2025 |
1500 tourism operators are active users of the ‘outil régional de commercialisation’. An active user is defined as a user or tourism operator using the ‘Outil regional de commercialisation’ (ORC) directly as an online reservation tool or cash register tool or whose online reservation tool is directly linked to the ORC. |
|
193 |
Reform - Faster permit and appeal procedures (R-5.06) |
Milestone |
Reform of the environmental permit and appeal procedures |
Publication of a report and government decisions. |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
Publication of a report endorsed by Cabinet van Flemish Minister for Justice and Enforcement, Environment, Energy and Tourism providing an overview of new and reviewed measures to simplify administrative procedures related to environmental permit procedures and government decisions. |
|
194 |
Reform - Broadening innovation base (R-5.07) |
Milestone |
Reform of the regulation for innovation support |
Publication of a report and related government decisions |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
Publication of a report endorsed by Flemish minister of Economy, Innovation, Work, Social economy and Agriculture providing an overview of new and reviewed measures to improve access for SMEs to measures for innovation support, and the related government decisions. |
P. COMPONENT 5.3: Circular economy
The measures under this component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan aim in general to contribute to the development of a circular and low-carbon economy. In particular, they seek to develop recycling, reuse, and industrial symbiosis. In addition to promoting certain practices, the aim is to support innovation in waste and resource processing and to develop training in certain areas of the circular economy.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.3, calling on Belgium to focus investment-related economic policy on, inter alia, the low carbon and energy transition, and research and innovation, as well as Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 inviting Belgium to focus investment on the green and digital transition, in particular on clean and efficient production, the circular economy and research and innovation.
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
P.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Reform R-5.08 ‘Brussels Regional Strategy for the Economic Transition’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The aim of this reform is to design a regional strategy for economic transition by mobilising all regional economic policy instruments, achieving a better coordination and cooperation between public actors, as well as active participation of the private sector. Its operational objectives are to be based on the results of 10 working groups.
The regional strategy for the economic transition shall set out targets for 2030 and an action plan for five years. It shall be adopted by Decision of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region by 31 March 2022.
Reform R-5.09 ‘Governance Circular Flanders’ of the Flemish Region
Circular Flanders is the central platform in Flanders aimed at facilitating the transition to a circular economy in cooperation with industrial partners, knowledge institutions, public administrations, banks and civil society. This reform shall significantly improve and expand the governance of this platform. In that framework, public-private partnerships shall focus on a combination of thematic work agendas, such as circular construction, chemistry/plastics, other product chains in the manufacturing industry, bio-economy and the food chain, and a number of strategic levers (financing, innovation, circular supply, research, awareness).
The texts of the roadmap and work agendas are expected by 31 December 2021.
Investment I-5.14 ‘Recycling Hub’ of the Flemish Region
The Flanders recycling hub measure aims to realise at least six important investments in new recycling facilities. The focus is on missing links in a number of value chains to enable local circular production, such as the recycling of nappies, mattresses, and textiles. Investments are also sought in the plastic and chemical sectors.
In order to ensure that the measure complies with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for upcoming calls for projects shall exclude the following list of activities: (i) activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use; (ii) activities related to waste landfills, incinerators 16 and mechanical biological treatment plants 17 ; and (iii) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The terms of reference shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected.
The measure was launched in the fourth quarter of 2020. The award of contracts shall be completed by 31 December 2022. The projects shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-5.15 ‘Belgium Builds Back Circular’ of the Federal State
This investment aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Belgium. The objective is threefold:
·Avoiding market or policy fragmentation and promoting an integrated approach through the creation of a circular coalition with a specific focus on federal competences for circular economy and the interfacing of federal competences with local and regional competences, such as the design for scarcity, reuse, repair and recycling, chemical safety, verification and certification of recycled content;
·Financing a total of 10 circular projects in industry and research centers to accelerate the transition and scale up in practice, targeting in particular projects on the substitution of hazardous chemicals and projects on eco-design;
·Raising awareness and informing SMEs through targeted campaigns, a website and the creation of a self-assessment tool for SMEs.
In order to ensure that the measure complies with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for upcoming call for the circular projects shall exclude the following list of activities: (i) activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use; (ii) activities under the EU Emission Trading System achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks 18 ; (iii) activities related to waste landfills, incinerators 19 and mechanical biological treatment plants 20 ; and (iv) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The terms of reference shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected.
The circular coalition shall be created by 31 December 2021 and the projects shall be finalised by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-5.16 ‘Deployment of the circular economy’ in the Walloon Region
With the aim to deploy the Walloon circular economy the following investments shall be implemented via calls for proposals for:
·research and development through the creation of innovation partnerships in two priority value chains, namely metals and construction materials. Projects shall focus on circularity (reuse, upscaling and recycling) of metals, batteries and minerals;
·projects that enable the organisation and enhancement of eco-design, eco-innovation and the selective collection/sorting of material flows in order to ensure reuse, promote preparation for reuse and recycling and develop new activities in the area of collaborative economy and functionality;
·recycling of aircraft at the end of their life cycle and enabling the development of other economic initiatives in the region such as companies producing equipment from recycled materials originating from dismantled aircraft, industrial reallocation and related professional retraining.
In order to ensure that the measure complies with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for upcoming calls for projects under the abovementioned sub-measures shall include an eligibility criterion shall exclude the activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use and (ii) activities under the EU Emission Trading System achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks 21 ; (iii) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The terms of reference shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected.
The measure was launched in Q1 2021 and shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Investment I-5.17 –‘Circular economy & circular construction’ of the Flemish Region
This investment aims to stimulate the scaling up and mainstreaming of the circular economy concept, focusing on promoting research at an industrial scale, innovation projects with industrial companies that allow for systemic impact and support the development and implementation of circular business models, pilot and demonstration projects and encouraging SMEs to explore how to make their business model and business processes circular.
The investment shall be implemented via calls for proposals for innovative projects on circular construction, for projects for knowledge dissemination on circular manufacturing and for projects to set-up collective living labs. Furthermore, a subsidy scheme for SMEs for the acquisition of expertise (external or internal) on circularity shall be implemented.
In order to ensure that the measure complies with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for upcoming calls for projects shall exclude the following list of activities: (i) activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use; (ii) activities under the EU Emission Trading System achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks 22 ; (iii) activities related to waste landfills, incinerators 23 and mechanical biological treatment plants 24 ; and (iv) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The terms of reference shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected.
This measure shall run from 1 March 2021 until 30 June 2026.
P.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
|
195 |
Brussels Regional Strategy for the Economic Transition (R-5.08) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the Regional Strategy for Economic Transition |
Decision of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region indicating the adoption of the strategy |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2022 |
Brussels Region’s strategy for economic transition adopted by the government of the Brussels-Capital Region (Décision du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale), defining objectives for 2030, based on coordination between public actors and active participation of the private sector, including a five year action plan covering priority areas for action, putting in place a coherent package of public incentives for innovation and favourable for entrepreneurship for the ecological transition. |
|
|
196 |
Governance Circular Flanders (R-5.09) |
Milestone |
Launch of Steering Group of Circular Flanders |
Steering group for the governance of Circular Flanders appointed and Roadmap and Work Agendas adopted |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2021 |
Steering group for the governance of Circular Flanders appointed and Roadmap and Work Agendas for guiding circular economy projects and the development of strategic levers adopted |
|
|
197 |
Recycling Hub (I-5.14) |
Target |
Award of six public contracts for recycling facilities |
|
Facilities |
0 |
6 |
Q4 |
2022 |
Six investment projects for recycling facilities have been selected for support. A jury shall make an assessment of the projects, the final selection shall be confirmed by the Flemish minister for Environment. Award of the contracts to the projects selected under the competitive call for proposals with terms of reference including eligibility criteria that ensure that the selected projects comply with the ’Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) through the use of an exclusion list and the requirement of compliance with the relevant EU and national environmental legislation. |
|
|
198 |
Recycling Hub (I-5.14) |
Target |
Completion of works in six recycling facilities |
|
Facilities |
0 |
6 |
Q2 |
2026 |
Six recycling facilities built, adapted or enlarged for improved recycling processes. |
|
|
199 |
Belgium Builds Back Circular (I-5.15) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for circular projects |
Notification of the award of public contracts to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q1 |
2024 |
Operational secretariat contracted and in function to foster collaboration on circular economy actions and selection of successful candidates following call for proposal for ten circular projects. The candidates shall be private companies that need financing for the implementation of a research or operational project in ecodesign or chemical substitution. A candidate shall be considered successful when its investment project is officially selected to be funded by the coalition. Notification of the award of public contracts to the projects selected under the competitive call for proposals with terms of reference including eligibility criteria that ensure that the selected projects comply with the ’Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) through the use of an exclusion list and the requirement of compliance with the relevant EU and national environmental legislation. |
|
|
200 |
Belgium Builds Back Circular (I-5.15) |
Milestone |
Completion of awareness raising and information actions to SME’s and of circular projects |
Reports establishing the impact of the campaigns, reports on the completion of circular projects |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
At least three awareness raising and informing actions towards SME’s (annual awareness campaigns (over three years), one website and one self-assessment tool) on circular economy aspects completed and at least nine circular projects finalised |
|
|
201 |
Deployment of the circular economy in Wallonia (I-5.16) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for projects promoting circular economy in Wallonia |
Notification of the award of public contracts to successful candidates |
|
|
|
Q2 |
2022 |
Selection of successful candidates following three calls for proposals for projects on recycling and reuse of metals, batteries and minerals, on the development of a collaborative economy to limit resource use and on the development of a value chain and training actions linked to the recycling of airplanes. The calls for proposals shall have terms of reference including eligibility criteria that ensure that the selected projects comply with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) through the use of an exclusion list and the requirement of compliance with the relevant EU and national environmental legislation. |
|
|
202 |
Deployment of the circular economy in Wallonia (I-5.16) |
Target |
Completion of projects promoting circular economy in Wallonia |
|
Projects |
0 |
80 |
Q2 |
2026 |
At least 80 projects completed on the recycling and reuse of metals, batteries and minerals, on the development of a collaborative economy to limit resource use and on the development of a value chain and training actions linked to the recycling of airplanes. |
|
|
203 |
Flanders - circular economy & circular construction (I-5.17) |
Milestone |
Launch of calls for projects on circular construction, for knowledge dissemination on circular manufacturing and for the setting up of collective living labs |
Launch of the call for proposals |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
Launch of calls for innovative projects on circular construction, for projects for knowledge dissemination on circular manufacturing and for projects to set-up collective living labs by private companies. The calls for proposals shall have terms of reference including eligibility criteria that ensure that the selected projects comply with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) through the use of an exclusion list and the requirement of compliance with the relevant EU and national environmental legislation. |
|
|
204 |
Flanders - circular economy & circular construction (I-5.17) |
Milestone |
Projects on circular construction, for knowledge dissemination on circular manufacturing and for the setting up of collective living labs completed |
|
|
|
|
Q2 |
2026 |
At least 100 projects completed on circular construction, for knowledge dissemination on circular manufacturing, for the acquisition of expertise (external or internal) on circularity, and for the setting up of collective living labs by private companies and at least 500 companies (SMEs) and organisations benefitted from the subsidies as direct beneficiary of the subsidy or as a participant in collective projects |
|
Q. COMPONENT 6.1: Spending reviews
This component of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan is composed of measures centred on the conduct of spending reviews at different level of governments. The overall objective is to improve the quality and composition of public expenditures.
The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.1 on improving the composition and efficiency of public spending.
Q.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Reform R-6 ‘Spending reviews’
The objective of the reform is to introduce spending reviews at different government levels. The implementation of the reforms shall be completed by 31 December 2024. This measure includes the following five sub-measures:
·Reform R-6.01 ‘Spending reviews’ of the Federal State
·Reform R-6.02 ‘Spending reviews - Flemish general revision and spending norm’ of Flanders
·Reform R-6.03 ‘Spending Reviews — Zero-based budget’ of the Walloon Region
·Reform R-6.04 ‘Spending review’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
·Reform R-6.05 ‘Spending reviews’ of the French Community
Reform R-6.01 ‘Spending reviews’ of the Federal State
The reform measure aims to conduct spending reviews in a structural way at the federal level and in the social security sector. As part of the Commission’s Structural Reform Support Programme, the OECD has supported the preparation of spending reviews. In 2019 and 2020, it provided technical assistance and recommendations to effectively implement spending reviews in Belgium’s budgetary process. In line with the OECD’s recommendations, the federal government decided to launch pilot exercises in early 2021 in three main areas: tax expenditure, primary expenditure, social security sector. Working groups have been set up to that end and are due to submit their report in view of the preparation of the 2022 budget. At that point in time, the government shall select a new set of topics to be delivered for the next year. An evaluation of the process (steering committee, terms of reference, composition of working groups) shall be carried out after the pilot exercise to assess whether the planned structure and timing are optimal or may be improved. By the completion of the pilots, the government shall decide in 2022 how spending reviews would become a recurrent process and an integral part of the budgetary procedure.
Reform R-6.02 ‘Spending reviews - Flemish general revision and spending norm’ of Flanders
The reform measure plans to re-prioritise the expenditures of Flanders’s regional government and limit it where possible: on the one hand, through the development of an expenditure norm and, on the other hand, through the so-called “Vlaamse Brede Herovering (VBH)”, which aims to structurally anchor spending reviews in the Flemish budgetary process in the coming years. The expenditure norm to be adopted in 2022 shall define the maximum growth path of government expenditure, taking into account the trend in revenue growth and the budgetary targets set. The purpose of the VBH programme is to carry out an evaluation on ten policy domains by mid-2021 which shall serve as basis to define the scope of spending reviews. The measure will support spending reviews in eleven policy domains from September 2021 to October 2025.
Reform R-6.03 ‘Spending Reviews — Zero-based budget’ of the Walloon Region
The reform measure consists in a zero-based budgeting exercise and of spending reviews covering all expenditures and revenues structured around seven policy fields and covering all departments of the Walloon administration as well as 170 public administration units. The zero-based budgeting approach, which shall require full justification of spending on a yearly basis, shall focus on operating and investment expenditures, while spending reviews shall address intervention expenditures involving a transfer of public resource to undertakings, household and local authorities. The exercise shall be conducted in a series of four waves from October 2020 to June 2022 with the support of external consultants. Upon the conclusion of the exercise, the Walloon government shall decide how spending reviews are to be integrated in the budgetary process in a permanent way.
Reform R-6.04 ‘Spending review’ of the Brussels-Capital Region
The reform measure consists in the conduct and finalisation of two pilot spending reviews and the subsequent integration of spending reviews in the budgetary process of the Brussels region. With the support of the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP), the Brussels region initiated two spending review pilots in the areas of mobility and social housing. Their main objective is to strengthen the capacity within the Administration (in particular the Brussels Administration for Finance and Budget and the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis) and to draw lessons to anchor the tool in a structural way. Also thanks to the SRSP, the Brussels government benefited from a comprehensive gap analysis of its public financial management system thanks to a Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment to be concluded in July 2021. Based on the experiences in conducting the pilot reviews and the results of the PEFA analysis, the Brussels government shall decide on how to integrate spending reviews in a structural way in the budgetary process.
Reform R-6.05 ‘Spending reviews’ of the French Community
The reform measure consist in the conduct of pilot spending reviews and the subsequent integration of spending reviews in the budgetary process of the French-speaking Community. A first wave of pilot reviews were selected for the elaboration of the 2022 budget. A second wave shall follow and be concluded by mid-2022. In the framework of the EU Technical Support Instrument, the Government of the French-speaking Community shall benefit from technical support to integrate spending reviews in its budgetary cycle allowing the Government to decide in Q2 2023 as how to integrate spending reviews in the budgetary cycle.
Q.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
205 |
Spending reviews (R-6) |
Milestone |
Spending review pilot or integration into budgetary process (1) |
Completed pilots and associated reports |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2021 |
For the federal, Walloon Region, and Brussels Capital Region authorities: Spending review pilot completion and drafting of report. For the Flemish Region authorities: Spending review integration into budgetary process (1): Government decisions defining how spending reviews (or similar approach) are integrated into budgetary process. The decisions define the spending review strategy and a calendar for future reviews, potentially including quantified targets. In line with the Eurogroup guidance, ensure, amongst other elements, clear scope and design of the reviews as well as transparent monitoring, reporting and evaluation. |
|
206 |
Spending reviews (R-6) |
Milestone |
Spending review integration into budgetary process (1) or pilot completion |
Government decision |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2022 |
For the federal, Walloon Region, and Brussels Capital Region authorities: Spending review integration into budgetary process (1): Government decisions defining how spending reviews (or similar approach) are integrated into budgetary process. The decisions define the spending review strategy and a calendar for future reviews, potentially including quantified targets. In line with the Eurogroup guidance, ensure, amongst other elements, clear scope and design of the reviews as well as transparent monitoring, reporting and evaluation. For the French Community authorities: Spending review pilot completion and report redaction. |
|
207 |
Spending reviews (R-6) |
Milestone |
Spending review integration into budgetary process (1) or (2) |
Government decision |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2023 |
For the French Community authorities: Spending review integration into budgetary process (1): Government decisions defining how spending reviews (or similar approach) are integrated into budgetary process. The decisions define the spending review strategy and a calendar for future reviews, potentially including quantified targets. In line with the Eurogroup guidance, ensure, amongst other elements, clear scope and design of the reviews as well as transparent monitoring, reporting and evaluation. For the federal, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Brussels Capital-Region, and French Community authorities: Spending review integration into budgetary process (2): Systematic inclusion of the outcome of spending reviews into annual and multiannual budget planning as of the preparation of the budgetary law for 2024. This shall include, among others, the quantification ex-post of the outcomes, including savings, associated to the spending review programme. |
|
208 |
Spending reviews (R-6) |
Milestone |
Spending review ex-post analysis |
Assessment report |
|
|
|
Q4 |
2024 |
For the federal, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Brussels-Capital Region, and French Community authorities: Spending review ex-post analysis: Publication of assessment report of spending reviews. |
R. Audit and control
I.1.
Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
A repository system for recording and storing all relevant data related to the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan - the achievement of milestones and targets, data on final recipient, contractors, subcontractors and beneficial owners - shall be operational before the first payment request is submitted. Belgium shall submit a dedicated audit report before the first payment request confirming the effectiveness of the functionalities of the repository system.
In addition, as well before making the first payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Belgium will ensure that the implementation of adequate coordination arrangements, including cross-checks, shall be put in place at the level of the coordinating body at inter-federal level allowing to avoid double funding from the Facility and other Union programmes in accordance with the principle of sound financial management
I.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators
|
Quantitative indicators
|
Indicative timeline for completion |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit of measure |
Baseline |
Goal |
Quarter |
Year |
|
|
209 |
Monitoring and implementation of the plan |
Milestone |
Repository system for Audit and Controls: information for monitoring implementation of RRF |
Audit report confirming repository system functionalities |
|
|
|
Before the first payment request |
Before the first payment request |
A repository system for monitoring the implementation of the RRF shall be in place and operational. The system shall include, as a minimum, the following functionalities: (a) collection of data and monitoring of the achievement of milestones and targets; (b) collect, store and ensure access to the data required by Article 22(2)(d)(i) to (iii) of the RRF Regulation. |
|
210 |
Monitoring and implementation of the plan |
Milestone |
Protection of EU financial interest |
Implementation of arrangements |
|
|
|
Before the first payment request |
Before the first payment request |
The implementation of adequate coordination arrangements, including cross-checks, shall be put in place at the level of the coordinating body at inter-federal level allowing to avoid double funding from the Facility and other Union programmes in accordance with the principle of sound financial management. |
2.Estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan
The estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan of Belgium is EUR 5 924 952 328.
SECTION 2: FINANCIAL SUPPORT
1.Financial contribution
The instalments referred to in Article 2(2) shall be organised in the following manner:
1.1.First Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Monitoring and implementation of the plan |
Milestone |
Repository system for Audit and Controls: information for monitoring implementation of RRF |
|
2 |
Learning account (R-5.03) |
Milestone |
Federal reform creating incentives for companies to provide training |
|
3 |
Regional data exchange platform (I-2.10) |
Milestone |
Award of the public contract |
|
4 |
Digitalisation of citizen-business processes (I-2.11) |
Milestone |
Entry in operation of new digital platforms |
|
5 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
EU Connectivity Toolbox |
|
6 |
Mobiliteitsbudget (R-3.02) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the mobility budget |
|
7 |
Zero-emission company cars (R-3.03) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the law reforming the company car tax scheme |
|
8 |
Personalised guidance in compulsory education (I-4.03) |
Milestone |
Adoption of a new decree framework that sets the terms of intervention of the system |
|
9 |
Reform of support to jobseekers in Wallonia (R-5.05) |
Milestone |
Reform of support for jobseekers in Wallonia |
|
10 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
Project management in place for the digital transformation of justice following the adoption of a decree |
|
11 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
Publication of 5G spectrum assignment legislative framework |
|
12 |
Stimulating zero-emission transport – VLA (R-3.06) |
Milestone |
Adoption of a framework for the deployment of charging infrastructure in the Flemish Region |
|
13 |
Charging stations – FED (I-3.18) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the tax incentive to install private and semi-public charging points |
|
14 |
Digital turnaround for Brussels schools (I-4.05) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
15 |
An inclusive labour market (R-4.06) |
Target |
Completion of sectoral non-discrimination action plans |
|
16 |
Development of public utility housing and housing for vulnerable persons (I-4.12) |
Milestone |
Walloon Strategy for deinstitutionalisation (Walloon health policy) |
|
17 |
Pension and end of career (R-4.07) |
Milestone |
Pension reform proposal |
|
18 |
Learning account (R-5.03) |
Milestone |
Federal reform developing individual entitlement to training for employees |
|
19 |
Governance Circular Flanders (R-5.09) |
Milestone |
Launch of Steering Group of Circular Flanders |
|
20 |
Spending reviews (R-6) |
Milestone |
Spending review pilot or integration into budgetary process (1) |
|
21 |
Monitoring and implementation of the plan |
Milestone |
Protection of EU financial interest |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 973,994,000 |
1.2.Second Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22 |
Public building renovations (I-1B) |
Milestone |
Adaptation of the electricity ordinance to introduce a one-stop shop for renovations |
|
23 |
Charging stations – RBC (R-3.05) |
Milestone |
Adoption of a decree specifying the security standards and of an infrastructure delivery plan |
|
24 |
Improved energy grant scheme in the Flemish region (R-1.01) |
Milestone |
Improved energy grant schemes in Flanders |
|
25 |
Improved energy grant scheme of the Brussels-Capital region (R-1.02) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of new regulation on energy grant schemes in Brussels |
|
26 |
Improved energy grant scheme of the German-Community (R-1.03) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of new regulation on energy grant schemes in the German-speaking Community |
|
27 |
Renovation of public buildings (I-1.06) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of new regulation on energy grant schemes in Wallonia |
|
28 |
Regulatory framework for the H2 and CO2 markets (R-1.04) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of New Gas Law and related regulations to enable market development of H2 and CO2 |
|
29 |
Backbone for H2 and CO2 (I-1.14) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the investment plan for H2 & CO2 backbone infrastructure. |
|
30 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.17) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for hydrogen IPCEI projects |
|
31 |
eHealth Services and Health Data (I-2.06) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the law setting up the Health Data Authority |
|
32 |
Provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools (I-4) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
33 |
R&D: Call in support of the aeronautics and space sectors (I-5.09) |
Milestone |
Launch of the call for proposals for aeronautical and space projects |
|
34 |
Brussels Regional Strategy for the Economic Transition (R-5.08) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the Regional Strategy for Economic Transition |
|
35 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.15) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts under the call for tender |
|
36 |
Developing the low-carbon industry (I-1.18) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts |
|
37 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (sub-measure: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12) |
Milestone |
Requirements are defined |
|
38 |
eHealth Services and Health Data (I-2.06) |
Milestone |
Design and solution for the subprojects |
|
39 |
Digitalisation of the cultural and media sector (I-2.08) |
Target |
Completion of projects for digitized and enhanced audio visual and audio works |
|
40 |
E-government : tendering procedure (R-2.02) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a new regulatory context |
|
41 |
Development of an AI institute in order to use this technology to meet societal challenges (I-2.14) |
Milestone |
Completion of pilot projects by the AI for the Common Good Institute |
|
42 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
5G auction |
|
43 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
Status Connectivity Toolbox implementation |
|
44 |
Smart Move (I-3.15) |
Milestone |
Smart Move application is operational |
|
45 |
Charging stations – VLA (I-3.19) |
Milestone |
Award of concessions for charging infrastructure |
|
46 |
Pension and end of career (R-4.07) |
Milestone |
Action plan based on output of the employment conference |
|
47 |
Life-long learning’ of the Flemish Community (R-5.04) |
Milestone |
Vision paper on learning and career account in Flanders |
|
48 |
Deployment of the circular economy in Wallonia (I-5.16) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for projects promoting circular economy in Wallonia |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 973,994,000 |
1.3.Third Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
49 |
Introduction of 5G – National fixed and mobile broadband plan (R-2.03) |
Milestone |
Revision of the legislative framework of the three regions on radiation standards |
|
50 |
Rail refurbishment and station accessibility works (I-3C) |
Target |
Completion of rail refurbishment and modernisation works and station accessibility works (step 1) |
|
51 |
Charging stations- WAL (R-3.04) |
Milestone |
Adoption of a plan to deploy electric charging stations |
|
52 |
Digisprong (R-4.01) |
Milestone |
Adoption of new ICT framework for compulsory education in Flanders |
|
53 |
R&D: Call in support of the aeronautics and space sectors (I-5.09) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for aeronautical and space projects |
|
54 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.16) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts to hydrogen IPCEI projects |
|
55 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.16) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for non-IPCEI hydrogen projects |
|
56 |
Off-shore energy island (I-1.21) |
Milestone |
Finalisation of FEED and environmental studies |
|
57 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Target |
Notification of award for eight public tenders |
|
58 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Milestone |
Delivery of first cybersecurity awareness campaign |
|
59 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
Publication of the JustOnWeb online portal |
|
60 |
Digitisation of the Flemish Government (I-2.09) |
Milestone |
Contract award for 18 projects |
|
61 |
Global action plan against early school leaving (R-4.03) |
Milestone |
New comprehensive plan against school dropout |
|
62 |
Provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools (I-4) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
63 |
Personalised guidance in compulsory education (I-4.03) |
Target |
Deployment of a reinforced support mechanism for students in need |
|
64 |
Digibanks (I-4.11) |
Target |
Signature of partnerships to promote digital inclusion |
|
65 |
Learning and career offensive (I-5.04) |
Target |
Support for training leaves and online training offer in Flanders |
|
66 |
Learning and career-offensive (I-5.04) |
Milestone |
Support to the temporary unemployed in Flanders |
|
67 |
Digital Skills (I-5.06) |
Target |
Development of e-learning offer in Flanders |
|
68 |
Strengthen R&D (I-5.11) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for R&D and infrastructure projects |
|
69 |
Relocation of food and development of logistics platforms (I-5.12) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for the construction of infrastructure for the food sector |
|
70 |
Reform - Faster permit and appeal procedures (R-5.06) |
Milestone |
Reform of the environmental permit and appeal procedures |
|
71 |
Reform - Broadening innovation base (R-5.07) |
Milestone |
Reform of the regulation for innovation support |
|
72 |
Recycling Hub (I-5.14) |
Target |
Award of six public contracts for recycling facilities |
|
73 |
Flanders - circular economy & circular construction (I-5.17) |
Milestone |
Launch of calls for projects on circular construction, for knowledge dissemination on circular manufacturing and for the setting up of collective living labs |
|
74 |
Spending reviews (R-6) |
Milestone |
Spending review integration into budgetary process (1) or pilot completion |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 735,632,000 |
1.4.Fourth Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
75 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.17) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for non-IPCEI projects |
|
76 |
Research platform for energy transition (I-1.19) |
Milestone |
Release of public tenders for equipment |
|
77 |
Renewable heat networks (I-1.20) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for renewable or waste heat projects |
|
78 |
Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change (I-1.22) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts to projects for creation of two national parks |
|
79 |
Emission fraud (R-3.07) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the legal framework for vehicle emission monitoring in Flanders |
|
80 |
Re-qualification strategy (I-4.07) |
Target |
Competence profile and job counselling |
|
81 |
A6K/E6K Digital and Technological Innovation and Training Hub (I-5.01) |
Milestone |
Activity developed through A6K-E6K |
|
82 |
Renovation of private and social housing (I-1A) |
Target |
Renovation of private residential and social housing (step1) |
|
83 |
Renovation of private and social housing (1-1A) |
Target |
Award of grants for home batteries and smart control appliances in Flanders |
|
84 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.15) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts under the 2nd call for tender |
|
85 |
Blue Deal (I-1.24) |
Milestone |
Start of projects to reinforce biodiversity and/or mitigate climate change effects |
|
86 |
Digitalisation of regional and local government (I-2.12) |
Milestone |
Awards of three calls for projects |
|
87 |
SNCB/INFRABEL Performance (R-3.01) |
Milestone |
Approval of the new performance contracts of NMBS-SNCB and Infrabel and the pluri-annual investment plan, contract |
|
88 |
Charging stations (I-3F) |
Target |
Additional operational semi-public and public charging points (step 1) |
|
89 |
Re-qualification strategy (I-4.07) |
Milestone |
Award of grants related to social innovation initiatives |
|
90 |
Nuclear medicine (I-5.08) |
Milestone |
All R&D activities in nuclear medicine finalised. |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 735,632,000 |
1.5.Fifth Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
91 |
Off-shore energy island (I-1.21) |
Milestone |
Permits for energy island obtained |
|
92 |
Enhancing public transport in Wallonia (I-3B) |
Target |
Start of major infrastructure works for bus (Mons and smart road signals), tram (Liège) and light metro (Charleroi) |
|
93 |
Rail refurbishment and station accessibility works (I-3C) |
Target |
Completion of rail refurbishment and modernisation works and station accessibility works (step 2) |
|
94 |
Canal Albert et Trilogiport (I-3.11) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts for the works of the bridges over Canal Albert / and a new platform at Trilogiport |
|
95 |
Re-qualification strategy (R-4.05) |
Milestone |
Adoption of regulatory texts by the Brussels Government to promote integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market |
|
96 |
Development of public utility housing and housing for vulnerable persons (I-4.12) |
Target |
Award of part of the works |
|
97 |
Building and renovation of early childcare infrastructure (I-4.13) |
Milestone |
Award of works contracts for project promoters |
|
98 |
Blue Deal (I-1.24) |
Milestone |
Land purchases to reinforce biodiversity and/or mitigate climate change effects |
|
99 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Target |
Instruments to increase cyber resilience available to the general public |
|
100 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Milestone |
Global cybersecurity governance framework within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
|
101 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
Internal centralization of court decisions |
|
102 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 10: Single Digital Gateway) |
Milestone |
The front-end interface is developed |
|
103 |
Simplification of administrative procedures (R-2.01) |
Milestone |
Entry into force of measures to simplify the online creation of a business |
|
104 |
Development of an AI institute in order to use this technology to meet societal challenges (I-2.14) |
Milestone |
Team of experts created within the AI for the Common Good Institute |
|
105 |
Modal shift grants (I-3.14) |
Target |
First 5.000 new modal shift grants applications |
|
106 |
Higher education advancement Fund (R-4.02) |
Milestone |
Vision paper for a future oriented, agile, and digital higher education |
|
107 |
Higher Education Advancement Fund (I-4.02) |
Target |
Improving High Education offering in Flanders to make it more future-proof and agile |
|
108 |
Tackling discrimination at the labour market (R-4.04) |
Milestone |
Adapted regulatory framework and improved application of discriminatory tests |
|
109 |
An inclusive labour market (R-4.06) |
Target |
New integrated path for newcomers |
|
110 |
Digital Skills (I-5.06) |
Milestone |
Digital tools and services to citizens, employers and the Flemish Public Employment Service (VDAB) partners fully deployed in Flanders |
|
111 |
Learning account (R-5.03) |
Target |
Reform for improved collaboration between the National Employment Service (ONEM) and the regional employment services allowing to increase training for the unemployed. |
|
112 |
Cumulation regime and mobility to sectors with shortages (R-5.01) |
Milestone |
Federal reform of cumulation regime |
|
113 |
Cumulation regime and mobility to sectors with shortages (R-5.01) |
Milestone |
Federal reform of mobility to sectors with shortages |
|
114 |
R&D: Minimization of waste during dismantling (I-5.10) |
Milestone |
Award of public contract for the construction of a Material Treatment facility (MaT) |
|
115 |
Spending reviews (R-6) |
Milestone |
Spending review integration into budgetary process (1) or (2) |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 540,230,000 |
1.6.Sixth Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
116 |
‘Renolab: Renovation laboratory’ of the Brussels-Capital Region (I-1.13) |
Milestone |
Award of contracts to demonstration of renovation projects |
|
117 |
Cycling infrastructure (I-3A) |
Target |
New and refurbished cycling roads |
|
118 |
Belgium Builds Back Circular (I-5.15) |
Milestone |
Award of public contracts for circular projects |
|
119 |
Renovation of private and social housing (I-1A) |
Target |
Renovation of private residential and social housing (step 2) |
|
120 |
Public building renovations (I-1B) |
Target |
Renovation of public buildings (step 1) |
|
121 |
Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change (I-1.22) |
Target |
Land management measures applied (forests, protected area) and remeandering projects in progress |
|
122 |
Digitalisation IPSS (I-2.04) (sub-measure 2) |
Target |
All Public Institute for Social Security (IPSS) communications are digital and data is centralized / consolidated |
|
123 |
Cycling infrastructure (I-3A) |
Milestone |
Start of all cycling and walking projects |
|
124 |
Enhancing public transport in Wallonia (I-3B) |
Milestone |
Signature of revised public service contract of OTW (‘Organisme de Transport de Wallonie’) |
|
125 |
E-inclusion for Belgium (I-4.08) |
Target |
Award of grants |
|
126 |
Pension and end of career (R-4.07) |
Milestone |
Adoption of the pension reform |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 540,230,000 |
1.7.Seventh Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
127 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
Database for the collection of real-time data |
|
128 |
Regional data exchange platform (I-2.10) |
Target |
10 public administrations are supported for the deployment of projects on the regional data platform |
|
129 |
Digitalisation of regional and local government (I-2.12) |
Target |
Training upskilling reskilling |
|
130 |
E-government : tendering procedure (R-2.02) |
Milestone |
Implementation of the new tool |
|
131 |
Development of an AI institute in order to use this technology to meet societal challenges (I-2.14) |
Target |
AI services delivered by the AI for the Common Good Institute |
|
132 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Target |
Award of public procurement contracts for 5G proof of concept projects |
|
133 |
Go Live of rail IT modules (I-3E) |
Target |
Go Live of rail IT modules |
|
134 |
Greening the bus fleet (I-3G) |
Target |
Formal order for green busses and related charging infrastructure in Flanders and Brussels |
|
135 |
Emission fraud (R-3.07) |
Milestone |
IT system that integrates emission data with observations of periodic technical and road safety inspections operational |
|
136 |
Provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools (I-4 |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
137 |
Digital turnaround for Brussels schools (I-4.05) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
138 |
Digital platforms for prisoners (I-4.09) |
Target |
Completion of roll-out |
|
139 |
Gender and work (I-4.10) |
Target |
Participation of women to field-projects |
|
140 |
Learning and career-offensive (I-5.04) |
Target |
Support to enterprises in Flanders via competency checks, transition points and calls for projects |
|
141 |
Strategy for relaunching the labour market focused on the efficiency and optimisation of activation and training policies (I-5.05) |
Target |
Activation support to job seekers and workers in Brussels |
|
142 |
Nuclear medicine (I-5.08) |
Milestone |
Technology package finalised |
|
143 |
Relocation of food and development of logistics platforms (I-5.12) |
Target |
Support for 30 food relocation projects and four emerging sectors |
|
144 |
Relocation of food and development of logistics platforms (I-5.12) |
Target |
Construction of three logistic hubs for a total surface of at least 8000 square meter completed |
|
145 |
Spending reviews (R-6) |
Milestone |
Spending review ex-post analysis |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 459,770,000 |
1.8.Eighth Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
146 |
Unlocking of Open Data for Smart Mobility application (I-3D) |
Target |
Unlocking of Open Data for Smart Mobility application |
|
147 |
Renovation of private and social housing (I-1A) |
Target |
Renovations of private residential and social housing (step 3) |
|
148 |
Public building renovations (I-1B) |
Target |
Renovation of public buildings (step 2) |
|
149 |
Off-shore energy island (I-1.21) |
Milestone |
Completion of works |
|
150 |
Cybersecurity: NTSU/CTIF interception and safeguard (I-2.03) |
Milestone |
Digital registry of intercepted private communications managed by the National Technical and Tactical Support Unit of the Belgian federal police |
|
151 |
Enhancing public transport in Wallonia (I-3B) |
Target |
Completion of works and operationalisation of smart road traffic lights |
|
152 |
Charging stations (I-3F) |
Target |
Additional operational private, semi-public and public charging points (step 2) |
|
153 |
Upgrading of advanced training infrastructure (I-5.03) |
Target |
Fully equipped building for training, employment services (step 1) |
|
154 |
Nuclear medicine (I-5.08) |
Milestone |
Radioisotope facility constructed and commissioned (FANC and FAGG) |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 459,770,000 |
1.9.Ninth Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
155 |
Development of public utility housing and housing for vulnerable persons (I-4.12) |
Target |
Installation of remote assistance for people in loss of autonomy |
|
156 |
EU Biotech School and Health Hub (I-5.02) |
Target |
Building and equipment of the EU Biotech School and Health Hub |
|
157 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.15) |
Milestone |
Completion of all awarded projects in the calls for tender |
|
158 |
Research platform for energy transition (I-1.19) |
Milestone |
Procurement of equipment |
|
159 |
Cybersecurity: 5G (I-2.02) |
Milestone |
Reinforced interception capabilities of the judicial police in a 5G context |
|
160 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (Sub-measure 1: Digital transformation of Justice) |
Milestone |
New Case Management System for seven entities |
|
161 |
eHealth Services et Health Data (I-2.06) |
Milestone |
Full roll-out of the project |
|
162 |
Digitalisation of ONE (I-2.07) |
Milestone |
Entry in operation of new digital platforms |
|
163 |
Digitisation of the Flemish Government (I-2.09) |
Milestone |
Development of 4 new digital features |
|
164 |
Digitalisation of citizen-business processes (I-2.11) |
Target |
Entry in operation of 3 online platforms (town planning permit, town planning information and environmental permit) |
|
165 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Target |
Fibre connectivity for 32 business parks |
|
166 |
Canal Albert et Trilogiport (I-3.11) |
Target |
Completion of the works of the bridges over Canal Albert / and a new platform at Trilogiport |
|
167 |
Greening the bus fleet (I-3G) |
Target |
Green buses placed in service and depots technically adapted in Flanders and Brussels |
|
168 |
Re-qualification strategy (I-4.07) |
Target |
Sustainable integration pathway for people with disabilities |
|
169 |
Relocation of food and development of logistics platforms (I-5.12) |
Target |
Construction of at least five pieces of infrastructures completed |
|
170 |
Digitisation of the Walloon tourism sector (I-5.13) |
Target |
Number of active users of the ‘outil regional de commercialisation’ |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 252,874,000 |
1.10.Tenth Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
171 |
Flanders - circular economy & circular construction (I-5.17) |
Milestone |
Projects on circular construction, for knowledge dissemination on circular manufacturing and for the setting up of collective living labs completed |
|
172 |
Digitalisation IPSS (I-2.04) (sub-measure 1) |
Milestone |
Digital solution available - web interface (IPSS) |
|
173 |
Renovation of private and social housing (I-1A) |
Milestone |
Renovation of private residential and social housing (step 4) |
|
174 |
Public building renovations (I-1B) |
Target |
Renovation of public buildings (step 3) |
|
175 |
Backbone for H2 and CO2 (I-1.14) |
Target |
Construction and operation of 150 km of pipeline for H2 and CO2 |
|
176 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.16) |
Milestone |
Completion of projects awarded under the call for tender |
|
177 |
An industrial value chain for hydrogen transition (I-1.17) |
Milestone |
Completion of all projects (IPCEI and non-IPCEI) awarded under the call for tender |
|
178 |
Developing the low-carbon industry (I-1.18) |
Milestone |
Completion of projects awarded under the call for tender |
|
179 |
Renewable heat networks (I-1.20) |
Milestone |
Completion of projects awarded under the call for tender |
|
180 |
Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change (I-1.22) |
Target |
Land management measures applied (forests and protected area) and remeandering projects finalised |
|
181 |
Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change (I-1.22) |
Target |
Completion of two projects for national parks |
|
182 |
Ecological defragmentation (I-1.23) |
Target |
Completion of projects on ecological defragmentation |
|
183 |
Blue Deal (I-1.24) |
Target |
Completion of Blue Deal projects |
|
184 |
Cybersecure and resilient digital society (I-2.01) |
Milestone |
Delivery of cyber resilience services to Belgian society at large by the Ministry of Defence |
|
185 |
Digitalisation IPSS (I-2.04) (sub-measure 3) |
Milestone |
Digital solution available - Interactive platform (IPSS) |
|
186 |
Digitalisation SPF (I-2.05) (sub-measure: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12) |
Milestone |
Projects are completed and the output is operational |
|
187 |
Digitalisation of the cultural and media sector (I-2.08) |
Target |
Adoption by cultural and media operators of technological tools |
|
188 |
Digitalisation of regional and local government (I-2.12) |
Milestone |
Completion of awarded projects |
|
189 |
Coverage of white areas by developing very high speed fibre optic networks (I-2.13) |
Target |
Coverage |
|
190 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Milestone |
Public procurement contracts for 5G proof of concept projects fully executed |
|
191 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Target |
Education 2.0 projects delivered |
|
192 |
Improving the connectivity of schools (internal), but also of 35 business parks in Wallonia (I-2.15) |
Target |
Internal connectivity of schools projects completed |
|
193 |
Cycling infrastructure (I-3A) |
Target |
New and refurbished cycling roads |
|
194 |
Cycling infrastructure – VeloPlus – RBC (I-3.03) |
Target |
New public cycling parking for residents |
|
195 |
Cycling & walking infrastructure – Schuman (I-3.04) |
Target |
New public space for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport at Schuman |
|
196 |
Enhancing public transport in Wallonia (I-3B) |
Target |
Completion of works and crossroads with smart road traffic lights |
|
197 |
Rail refurbishment and station accessibility works (I-3C) |
Target |
Completion of rail refurbishment and modernisation works and station accessibility works (step 3) |
|
198 |
Charging stations (I-3F) |
Target |
Additional operational private, semi-public and public charging points (step 3) |
|
199 |
Provision of digital equipment and IT infrastructure to schools’ (I-4) |
Target |
Equipping schools/institutions with adequate ICT devices and infrastructure to improve the overall performance of education systems |
|
200 |
A6K/E6K Digital and Technological Innovation and Training Hub (I-5.01) |
Target |
Finalisation of A6K-E6K renovation and extension |
|
201 |
Upgrading of advanced training infrastructure (I-5.03) |
Target |
Fully equipped building for training, employment services (step 2) |
|
202 |
Lifelong digital training (I-5.07) |
Milestone |
Modernisation of the provision of coaching and training in digital skills, including basic digital skills in Wallonia, through digital tools, state-of-the-art infrastructure, competent mentoring and innovative projects. |
|
203 |
R&D: Minimization of waste during dismantling (I-5.10) |
Milestone |
Material Treatment facility (MaT) constructed and commissioned; desk top study finalised |
|
204 |
Strengthen R&D (I-5.11) |
Target |
Completion of awarded R&D and infrastructure projects |
|
205 |
Recycling Hub (I-5.14) |
Target |
Completion of works in six recycling facilities |
|
206 |
Belgium Builds Back Circular (I-5.15) |
Milestone |
Completion of awareness raising and information actions to SME’s and of circular projects |
|
207 |
Deployment of the circular economy in Wallonia (I-5.16) |
Target |
Completion of projects promoting circular economy in Wallonia |
|
208 |
Building and renovation of early childcare infrastructure (I-4.13) |
Target |
Opening of childcare places |
|
209 |
R&D: Call in support of the aeronautics and space sectors (I-5.09) |
Target |
Completion of aeronautical and space projects |
|
210 |
Development of public utility housing and housing for vulnerable persons (I-4.12) |
Target |
Housing units ready to be occupied |
|
|
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 251,827,327 |
SECTION 3: ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
1.Arrangements for monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan
The monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan of the Belgium shall take place in accordance with the following arrangements:
The implementation of the Belgian recovery and resilience plan shall be monitored both at inter-federal level and at the level of each entity in charge of implementing the measures of the plan, taken separately. The Secretary of State for the Recovery and Strategic Investments is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the plan at inter-federal level. Taken into account the broad scope of measures included in the plan, for which the competences are spread over six entities, the inter-federal coordinator is responsible for monitoring a coherent implementation of the plan.
The political monitoring of the plan shall be performed by the Inter-ministerial Conference. The Inter-ministerial Conference shall be chaired by the Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments, and is composed of representatives of the Federal State, the Regions and the Communities.
The administrative monitoring of the plan shall be carried out by an inter-federal Monitoring Committee. The Monitoring Committee shall be composed of representatives of all the entities responsible for reporting and administrative follow-up of projects under their responsibility. The Monitoring Committee shall be chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Public Service BOSA (‘Federale overheidsdienst beleid en ondersteuning’), who shall ensure continuity of the overall coordination of the plan and technical contacts with the Commission, in collaboration with the Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments. The Monitoring Committee shall monitor the implementation and achievements of the plan, coordinate the preparation of each payment request, identify risks of not meeting milestones and target and propose solutions if risks materialise.
Each entity shall monitor progress of investment and reform projects under the plan. Each government level shall set up a central coordination unit responsible for horizontal monitoring and coordination of the measures under its responsibility. The regional/community central coordination levels shall ensure the monitoring and reporting in a digital monitoring tool which shall allow the inter-federal Monitoring Committee to follow-up on the implementation of the plan.
Belgium appointed two entities as Audit Authorities, Vlaamse Auditautoriteit (VAA) for the Flemish Region, and Corps Interfédéral de l’Inspection des Finances (CAIF) for the Federal State and the remaining regions and communities (Brussels Capital Region, Walloon Region, French Community and German-speaking Community). Both entities are independent from the entities implementing the RRF in Belgium.
In addition, the services responsible for the implementation (Managing Authorities), and audit and control (Audit Authorities), are also in charge of the verifications of projects financed by other EU Funds, which allows them to have an overall view of the EU funding, and contributes to reduce the risk of double funding.
2.Arrangements for providing full access by the Commission to the underlying data
In order to provide full access to the Commission to the underlying relevant data, Belgium shall have in place the following arrangements:
The Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments coordinates the implementation of the plan, while the monitoring is performed at political level by the Inter-ministerial Conference and at administrative level by the Inter-federal Monitoring Committee. In particular, the Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments acts as a coordinating body for monitoring progress on milestones and targets, for monitoring and, where appropriate, implementing control and audit activities, and for providing reporting and requests for payments. It coordinates the reporting of milestones and targets, relevant indicators, but also qualitative financial information and other data, such as on final recipients. The data encoding is taking place in decentralised IT systems throughout different ministries, which are obliged to report the required data to the Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments.
In accordance with Article 24(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, upon completion of the relevant agreed milestones and targets in Section 2.1 of this Annex, Belgium shall submit to the Commission a duly justified request for payment of the financial contribution. Belgium shall ensure that, upon request, the Commission has full access to the underlying relevant data that supports the due justification of the request for payment, both for the assessment of the request for payment in accordance with Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and for audit and control purposes.
- (1) IPCEIs are subject to the notification requirement and stand-still obligation in Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The selection and specificities of the proposed projects may require adjustments to ensure compliance with the applicable rules.
- (2) See footnote 2.
- (3) ISO27000 (also known as the 'ISMS Family of Standards' or 'ISO27K') comprises information securitystandards published jointly by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
- (4) The CIS 20 (Center for Internet Security) Critical Security Controls for Effective Cyber Defense norms are bestpractice guidelines for computer security.
- (5) Digital twins are virtual replicas of objects, processes or places from the physical world.
- (6) These business sectors have a direct link with the corresponding projects in the Walloon region Digital Wallonia programme of the Digital Agency of the Walloon region ( Digital Wallonia | La Plateforme de la stratégie numérique en Wallonie ).
- (7) As defined in the Commission Recommendation of 18.9.2020 on a common Union toolbox for reducing the cost of deploying very high capacity networks and ensuring timely and investment-friendly access to 5G radio spectrum, to foster connectivity in support of economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis in the Union.
- (8) Cf. Annex Ia of the Loi portant assentiment à l’accord de coopération du 5 octobre 2018 entre l’Etat fédéral, la Région flamande, la Région wallonne et la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale relatif au financement des infrastructures ferroviaires stratégiques / Wet houdende instemming met het samenwerkingsakkoord van 5 oktober 2018 tussen de Federale Staat, het Vlaamse Gewest, het Waalse Gewest en het Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Gewest betreffende de financiering van de strategische spoorweginfrastructuren, Moniteur belge – 11.03.2019 – Belgisch Staatsblad
- (9) This follows up CSR 3 2018: “Tackle the growing mobility challenges, in particular through investment in new or existing transport infrastructure and reinforcing incentives to use collective and low emission transport”
- (10) Diest, Gent Dampoort, Herentals, Leuven, Mechelen-Nekkerspoel
- (11) Barvaux, Dinant, Fexche-le-haut-clocher, Marche-en-famenne, Zwijndrecht, Alken, Buggenhout, Eupen, Fleurus, Louvain-la-Neuve, Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Watermael, Ans, Antwerpen-Zuid, Blankenberge, Diest, Mechelen-Nekkerspoel, Visé, Huy, Luttre, Meiser, Sint-Job, Tubize, Verviers-Central et Waremme
- (12) Where the activity supported achieves projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not significantly lower than the relevant benchmarks an explanation of the reasons why this is not possible should be provided. Benchmarks established for free allocation for activities falling within the scope of the Emissions Trading System, as set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447.
- (13) This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in plants exclusively dedicated to treating non-recyclable hazardous waste, and to existing plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency, capturing exhaust gases for storage or use or recovering materials from incineration ashes, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
- (14) This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency or retrofitting to recycling operations of separated waste to compost bio-waste and anaerobic digestion of bio-waste, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
- (15) This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency or retrofitting to recycling operations of separated waste to compost bio-waste and anaerobic digestion of bio-waste, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
- (16) This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in plants exclusively dedicated to treating non-recyclable hazardous waste, and to existing plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency, capturing exhaust gases for storage or use or recovering materials from incineration ashes, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
- (17) This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency or retrofitting to recycling operations of separated waste to compost bio-waste and anaerobic digestion of bio-waste, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
- (18) Where the activity supported achieves projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not significantly lower than the relevant benchmarks an explanation of the reasons why this is not possible should be provided. Benchmarks established for free allocation for activities falling within the scope of the Emissions Trading System, as set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447.
- (19) This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in plants exclusively dedicated to treating non-recyclable hazardous waste, and to existing plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency, capturing exhaust gases for storage or use or recovering materials from incineration ashes, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
- (20) This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency or retrofitting to recycling operations of separated waste to compost bio-waste and anaerobic digestion of bio-waste, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
- (21) Where the activity supported achieves projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not significantly lower than the relevant benchmarks an explanation of the reasons why this is not possible should be provided. Benchmarks established for free allocation for activities falling within the scope of the Emissions Trading System, as set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447.
- (22) Where the activity supported achieves projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not significantly lower than the relevant benchmarks an explanation of the reasons why this is not possible should be provided. Benchmarks established for free allocation for activities falling within the scope of the Emissions Trading System, as set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447.
- (23) This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in plants exclusively dedicated to treating non-recyclable hazardous waste, and to existing plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency, capturing exhaust gases for storage or use or recovering materials from incineration ashes, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
- (24) This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency or retrofitting to recycling operations of separated waste to compost bio-waste and anaerobic digestion of bio-waste, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.