The Belgian Council of Ministers approved last week a far-reaching reorganisation of the country’s federal administrations, marking one of the most significant public sector reforms in recent years. The changes were proposed by Minister of Public Service Vanessa Matz and Minister of Budget Vincent Van Peteghem.
According to reports by La Libre and De Tijd, the restructuring is expected to generate savings of around €300 million. The government argues that the overhaul will modernise federal services, eliminate duplication, and improve coordination between departments without undermining their operational independence.
One of the most notable changes concerns asylum and immigration. Several agencies operating in this field will be brought together under a new Ministry of Migration service. While the bodies will be structurally grouped, each agency is expected to retain its own autonomy and specialised responsibilities.
In the social domain, the Public Planning Service (PPS) Social Integration will be merged into the Ministry of Social Security. This ministry will also integrate the Ministry of Employment, a move intended to streamline social and labour policy and improve coherence between welfare and employment measures.
Scientific policy will also undergo significant restructuring. The PPS Scientific Policy, known as Belspo, will become an autonomous directorate within the Ministry of Economy. The change aims to align scientific research more closely with economic and innovation strategies.
Belgium’s ten federal scientific institutions will be reorganised into two thematic entities. These will be known as “Earth and Space” and “Arts and Heritage,” grouping institutions with similar missions under shared governance frameworks.
Institutions such as the Royal Museum for Central Africa and the State Archives will fall within these new thematic clusters. Despite the regrouping, the structures will remain autonomous and will receive policy and operational support from FPS Bosa, the Federal Public Service for policy and support.
The FPS Chancellery will also see its mission clarified. Under the reform, it will focus more explicitly on its role as a support service for the prime minister, reinforcing coordination at the highest level of government.
A key innovation in the reorganisation is the creation of a new Digital Agency. This body will be responsible for coordinating IT and technology-related initiatives across federal administrations, with the aim of reducing fragmentation and improving digital efficiency.
The Buildings Authority will be transformed into the “Federal Agency for Buildings and Facilitation Services.” Its expanded mandate will include managing public buildings, overseeing procurement for public works, and providing services such as cleaning and security for government properties.
Ministers from the Engagés and CD&V parties have emphasised that the reform is also designed to curb the use of external consultants. The guiding principle is that regular statutory or contractual staff should handle non-specialised IT functions and repetitive tasks wherever possible.
In addition, the government plans to expand the use of systematic “spending reviews” across public policies and expenditures. These reviews will be conducted in collaboration with the National Bank, the Planning Bureau, the Inspectorate of Finance, and FPS Bosa.
Supporters of the reform argue that these measures will strengthen budgetary discipline and transparency, while critics are expected to scrutinise how the changes affect staff and service delivery. The government insists, however, that the overhaul balances efficiency with institutional stability.
