Belgium CPAS budget shortfall 210M EUR as unemployment reform strains welfare

Belgium's 2026 budget adjustment reveals a 210 million euro shortfall in funding for CPAS (public social welfare centers) due to the unemployment reform that caps benefits at two years. Since January, 133,000 people have lost benefits, and the government underestimated the number who would seek CPAS support by about one third. This fiscal pressure signals potential political friction over the reform's social costs.

AI disclosure: Model-written summary of the source, not a verified fact. Check the sources. How Mosaic works