If there is one subject on which the federal Vivaldi must overcome its blockages, it is that of energy and inflation. His credibility depends on it.
How high will energy prices go? This is the question that all Belgians are asking themselves in this new school year when the ceilings are constantly being pushed back. At the rate this is changing, experts point to an annual gas and electricity bill of around 7,000 or 8,000 euros for an average household. Companies, big consumers, wonder how they will be able to continue their activity under such conditions. This reality, against a backdrop of self-sustaining inflation, causes anxiety and risks generating a recession in Europe.
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How high will energy prices go? This is the question that all Belgians are asking themselves in this new school year when the ceilings are constantly being pushed back. At the rate this is changing, experts point to an annual gas and electricity bill of around 7,000 or 8,000 euros for an average household. Companies, big consumers, wonder how they will be able to continue their activity under such conditions. This reality, against a background of self-sustaining inflation, gives rise to anxiety and risks generating a recession in Europe. of alarm in the joint interview they grant us: we must prepare for a “terrible economic shock” this winter. And politicians, particularly in Belgium, do not sufficiently anticipate this announced cataclysm, they say. If measures to support households have been decided – checks, lower VAT, social tariff – they are largely insufficient compared to the scale of the increase. As for businesses, these are the big ones left out of the crisis. Admittedly, they have benefited in recent months from the post-covid recovery and some of them are passing on the price increases as long as they can. But they risk crashing against this announced wall. “The next five to ten winters will be difficult,” acknowledged Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) this week. Alright, but what does he do to keep it from hurting too much? If there is one subject on which the federal Vivaldi must overcome its blockages, it is that of energy and inflation. His credibility depends on it. In view of this summer when all the ministerial aspects were closed when the emergency is in order, there is reason to be doubtful about its ability to act… Belgian political leaders must stop procrastinating and take the measures that s impose. “We must immediately increase the non-taxable minimum and index the tax scales”, insists Bruno Colmant. Who also recommends measures at the service of companies to “tax-free inflation”, by allowing them to deduct from the taxable base a fraction of the investments which bear the brunt of it. “It is also absolutely necessary to promote new energy supply models in companies and help them to be more energy efficient”, adds Damien Ernst. Who also praises the shock measures taken in Spain and Portugal to change the model of regulation of the electricity market. It is a question of working in two stages: cushioning the immediate shock of this unprecedented energy crisis, while preparing a future less dependent on Russian gas and geopolitical chaos, and virtuous on the climate level. The energy issue concerns all levels of power, from Europe to the Regions. It must allow creativity and innovation to express themselves, beyond an essential sobriety. The renewable energy communities project is, in this respect, a marvelous example: it is a question of enabling companies and citizens alike to unite to pool the benefits of wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, batteries, etc. The gain is not negligible: an invoice reduced by at least 15%. The potential is immense, even if it is regrettable that large companies are excluded from the system. Thanks to these communities, we can become players in the energy transition. Outside of politics.
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