181th Book – Part III: budgetary policy of the Federal State

In its 181st Book – Part III, the Belgian Court of Audit reported to the Federal Parliament on its examination of the Federal State's 2023 budget policy. The planed budgetary objectives and figures were compared with the achievements. The budget balance on an ESA basis of the general government amounted to -4.2% of GDP and the debt ratio to 103.1%, which is better than the objectives set in the 2023-2026 European Stability Programme. The achieved budget balance on a cash basis (-24 billion euros) was 1.2 billion euros lower than estimated. Although achieved expenditure was also below the estimate, it could not compensate for the decline in resources compared with estimates. The Court also examined the extent to which the budgetary, energy and recovery plans decided by the government in 2023 have been fulfilled. Moreover, it analysed the inventory of federal tax expenditure.