Belgian development chief says aid is ‘not charity’ as possible cut looms

The head of the Belgian federal development agency Enabel has defended the country’s development spending as an exercise partly in self-interest after reports that a new governing coalition could make cuts to foreign aid.

Belgian media reported last week that negotiators trying to form a new government following elections in June were considering an economic plan designed to save €13.5 billion (about $15 billion). Under the plan, L’Echo reported that €636 million from the development budget currently paid by the federal government would instead be assigned to Belgium’s eight local and regional authorities — though there is no assurance they would be willing or able to pay.

The right-wing New Flemish Alliance, or NVA, which came first in the June elections and whose leader Bart De Wever had been leading negotiations on a new government  — before resigning last week — did not immediately respond to a request for comment.