Firefighters in the Brussels-Capital Region voted on Monday to lift the industrial action that had reduced emergency-response capacity to as little as 30 % since 21 July. The suspension follows a provisional agreement with the regional government that promises €10 million in extra funding and 132 new recruits by the end of 2027. During the week-long stoppage organisers of large events – including conferences at Brussels Expo and the Tour de France stage finish in Schaerbeek – were required to hire private fire-safety contractors or downsize attendance limits. Several visiting corporate groups postponed site visits over liability concerns. While the strike notice technically remains active, unions say they will give authorities until the end of September to deliver on staffing and pension-reform commitments. Mobility planners therefore face a summer reprieve but remain alert to renewed action in the autumn – a period that coincides with Brussels’ peak season for EU policy summits and trade fairs. Companies with expatriate families in the capital welcomed the deal, noting that reduced emergency cover had complicated school summer camps and insurance requirements for temporary accommodation. The Federation of European Businesses (FEB) urged both sides to finalise a binding accord quickly, warning that repeated stoppages risk harming Belgium’s attractiveness for regional headquarters. For now, Brussels Airport and the rail operator SNCB confirm that contingency fire teams stand down with immediate effect, allowing normal operations to resume.
Source: The Brussels Times
