Belgium

(i) The National Bank of Belgium announced the decision to reduce the counter-cyclical buffer to zero, releasing approximately EUR1 billion worth of capital available to Belgian banks to expand lending; (ii) As of 11 November 2020, Belgian authorities have also retracted a decision to increase the buffer by 0.5%, and provided guidance that this would remain unchanged until mid-2021.

(i) 9 June 2020, Support measures relating to payment periods have been approved, and extension of the payment periods for VAT and Excessive Duties extend to December 31.

(i) 3 April 2020, exemptions from VAT and import duties for goods needed to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 were granted. As of 23 July 2020, this measure has been extended until 31 October 2020; (ii) In addition, reduced the VAT rate applicable to some restaurant and catering services to 6% until the end of 2020 while also exempting social contributions for Q32020 for these sectors. As of 6 November 2020, this measure has been extended to allow more sectors to avail of the exemption from scoial contributions; (iii) 26 June 2020, Temporary exemption from corporate tax based on losses incurred during the next tax period; (iv) 6 November 2020, Extension of tax exemption of subsidies granted by towns, municipalities and federal entities. On 26 February 2021, this was further extended until 31 December 2021; (v) 12 February 2021, Tax reductions for investments in SMEs, as well as for landlords who waive part of their rents. A reduction in contributions for employers in the event sector has also been approved.

(i) No amount/estimate: 17 July 2020, Additional crisis allowance for certain self-employed persons and assisting spouses recognized as incapacitated for work due to the containment measures. As of 6 November 2020, this measure has been extended in two parts: first, with the extension of subsidies for self-employed persons with businesses that had to close, and second, with temporarily unemployed salaried workers receiving an allowance equal to 70% of their gross monthly salary (capped at EUR2,754.76). In addition, salaried workers receives an allowance from the ONEM (National Employment Office) of EUR5.63 per day of temporary unemployment. This measure will apply until 31 March 2021, with the possibility of extension. Also, the crisis subsidy has been extended until December 2020 for self-employed workers in all sectors that had to close, providing EUR2,583.40 and EUR3228.20 respectively to persons without and with families; (ii) 24 July 2020, Considered coronavirus parental leaves in computing for the pension of the civil service; (iii) 6 November 2020, Additional support to households and firms affected by the re-imposition of restrictions, mostly in the form of a temporary extension or expansion of previous measures. Authorities have also extended the premiums, reimbursements, bonuses and subsidies for those who are unemployed and/or considered "most vulnerable"; (iv) 6 November 2020, Flexible access to unemployment for artists. Artists who can provide proof of at least 10 artistic performances or 20 working days during the period from 13 March 2019 to 13 March 2020, are granted access to unemployment for artists; (v) 12 December 2020, The Council of Ministers approved a measure extending grants to independents without family responsibilities equal to EUR2,583.40 per month in Covid-19 support, while those with families are eligible for EUR3,228.20; (vi) 26 February 2021, The Council of Ministers approved a royal decree aimed at supporting young people and students, so that they can grant them financial support or appropriate social assistance following the COVID-19 Crisis. A subsidy of EUR24 million is granted to support this initiative; (vii) 26 February 2021, Allowance of EUR40 for federal civil servants, teleworking in the federal public service, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, for the period from January 2021 to August 2021 inclusive, an additional flat-rate office allowance of EUR20 per month is granted; (viii) 2 April 2021, EUR1.25 million allocation of additional resources for homeless people in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; (ix) 18 May 2021, The Belgian government has extended several measures, including more flexible criteria and rules for temporary unemployment across all sectors.

(i) 10 July 2020, EUR45 million in grants to skeyes (Belgian air navigation service) to ensure the operational and financial sustainability of the public enterprise in 2020; (ii) 10 July 2020, An advanced payment of EUR15 million was made to skeyes (Belgian air navigation service) for terminal fees for the latter half of the year; (iii) 29 September 2020, The European Commission has approved Belgium's plan to grant EUR2.2 million in support to the airports of Ostend, Antwerp and Kortrijk. The funding from the Government will be used as direct grants and cost/fee deferrals; (iv) 12 October 2020, The European Commission has approved another EUR15.8 million Belgian scheme to support hotels and aparthotels in Brussels in context of coronavirus outbreak in the form of direct grants; (v) 6 November 2020, Additional support to households and firms affected by the re-imposition of restrictions, mostly in the form of a temporary extension or expansion of previous measures. Authorities have also extended the premiums, reimbursements, bonuses and subsidies for those who are unemployed and/or considered "most vulnerable"; (vi) 24 November 2020, The Government has approved an additional EUR575 million for care and nursing homes hit by the pandemic; (vii) 22 January 2021, Belgium has approved a measure to support businesses in the travel sector with EUR30 million, and will be granting a 70% wage subsidy on a capped salary cost, granted to 30% of the staff; (viii) 12 March 2021, EUR6.8 million support for rail freight transport for the period January-June 2021, consisting of a reduction of fees and charges charged by the state rail infrastructure operator; (ix) 15 March 2021, the European Commission has approved a EUR10 million Belgian scheme to support organizers of festivals in the Flemish and Brussels Regions in context of the coronavirus outbreak; (x) 27 April 2021, European Commission proposes EUR3.7 million to support nearly 1,500 dismissed airport workers in Belgium. The total estimated cost of the support measures is EUR6.2 million, of which the EGF will provide EUR3.7 million, and the Belgian regional authorities will finance the remaining amount. No amount has been reflected as the measure is yet to be approved; (xi) 8 May 2021, The government has agreed on two measures totalling EUR335 million to help business sectors hard-hit by the coronavirus epidemic in Belgium. The first measure aims to help 27,000 employers in the Horeca sector – hotels, restaurants and cafes, by scrapping the 2020 tax payments of this sector altogether (EUR110 million). The second measure concerns job creation and the social charges paid by employers for the people they employ, and reducing the said social charges (EUR225 million); (xii) 18 May 2021, The Belgian government has extended several measures, including allowing businesses who have had to temporarily close down due to the pandemic to rely on financial aid; (xiii) 18 October 2021, The European Commission has approved a EUR45 billion Belgian scheme to support companies affected by the coronavirus.

(i) EUR930 million as part of the NextGen EU Program by the European Commission and Government of Belgium, including measures dedicated towards funding for education and access to digital tools and technologies; (ii) EUR3.525 billion as part of the NextGen EU Program by the European Commission and Government of Belgium, geared towards measures such as energy technologies, sustainable transport, and renovation of public infrastructure.

(i) EUR6.4 billion in total measures as part of the fiscal package outlined in the Stability Program to adress the crises. Key fiscal support measures include: boosting health expenditure and increasing support for those in temporary unemployment and self-employed; (ii) In addition, EUR3.8 billion (increased from EUR1.7 billion) regional governments' support to affected firms and sectors, and transfers to affected households. Of the total EUR10.2 billion packages, non-health initiatives with no breakdown account for EUR9 billion, with EUR5.3 billion for federal and EUR3.7 billion for regional; (iii) As of 12 February 2021, additional EUR2 billion through the extension of the Federal Government of the socio-economic support measures until the end of June; (iv) 12 February 2021, A series of additional economic support measures were also approved, including a EUR500 million transformation fund for economic recovery.

(i) 24 August 2020, The European Commission proposed a EUR7.8 billion loan to be granted on favourable terms from the EU to Belgium via the SURE Program. This is pending final approval by the Council; (ii) As of 25 September 2020, Final approval has been granted by the council; (iii) EUR5.9 billion in grants from the European Commission as part of the NextGeneration EU Program, with spending reflected in the sub-measures under Measure 5.