Like most Western European countries, Belgium is
confronted with major changes in the age structure of its population. The
combined effect of the decline in the birth rate, on the one hand, and the
significant increase in life expectancy, on the other, is already leading to
changes in terms of the age structure, something that will be even more
evident in the post-2010 period. As a result, a declining number of persons
of working age will have to finance social benefits for a growing number of
inactive persons in future.
In order to ensure that a sufficiently high level of
collective prosperity is maintained in the medium term, a coherent strategy
has been developed. Apart from a specifically targeted budget policy, this
strategy also consists of economic and social policy initiatives.
Back in 2001, a law was adopted guaranteeing a
constant reduction in the public debt and establishing an Ageing Fund (law
of 5 September 2001), combined with the obligation to draw up a policy note
on ageing every year. This law confirms the importance that Belgium attaches
to being able to guarantee in the long term an efficient system of social
protection in general and payment of pensions in particular.
