Belgium creates a Ministerial Committee against organized economic crime

King Philippe signed, on September 29, 2026, a royal decree establishing a Ministerial Committee and a Coordination College for the fight against organized economic and financial crime. Published in the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge) of October 9, 2026 (2nd edition, p. 54306) under reference [C − 2026/007316], the text places both bodies under the Prime Minister and merges existing structures for combating tax and social fraud and money laundering. The Committee becomes the steering body for the national strategy; the College ensures its preparation and monitoring.

A context of systemic fraud and international evaluation

The report to the King justifies the reform by citing economic, financial, social, and tax crime that is “increasingly sophisticated,” constituting a structural threat to State interests, social security, the Treasury, and the integrity of the financial system. The government invokes the 2025-2029 federal coalition agreement (p. 26 and 45) and the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) resulting from Belgium’s mutual evaluation published in December 2025, particularly regarding Immediate Outcome 1 and Recommendations 1 and 2. The text also cites the findings of the special commission on “international tax fraud/Panama Papers” (DOC 54 2749/001, p. 91-92).

The report lists the targeted schemes: drug trafficking and port crime, laundering via trade fraud and offsetting (hawala, crypto, cash), VAT carousels, social dumping and fake postings, undeclared work and identity theft, human trafficking for economic purposes, and organized insolvency.

A Ministerial Committee chaired by the Prime Minister

The Ministerial Committee is chaired by the Prime Minister and sets the strategic direction and national priorities. It establishes a strategic action plan based on the national risk analysis. Its composition:

• B. De Wever, Prime Minister, serves as chair;
• it includes the ministers of Finance, Justice, the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Social Affairs, Employment, Economy, and Middle Classes, Self-Employed and SMEs;
• as well as the members of the government responsible for the fight against tax and social fraud.

The Committee meets upon the summons of the Prime Minister, who sets the agenda. It now carries out the missions entrusted by the law of September 18, 2017, relating to the prevention of money laundering and by Article 2 of the Social Penal Code.

A College open to about twenty authorities

The College, created under the Prime Minister, is co-chaired by the representatives of the ministers of Finance, Justice, and the fight against tax and social fraud. It brings together, in particular:

• the Financial Intelligence Processing Unit (CTIF);
• the FPS Finance, Economy, SMEs, Middle Classes and Energy, Justice, Foreign Affairs and Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue;
• the Social Information and Research Service;
• the ONSS, the ONEm, the INASTI, the INAMI and the Crossroads Bank for Social Security;
• the College of Prosecutors General, the Federal Prosecutor and the Central Office for Seizures and Confiscations;
• the federal judicial police, the National Drugs Commissioner, the National Bank of Belgium and the FSMA.

The College meets at least once per quarter; its secretariat is provided by the FPS Finance, which takes over the mission previously carried out by the CTIF regarding money laundering. It also prepares and coordinates international evaluations conducted by the FATF, the OECD, the UN and GRECO.

Merger of four royal decrees and entry into force

The decree repeals four texts: the royal decrees of April 29, 2008 (Ministerial Committee against tax and social fraud), July 23, 2013 (Committee and College against money laundering), November 9, 2020 (College against tax and social fraud) and February 21, 2025 (appointment of members of the Ministerial Committee). Ongoing missions, obligations, and action plans are taken over by the new bodies. The text enters into force on the first day of the month following its publication, namely November 1, 2026.

The Council of State was referred to on July 22, 2026 (file no. 79.884/2/V) and decided, on July 30, 2026, not to issue an opinion within the requested timeframe. The decree is countersigned by B. De Wever, D. Clarinval, F. Vandenbroucke, J. Jambon, A. Verlinden, B. Quintin, R. Beenders and E. Simonet.

For readers, the reform does not create new repressive powers: it modifies neither the attributions of the authorities concerned nor the guarantees of independence of the public prosecutor’s office and the CTIF. On the other hand, it centralizes risk analysis and the setting of priorities at the level of the Prime Minister, with a first quarterly meeting upon entry into force.

Source: Belgian Official Gazette, October 9, 2026, 2nd edition, p. 54306 — [C − 2026/007316].