Nuclear subsidies and Seveso: three royal decrees set the 2026 amounts

The Federal Public Service Interior published in the Belgian Official Gazette of September 1, 2026 (pages 47547 to 47551) three royal decrees of May 30, 2026, which determine the modalities for granting subsidies for the 2026 financial year within the framework of nuclear and Seveso risk management. Signed by King Philippe on the proposal of the Minister of Security and the Interior in charge of Beliris, B. Quintin, these texts regulate the public funding intended for Engie, the rescue zones, and the Essenscia federation.

The three decrees are based on the finance law of December 18, 2025, for the 2026 budget year (Article 17), the law of May 15, 2007, regarding civil security, and the royal decree of May 25, 2017, creating a management committee responsible for funds for nuclear accident risks and major accidents. They enter into force on the day of their publication and apply to ongoing procedures.

Engie and public institutions

Royal decree C-2026/006251 (p. 47547) sets a total envelope of 272,995.00 euros for 2026, intended to finance orders for works, goods, or services necessary for nuclear risk management. The distribution among the beneficiaries is as follows:

• Engie, operator of power reactors: 231,000.00 euros;
• FANC (Federal Agency for Nuclear Control): 21,595.00 euros;
• IRE (Institute for Radio-elements): 3,400.00 euros;
• SCK-CEN (Nuclear Research Centre): 17,000.00 euros.

Payment is made in two installments: 75% after the proposals are validated by the management committee, then 25% once the contract award procedure is closed and the order is placed. Each validated project must strictly comply with the law of June 17, 2016, regarding public procurement.

Rescue zones

Royal decree C-2026/006252 (p. 47549) provides for a subsidy of 436,960.00 euros for all rescue zones and the SIAMU (Fire and Urgent Medical Aid Service of the Brussels-Capital Region). The coordination organizations concerned are Netwerk Brandweer, Rezonwal, and the SIAMU, which have agreed to allocate the entire sum to the Hainaut Centre zone for 2026.

The subsidy is paid after the projects are validated by the management committee, directly to the zone that will carry out the project. As with the other decrees, the zone must comply with the law of June 17, 2016, on public procurement.

Essenscia and the Seveso industry

Royal Decree C-2026/006253 (p. 47551) grants Essenscia, the Belgian federation of chemical and life sciences industries ASBL, a subsidy of 512,495.42 euros for specific expenditures benefiting the Seveso industry, as part of the risk management related to major accidents involving dangerous substances. Payment is also made in two installments of 75% and 25%, following the same schedule as for Engie.

A strict control framework

In all three schemes, the project manager must retain purchase orders, delivery notes, invoices, and proof of payment for ten years, and may be subject to an audit by the FPS Interior. The Minister may recover all or part of the subsidy if the purchase order is not signed in 2026, if the invoice is not received within three years, or if the supporting documents are not kept available.

These public funds, totaling more than 1.2 million euros, materialize the preparation of Belgian civil security in the face of major nuclear and industrial risks, by associating the nuclear operator, scientific institutions, fire services, and the chemical sector.

Official source: Moniteur belge (Belgisch Staatsblad), 196th year, no. 196, edition of Tuesday, September 1, 2026, pages 47547-47551 — royal decrees C-2026/006251, C-2026/006252 and C-2026/006253 of May 30, 2026.