We once thought uncertainty was temporary — it has become chronic. In Brussels, we’ve now gone almost a year without a functioning government. An eternity for our businesses, which have learned to deal with it… or rather without it.
We hesitated for a long time about the topic of this article. Dear community, what should we talk about? Eleven months without a government? Regional or local politics? The projects we’re pushing for the Brussels economy? Then we thought: no. Let’s talk about what’s been hanging in the air for months. About what weighs on us silently. That feeling of moving forward through the fog. In short, let’s talk about uncertainty.
Because it’s everywhere, and because it has taken hold without warning. For almost a year now, negotiations have been making no progress (or not fast enough), and politics seems to have ceased to play its role. In Brussels, businesses are learning to do without, in the shadow of an uncertain government.
As long as they hold, they move forward
“Uncertainty is everywhere — it has become a new normal,” summarises Lisa Isnard, Secretary General of Beci. Faced with this political and institutional dysfunction, businesses do not cry out in despair. They don’t have the luxury of taking a pause, or of saying “we’ll come back later.” They organise, produce, recruit, innovate, train, and create value. They do what they can with what they have.
Yes, our companies are strong. But let’s also be realistic: how much longer can they keep this up? As Beci’s president Annick Hernot rightly said in her editorial: “Managing uncertainty does not mean accepting inertia.” “The Brussels economic fabric shows admirable resilience,” adds Lisa Isnard. “But it needs a stable and predictable political environment — which is clearly not the case today.”
So now what?
It’s not about reinventing ourselves every other morning, nor about chasing change for change’s sake. What businesses want today is a solid, reliable, and stable framework. If major reforms aren’t possible, they’re simply asking for things to stop being made more complicated. Simplify administration. Ease the tax burden. Create a climate that enables action. Nothing more, nothing less.
In this uncertain landscape, Beci continues to believe in Brussels. The demands we are making reflect the expectations in the field: concrete, urgent and necessary. We need to boost employment, particularly among young people in Brussels, and aim for an employment rate of 80%, as elsewhere in Belgium. We need to invest in mobility and infrastructure, particularly tunnels, quays and above-ground transport. We need to put the Region back on the map, get away from the Brussels bashing and rebuild an image that makes people want to live here.
Other areas can no longer wait: cleanliness, waste management, a new approach to social dialogue, innovation aligned with a coherent long-term strategy. And above all, we need a healthy entrepreneurial climate — one that lets businesses act instead of constantly battling absurd regulations.
The talent is there — it just needs to be heard
“Brussels is a Region full of talented people,” reminds Lisa Isnard. “The political class must now give them the tools to succeed.” That’s the real challenge. The skills are there. The ambition is there. What’s missing isn’t creativity or energy — it’s structure. Perspective. A minimum of clarity.
Brussels’ talent isn’t asking to be spoon-fed — let’s not be misunderstood. But they do need an ecosystem that values their efforts, supports their initiatives, encourages them — in short, that has their back. And if we want them to stay in Brussels, we need to offer them more than just uncertainty.
What we know for sure is that we know nothing for sure
No, businesses are not paralysed by uncertainty. They move forward, every day, in a world that shifts without warning. They learn to navigate chaos, without giving in to it. But they won’t be able to do it alone forever. They need others to join them. Not to promise a perfect tomorrow — but at least to bring some order to the present.
In short, we’re getting to know uncertainty quite well. In the months ahead, the political narrative must come closer to what’s happening in the field. At Beci, we will continue to be the voice of Brussels’ entrepreneurs and to defend their interests: for simplified procedures, effective social organisation, clear economic choices, and environmental commitments that are upheld.
And… we’ll see you in the next edition — the last before the summer break. If things carry on like this, we might be blowing out a rather unusual candle: the anniversary of a non-government. Today, we’re talking about uncertainty. But if this political void continues to speak volumes, rest assured: Beci won’t stay silent.