Belgium (Wallonia)

Overall assessment

The regional government of Wallonia has announced the Walloon Social Climate Plan on the 5th of March 2026. The announcement does not include a concrete document, outlining the Plan in detail. 

Rather, it outlines without much detail how €729 million will be spent for sustainable mobility, the renovation of public housing, and micro-enterprises. This includes €546.9 million of European funding supplemented by €182.3 million of co-financing from the Walloon Region (25%).

The below assessment is based on the general announcement. It will be updated and elaborated in more detail as soon as Belgium publishes its Federal Social Climate Plan, including the dedicated chapter for Wallonia. 

Detailed assessment

Public participation

Public consultation quality

The Wallonian government has confirmed that email consultations have been conducted. Yet this is not clearly stated in the announcement of the regional authorities.

Types of measures and investments

Housing sector reforms & investments

There are several measures targeting buildings:

  • Support for the energy renovation of the buildings of vulnerable micro-enterprises, through subsidies (30%) and a subordinated loan: making unsanitary buildings habitable through improvement work such as insulation and heating. 
     
  • An investment of nearly 400 million euros will amplify the action of the Walloon Housing Company to continue the renovation of social housing, including the decarbonization of heating and hot water systems. A minimum of 3,100 social housing units are involved. 
     
  • 93 renovated homes in the German-speaking Community: The social housing association for the German-speaking community, Öffentliche Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Ostbelgien (ÖWOB) GmbH, will manage the energy renovation of 93 of the most energy-intensive social housing units, targeting social tenants and vulnerable households, for a total budget of €8.77 million.

Heating & cooling sector reforms & investments

There are several measures targeting the heating sector:

  • vulnerable micro-enterpises will be supported with changing heating systems (although the type of system is not yet defined)
  • the renovation of social housing includes the switch to "decarbonised" heating and hot water systems (although the type of systems is not yet defined)

Measures and investments for energy communities

The Walloon Plan does not include any measures targeting energy communities. 

Public transport & active mobility

The Plan includes the following relevant measures/investments:

  • A check for a transition to sustainable mobility: The measure, with a budget of €193 million, aims to support the most vulnerable families facing rising mobility costs. It provides financial assistance, in the form of a "mobility voucher," to Walloon households considered vulnerable to transport poverty, helping them transition to more sustainable mobility. The assistance would be distributed through the Public Social Welfare Centres (CPAS).
    • Each family will be eligible for up to €4,000 (over a total period of 4 years), depending on their household composition and mobility needs, to finance, in particular: Public transport; The use of a social taxi; A car-sharing service; The purchase of a bicycle or scooter (muscular or electric), etc.
       
  • 78 million euros to develop on-demand transport: The measure aims to support the development of on-demand transport services for vulnerable transport users and to offer alternatives to cars.
    • Gradual deployment by TEC of new services operated with 60 (electric) vehicles, in order to offer a flexible mobility solution in areas poorly or not served by regular public transport (train or bus); 
    • Strengthening the existing social-purpose on-demand transport service, namely "social taxis" operated by CPAS, municipalities and associations, and the progressive electrification of the fleet of vehicles used by social-purpose transport operators.

Vulnerable micro-enterprise support

The Plan includes a 50 million euro invested directly for vulnerable micro-enterprises:

The Easy Green scheme, managed by Wallonie Entreprendre, aims to provide financial support to micro-enterprises made vulnerable by the introduction of ETS2 in their energy renovation work on buildings, heating appliances, or vehicles. The objective is to support micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees) weakened by rising energy costs. 

The support will combine: A subordinated loan with a term of up to 15 years; A lump-sum subsidy equivalent to 30% of the investment (which will be deducted from the loan monthly payments). The objectives of this system are: 

  • Support for the energy renovation of vulnerable micro-enterprises: making unsanitary buildings habitable through improvement work such as insulation and heating
  • Support in the energy transition: incentives for replacing energy-intensive equipment with more efficient non-fossil technologies, or by installing renewable energy and storage technologies.
  • Promoting low-emission mobility: replacing combustion engine vehicles, installing charging infrastructure. Approximately 2,500 investments are expected over the period, with an average investment estimated at €20,000 per company.

Cost-supportive measure design

There are no cost-supportive measures defined within the Walloon Plan.

Mobilisation of broader ETS2 revenues

The announcement does not foresee a top up of the Social Climate Plan beyond the mandatory 25% ETS2 national contribution.