Belgium - May 2026

Following more than a year of recurring mass mobilizations, in May, Belgium saw one of the biggest protest-strike waves in recent years, after the federal government proposed a EUR 3 billion austerity package targeting pensions, unemployment benefits, and social services. Three major unions launched a nationwide general strike that shut down large parts of the country and was accompanied by a large protest in Brussels, drawing 40,000 participants according to police and up to 75,000 according to unions. The action disrupted public transport, postal services, administration, and hundreds of flights, causing one of the largest aviation shutdowns since Covid‑19. Protesters argued that, in combination with rising costs and stagnant wages, the reforms threaten Belgium’s welfare model. The government defended the package as necessary to meet EU deficit‑reduction targets and warned that repeated strikes harmed national competitiveness.

Sources: Euronews, Brussels Time (1), Brussels Time (2)