OECD Review of the Belgian Federal Planning Bureau

Annex B. Legal responsibilities of the Belgian Federal Planning Bureau

Table A ‎B.1. The main responsibilities of the Federal Planning Bureau named in legislation

Law	Responsibility
Law of 21 December 1994 on social and miscellaneous provisions.	Preparing the economic forecasts for the federal budget, drawing up the five-yearly input-output tables and other satellite accounts for Belgium, along with the overarching mandate to assess and forecast socio-economic and environmental developments with a view to improving their rationality, efficiency, and transparency.
Law of 10 April 2014 that implemented Directive 2011/85/EU requiring multi-annal budgets	Serving as the arm’s length independent body responsible for producing the macroeconomic forecasts underlying the budget to comply with the enhanced budget co-ordination and surveillance framework in Regulation (EU) No 473/2013 of the “Two Pack” of reforms.
Law of 5 May 1997 relating to the coordination of the federal sustainable development policy	Preparing an ex ante and ex post monitoring report consisting of indicators and scenarios to support the newly created federal plan for sustainable development to achieve domestic, international, and European commitments, and placing a representative of the Bureau on the Interdepartmental Commission for Sustainable Development as an observer.
The Law of 5 September 2001 guaranteeing a continuous reduction of public debt and creating an Ageing Fund	Serving as the secretariat of the Study Committee on Ageing, of which the Vice-president (Commissioner) and one member is from the Federal Planning Bureau.
The Royal Decree of 14 November 2003 implementing the law of 28 April 2003	Supplying the mortality tables and demographic studies for certain calculations related to annuity payments.
The Programme Law of 23 December 2009	Developing and maintaining a database of transport indicators and satellite statistical accounts for the Ministry of Mobility and Transport and to carry out a long-term transport demand outlook and transport simulations with impact analysis and policy analyses on request and in consultation with the Ministry of Mobility and Transport.
The Law of 8 January 2012 amending the Act of 29 April 1999 on the organisation of the electricity market	Collaborating with the Directorate General for Energy to draw up a report on the monitoring of the security of the supply of energy every two years.
The Law of 25 November 2018 establishing the National Productivity Council	Nominating two of its members to the National Productivity Council and contributing to the meetings and reports on the topics of diagnosing and analysing developments in productivity and competitiveness, associated challenges, and the consequences of policy options on productivity and competitiveness.
The law of 21 May 2015 establishing a National Pensions Committee, a Centre of Expertise, and an Academic Council	Serving as the secretariat of a support committee for the Centre of Expertise and appointing a representative to sit on the committee. The Centre of Expertise on pensions is responsible for grouping all the knowledge on pensions from various administrations, public establishments, and public interest organisation.
The Law of 2 May 2014	Costing the election manifestos of political parties, amended 2018 to restrict requests to a minimum 3 and maximum 5 priorities and to political parties represented in the House of Representatives. The analysis is to include the short- and medium-term consequences for public finances, the purchasing power and employment of various income groups, for social security, and of the impact on the environment and transportation.
The Law of 22 May 2014 amending the Civil Code	Supplying the mortality tables for calculating the value of the rights of surviving spouses to enjoy a property.
The Law of 15 May 2014 implementing the Compact for Competitiveness, Employment and Recovery	Calculating increases in wage limits and other social security contribution parameters for various stakeholder decisions and negotiations.
The Law of 14 March 2014 amending the FPB’s 1994 legislation	Calculating a set of additional indicators for measuring quality of life, human development, social progress, and the sustainability of our economy.

1. Note – this law is currently under review, with potential implications for the Bureau’s responsibilities.