Flemish Parliament Orders Audit of Regional Airport Subsidies

The Flemish Parliament voted on Oct. 21, 2026, to order an official audit of regional airport subsidies by the Rekenhof, reversing a year-long refusal by ruling coalition parties, according to reporting by De Standaard.

Parliament Approves Rekenhof Audit After Year of Resistance

Ruling coalition parties N-VA, Vooruit, and CD&V approved a motion in the Flemish Parliament instructing the Rekenhof to examine subsidies flowing to regional airports in Deurne, Oostende, and Kortrijk. Bogdan Vanden Berghe had pushed for the inquiry for over a year before the majority shifted its position.

De Standaard reported that the three regional airports rely on millions of euros in annual government support to avoid bankruptcy. The funding mechanism drew fresh scrutiny following a settlement agreement between the Flemish government and airport operator Egis, which involved waiving millions in outstanding invoices. The agreement was sent by the cabinet of Annick De Ridder to all parliamentary members.

Coalition Split Over Settlements and Transparency

Annick De Ridder previously argued that an external audit was unnecessary because the financial reports from Egis business auditors provided sufficient oversight. Opposition parties, including Groen, PVDA, and Anders, pressed for the inquiry to explicitly cover the arrangement negotiated with the airport operator.

The parliamentary majority voted down the opposition motions targeting the agreements and declined to state whether the Rekenhof audit would encompass the disputed deals. Bert Maertens stated that his party supported the audit to put an end to ongoing political polemics regarding the legality of the airport subsidies.

Political Reactions and Future Oversight Scope

Vanden Berghe welcomed the parliamentary turnaround as a positive step for transparency while expressing caution regarding the potential limits of the watchdog’s mandate. Hopefully the Rekenhof will take its mandate broadly, will not have sticks thrown in its wheels, and will be able to investigate everything, Vanden Berghe said, noting that prior administrations also concluded settlements with the airport operator.

Maertens maintained that the review would vindicate the government’s financial support, though he expressed doubt that the political debate surrounding regional airport funding would cease immediately. Meanwhile, as reported by Gazet van Antwerpen, Annick De Ridder has continued working on new subsidy agreements aimed at restructuring financial support for the Antwerp, Oostende, and Kortrijk airports.