REPORTING. At the Voka reception, the beau monde of Flemish entrepreneurs and politicians only talked about one thing: “The recession has already arrived” | News

From N-VA chairman Bart De Wever to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld), the Flemish top politicians did not want to miss the kick-off of the political-economic autumn. As always, the reception and debate of the Flemish network of companies (Voka) attracted the finer points of the Wetstraat and its surroundings. But above all that of Flemish entrepreneurial life. How do they view the delicate situation?

In the queue at the counter we meet Luc De Bruyckere, chairman of Seneca NV and éminence grise of the Flemish business community. He sticks to a modest Flemish beer. “The recession has already arrived”, says De Bruyckere bluntly. He refers to the difficult period of 2007-2008, when he himself was at the helm of the employers’ organization Voka. “When the financial and economic crisis was raging, the system of temporary economic unemployment was invoked. We should reactivate such measures if necessary. In this way, ailing companies can keep their employees on board until the worst storm has passed.” De Bruyckere is not enthusiastic about general support measures: “The treasury is empty, you have to focus your efforts on only those people who really need it.”

A series of tasty snacks and a few glasses of the better alcohol cannot prevent a ‘parfum de crisis’ hanging in the air in the room. The solemn Bozar building is nevertheless neatly dressed for the occasion. Voka holds an annual tradition at the beginning of September for a political leaders debate for its members – an estimated 18,000 companies. The guest list is impressive: more than 600 Flemish top entrepreneurs, politicians and lobbyists are present. No decisions are made here, but thoughts do mature.

According to West Flemish custom, Marc Adriansens, director of ICO NV, arrives punctually at the reception. The advantage of being an early bird: the buffet tables are still untouched and there is no queue at the counter yet. Adriansens, however, comes from the distant Zeebrugge: it was at its gas terminals that Prime Minister Alexander De Croo recently sounded the alarm about five to ten difficult winters ahead. Adriansens outlines the problem: “Our business community is currently struggling with a double handicap: rising energy costs, but also wage costs as a result of galloping inflation. Both deserve the attention of our politicians, I told the Prime Minister that myself.”

Henk Deraedt, director of lender Allianz Trade, is an avid networker and has been a loyal member of Voka for years. He emphasizes the urgency of political action: “As an international company, we often look at how the economic situation in Great Britain is evolving: they are often ahead of the curve in continental Europe. We are already seeing more defaults and failing companies. We don’t see those red numbers here yet, but we have to be vigilant.” Does Deraedt see immediate solutions to give business some oxygen? “We have to separate the gas price and the electricity price: now one pushes the other up. That European system has to change.”

The lamp is lit in the middle of the reception room, literally and figuratively. Every crisis has losers, but also winners. These days it’s the energy producers. Yet Cedric Osterrieth, director of Engie-Electrabel, is also dejected: “The current market situation is not sustainable for us either. We have three million customers in Belgium, but they come to us en masse with the request to reduce their invoice. Currently, one in three people in Wallonia does not pay their energy bill or pays it late. Where will that end this winter? We are also not sure of our income.”

Osterrieth is accompanied by Frederik Pieters and Jan Remeysen, both members of the senior management of BASF Antwerp. How do they think Flanders can save its precious economic fabric from destruction? Remeysen: “There is no magic solution, politicians must pursue a comprehensive policy. Becoming less dependent on one form of energy and one customer, but you can’t do something like that in one year, you know. Companies will have to try to survive this winter in the short term. Years ago we already invested in our own energy production on our company site: this way we are independent from the outside world.”

Little enthusiasm to tinker with index on Voka debate, Lachaert and De Wever are in favor of paying that net (+)