EU budget rules push Belgian government to brink of collapse

Prime Minister Bart De Wever has sought to resign after coalition talks failed over cuts and taxes while military spending continues to rise Belgium’s government has been pushed to the brink of collapse by a budget battle under EU spending rules. Prime Minister Bart De Wever submitted his resignation to King Philippe on Monday morning after negotiations on budget cuts failed over the weekend.De Wever and his coalition partners have spent months arguing over roughly €10 billion ($11.2 billion) in cuts and additional revenue. Overnight talks ended without agreement, leaving the government struggling to meet Brussels’ demands while protecting public services and financing higher military expenditure.The Royal Palace subsequently announced that King Philippe has postponed a decision on De Wever’s resignation and will begin consultations with the leaders of the governing parties starting Tuesday. The prime minister is due back at the palace on Friday. Brussels demands savings as arms spending risesDe Wever’s request comes as the conservative, liberal, socialist, and centrist partners of his ruling coalition have consistently failed to agree on who should pay for repairing the country’s ...