Political stalemate, shaken confidence, and the signals investors need now
Brussels is in an unprecedented holding pattern at the regional level. With political negotiations still unresolved, businesses and citizens alike are asking what this means for stability, governance, and the city’s standing as an investment destination.
This timely debate will examine how Brussels can sustain momentum despite institutional uncertainty — and what concrete steps can restore confidence fast. From governance signals to on-the-ground business concerns, we’ll ask what is perception, what is reality, and what can be done within weeks to reassure investors, attract talent, and support the city’s economic resilience.
speaker
Thierry Geerts is CEO of BECI (Brussels Enterprises, Commerce & Industry) and former Country Director of Google Belgium & Luxembourg, where he led operations for more than a decade. A graduate of the Solvay Business School, his career spans media, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. He is also the author of Digitalis and Homo Digitalis, books exploring how technology reshapes society. At BECI, he now focuses on supporting Brussels businesses and signaling the opportunities and challenges investors need to watch in a rapidly changing economy.
speaker
Maïthé Chini is a Belgian journalist working as a senior reporter for The Brussels Times, where her coverage spans national politics, social policy, health care, urban affairs, and migration.
Over the course of her career, she has established a voice in the English-language Belgian press, offering analysis, features, and explanatory journalism to a readership engaged in Belgium’s public affairs.
moderator
Philip Herd is the Editor in Chief of The Brussels Times, Belgium's leading English language general news publication. He has over 25 years experience as a journalist - most of it at the BBC in broadcasting - covering major stories and breaking news all over the world. He has managed teams, news coverage, and bureaus across the globe, including Westminster, Belfast, Glasgow, Brussels, Paris and Washington D.C.
Immediately prior to joining The Brussels Times, Philip was a consultant here in Brussels, and before that a Director of Communications for a global tech company.
He is British, and moved to Brussels in 2019 from the UK, having spent much of his early life living in Vienna and The Hague.
