Discover our summary of the major headlines in the insurance industry in Belgium & Luxembourg with just a scroll!
Belfius courts Belgium's wealthiest investors ahead of partial privatisation
24/06/2026 – Source
Belfius has begun presenting its investment case to a select group of Belgium’s wealthiest entrepreneurs and family offices as the Belgian State prepares to sell a 20% stake in the bancassurer. High-profile investors, including Marc Coucke, Luc Tack and Jan Clarebout, attended a first presentation outlining Belfius’ growth strategy, competitive positioning and long-term ambitions. Interested investors have until 3 July to submit expressions of interest, after which shortlisted candidates will gain access to the bank’s data room. The government has ruled out both an IPO and the participation of other banks, favouring long-term private investors to support Belfius’ next phase of growth.
Mid-2026 Market Outlook: Belgian insurers remain cautiously optimistic despite geopolitical uncertainty
Leading Belgian insurers AG and Fédérale Assurance expect recent geopolitical tensions and inflationary pressures to create only temporary market turbulence, with a gradual return to economic stability during the second half of 2026.
Both point to resilient global equity markets, supported by continued investment in artificial intelligence, despite ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. They also expect central banks to maintain a cautious stance, with the ECB potentially raising rates once more before easing, while the US Federal Reserve is likely to keep rates unchanged in the near term.
Both insurers continue to favour diversified investment portfolios, remain constructive on equities while exercising short-term caution, and see opportunities in long-term savings products as bond yields remain attractive. They also reaffirm their commitment to sustainable investing, arguing that long-term performance and responsible investment continue to go hand in hand despite an uncertain macroeconomic environment.
Belgium approves Tesla's supervised autonomous driving: insurers prepare for new liability and pricing challenges
20/06/2026 – Source
Belgium has approved Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) Supervised system for around 30,000 compatible vehicles, marking a new step towards autonomous mobility. While drivers remain fully liable under the current Level 2 autonomy framework, Belgian insurers are already preparing for future regulatory changes as higher levels of autonomy emerge. Key questions include the allocation of liability between drivers, manufacturers and software providers, as well as insurers’ access to vehicle data for claims handling.
Although increased automation is expected to reduce accident frequency, insurers note that higher repair costs for technology-rich vehicles could offset these benefits. The long-term impact on motor insurance pricing therefore remains uncertain, with usage-based pricing and new underwriting models likely to play an increasingly important role.
Ethias awards 11 community projects through the 2026 Ethias Solidarity programme
17/06/2026 – Source
Ethias has announced the 11 winners of the fifth edition of its Ethias Solidarity initiative, awarding a total of €345,054 to projects that promote greener, more inclusive and climate-resilient neighbourhoods.
Selected from 163 applications, the winning initiatives include community gardens, urban orchards, food forests and cooling spaces designed to improve residents’ quality of life while strengthening social cohesion and environmental resilience. The projects were chosen by an independent jury of experts in housing, urban planning, sustainability, citizen participation and the social economy, highlighting Ethias’ continued commitment to supporting local communities and sustainable urban development.
Ethias Barometer : commuting accidents continue to drive workplace absenteeism
16/06/2026 – Source
Ethias’ 2025 Commuting Accident Barometer highlights the growing impact of commuting accidents on workplace absenteeism in Belgium. These accidents now account for 25% of temporary work incapacity cases and 28% of all accident-related absence days, with recovery periods averaging 12% longer than accidents occurring in the workplace. Although only 3% of cases remain open after six months, they generate a disproportionate share of long-term absence, representing more than 53,000 lost workdays.
The study also shows a sharp rise in accidents involving e-bikes (+68% since 2021) and electric scooters (+74%), reflecting changing mobility patterns. Ethias stresses that prevention must go beyond accident avoidance, advocating stronger support for employee reintegration through risk prevention, tailored return-to-work programmes and workplace rehabilitation initiatives.
AXA and River Cleanup train 240 volunteers
09/06/2026 – Source
Five years after Belgium’s devastating 2021 floods, AXA and River Cleanup have strengthened their partnership by training 240 volunteers to support clean-up operations following future flooding events. During a large-scale bootcamp, participants learned how to safely remove debris, work in flooded environments and apply emergency response procedures.
The initiative is part of River Cleanup’s ambition to build a national Response Unit of up to 1,000 trained volunteers capable of rapid deployment after extreme weather events. In addition, around 1,000 AXA employees will receive theoretical training, reinforcing the insurer’s commitment to disaster preparedness, environmental protection and community resilience in the face of increasing climate-related risks.
Insurance Ombudsman highlights digital challenges and rising legal protection complaints in 2025 report
09/06/2026 – Source
The 2025 Annual Report from the Belgian Insurance Ombudsman highlights several emerging trends affecting insurers and consumers. Complaints related to legal protection insurance rose by 36%, driven by premium increases, stricter underwriting and higher legal costs, while theft-related motor claims more than doubled, often due to disputes over policy conditions or suspected fraud.
The report also points to growing challenges linked to digital customer interactions, warning that chatbots and automated platforms can hinder the resolution of complex cases. To improve customer service, the Ombudsman recommends streamlining claims expertise through the appointment of a single expert in multi-insurer cases and strengthening communication with employees regarding their group insurance options when leaving an employer. The report provides valuable insights into customer expectations and evolving operational challenges across the Belgian insurance market.
Vivium Digital Awards 2026 showcase practical innovation for insurance brokers
09/06/2026 – Source
More than 450 brokers, insurtechs and industry partners gathered at the Vivium Digital Awards 2026 to explore how digitalisation can deliver tangible value for insurance brokers. Through practical workshops, participants discovered solutions to improve customer engagement, automate administrative tasks, strengthen cybersecurity and enhance team collaboration. The event highlighted that successful digital transformation is driven as much by people and processes as by technology.
During the awards ceremony, Paperbox won the Vivium Digital Award 2026, while BrokerOne received the Innovation Award. Brokerage firm Grust (Sint-Gillis-Waas) was also recognised for its effective use of digital tools to improve operations and customer experience, reinforcing Vivium’s commitment to accelerating digital innovation across the broker market.
Belgium increases insurance premium tax from 1 July 2026
05/06/2026 – Source
Belgium’s Programme Law of 30 May 2026 increases the insurance premium tax from 9.25% to 9.6%, with the new rate applying to all premiums falling due from 1 July 2026. The due date of the premium (not the contract date or payment method) will determine the applicable tax rate, requiring insurers to pay particular attention to instalment premiums, annual premiums and premium adjustments.
The reform is part of a broader fiscal package that also doubles the securities account tax to 0.30% and introduces several changes to income tax rules. The measures reflect Belgium’s wider effort to increase tax revenues and strengthen compliance across the financial and insurance sectors.
Insurance complaints rise by 5% in Belgium as AI reshapes claims handling
05/06/2026 – Source
Belgian insurers recorded a 5% increase in customer complaints in 2025, reaching around 33,000 cases, according to Assuralia. Complaints rose mainly in motor, health and legal protection insurance, while property insurance saw fewer complaints following a year with limited severe weather events.
Processing delays remain the leading source of dissatisfaction, particularly for claims management and claim payments. Despite the higher workload, more than 75% of complaints received a substantive response within 14 days. Assuralia also highlights the growing impact of artificial intelligence, with customers increasingly using AI tools to draft longer and more detailed complaints, creating new challenges for complaint-handling teams. The trend is expected to continue throughout 2026.
P&V Group delivers strong 2025 results and reinforces its cooperative model
02/06/2026 – Source
Belgian insurer P&V Group reported a strong 2025 performance, with gross written premiums rising to €2.3 billion and net profit reaching €83.8 million, while maintaining a robust 180% Solvency II ratio.
The group continued to outperform the market in life insurance, particularly across pension and long-term savings solutions, with Branch 23 production up 44%, now representing more than half of new business. In non-life insurance, premiums grew 4.6%, driven by solid performances in motor, workers’ compensation and legal protection, despite inflationary pressure on claims costs.
P&V also strengthened its focus on prevention and wellbeing, expanding support for employees on long-term sick leave and growing its VITY health app to more than 65,000 active users. The insurer further reaffirmed its commitment to the Belgian economy through significant domestic investments in government bonds, real estate and social impact projects.
