Failed Belgian police digitization project cost taxpayers $155M amid mounting budget pressures

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Belgium's failed police digitization project cost taxpayers €139.4 million ($155 million), nearly twice the amount previously disclosed by the government, according to a report by the country's Court of Audit, as the country faces mounting budgetary pressures and EU demands for fiscal consolidation.

The report cited by public broadcaster VRT on Thursday found that millions of euros were spent on software licenses that are now unusable, while also pointing to serious shortcomings in project management and the government's reliance on external IT consultants.

The total expenditure is significantly higher than the €75.8 million previously acknowledged by Interior Minister Bernard Quintin in parliament.

The i-Police project was launched in late 2021 to modernize police operations, integrate fragmented databases into a single information platform, and help law enforcement agencies identify criminal networks and security risks more efficiently.

However, Quintin terminated the €299 million contract with French IT consultancy firm Sopra Steria in December 2025, citing the absence of tangible results despite years of implementation and payments.

According to the Court of Audit, approximately €30.8 million was spent on software licenses, of which €21.6 million, or 70%, is of no use to the police today.

Some €7.3 million worth of licenses were never used, while another €14.2 million worth were used during the development phase but became unusable after the project was discontinued.

The auditors warned that the financial consequences could extend beyond the initial purchases, as maintenance, support, and renewal costs can continue for years.

The revelations come as Belgium faces growing pressure to bring its public finances under control, with its budget deficit and public debt significantly exceeding EU fiscal limits.

According to Eurostat data published on Oct. 21, Belgium's government deficit reached 5.2% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025.

Public debt stood at 108.1% of GDP at the end of 2025, placing Belgium among the EU's most indebted member states.

Both figures exceed the EU's fiscal reference limits, which set a maximum budget deficit of 3% of GDP and public debt of 60% of GDP.

Belgium remains subject to the EU's Excessive Deficit Procedure, which requires member states to take corrective action when their public finances exceed the bloc's fiscal thresholds.