European budgetary standards have been a powerful disciplinary tool in preparing for Economic and Monetary Union membership. They remain effective in that respect. They have also played a big part in persuading the public to accept the need for the adjustment process.
To prepare the ground for its work on the budget, the Belgian government draws widely on the expertise and advice of independent national bodies. On the one hand, it has entrusted the National Accounts Institute with the task of preparing the macroeconomic forecasts which, in principle, serve as the basis for drawing up public budgets.