Article 1 
1. Belgium shall put an end to the present excessive deficit situation by 2013. 2. Belgium shall reduce the headline deficit to 2,7 % of GDP in 2013. This nominal improvement is consistent with an improvement in the structural balance of 1 % of GDP in 2013, based on the Commission services 2013 spring forecast. 3. Belgium shall adopt and fully implement all the consolidation measures incorporated in the 2013 budget as well as additional measures of a structural nature to achieve the recommended structural effort for 2013. 4. Belgium shall stand ready to adopt further measures if risks to the budgetary plans materialise. Budgetary consolidation measures shall secure a lasting improvement in the general government structural balance in a growth-friendly manner.
Article 2 
1. Belgium shall submit to the Commission, by 21 September 2013, a report outlining the measures taken to comply with this Decision. The Commission shall evaluate this report with a view to assessing progress made towards the correction of the excessive deficit. 2. Belgium shall submit further quarterly reports to the Commission, in which it examines progress made in complying with this Decision. 3. Belgium shall submit a report by 31 December 2013 on the intended implementation of the first recommendation issued under the European Semester regarding the adoption of explicit coordination arrangements to ensure that budgetary targets are binding at federal level and sub-federal levels within a medium-term planning perspective. 4. Belgium shall present structural measures for 2014 which ensure a sustainable correction of the excessive deficit and appropriate progress towards its medium-term objective.
Article 3 
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium.