Federal Planning Bureau
The Federal Planning Bureau (FPB) is a Belgian independent public agency. It makes studies and projections on economic, social and environmental policy issues and on their integration within the context of sustainable development. The last Plan Commissioner was Philippe Donnay, assisted by Deputy Commissioner Saskia Weemaes. History. When the FPB was founded on 14 October 1959, it carried the name of Programming Bureau. Its mission was to elaborate the economic policy framework, which had been absent until then, by submitting proposals to the Ministerial Committee for Economic and Social Coordination. In 1970, the Programming Bureau’s name  was changed into Planning Bureau, in accordance with the law of 15 July of that same year. The economic programmes are replaced by economic plans marked by a more formalized approach and regional components. From 1980 onward, the Planning Bureau abandoned its former approach and focused on the elaboration of economic medium-term projections and impact studies on different subjects. In 1994, in the wake of the fourth Belgian state reform, the Planning Bureau’s name was once more changed into the Federal Planning Bureau. From then on, the Bureau would also be charged with forecasts for the government budget . Role. Missions and activities. Most of the FPB’s activities are legally defined. Other studies are made at the request of the government, social partners and parliament. The FPB can also undertake projects at its own initiative or within the framework of research contracts with third parties. The activities of the FPB are centered around four axes: Research areas. The FPB makes projections and evaluates past or intended policy in the following areas: Publications. All the FPB’s studies are published, presented publicly and widely distributed. The recurring publications, which relate to the FPB’s main legal assignments, include: The  organizations and commissions mentioned in parentheses are responsible for the final publication.