Mons Station Scandal: Time-Barred Case Reignites Calls for Parliamentary Probe into €480M Project
November 13, 2025
Dubois emphasizes that even if facts are prescribed in court, political accountability should still be pursued through a special parliamentary commission.
An initial judicial investigation was opened after the dossier from Xavier Dubois regarding the Calatrava contract.
Behind the scenes, discussions are underway about establishing a parliamentary inquiry commission to scrutinize the affair and pursue political accountability.
A 2025 media report is cited, noting that access to the full article requires a login, limiting public visibility of certain details.
Coverage points to a €480 million cost for the Mons station and signals that related reporting and analysis are available in connected coverage.
There is ongoing political potential for the matter to reappear in Parliament, with past motions to hear SNCB and Infrabel and discussions about summoning former ministers and creating a special commission.
Overall, the Mons station saga is marked by a dramatic cost rise—from €37 million in 2004 to about €480 million—with governance issues and opaque decision-making noted.
Context is provided about broader questions surrounding the 480 million euros tied to the Mons station project and the ongoing scrutiny.
Chronology notes that Calatrava was selected in 2001–2002 without a public market in 2004 feasibility, 2006 adjudication to Calatrava, a 2011 redesign to a modern multimodal station, multiple delays and contractors, culminating in an inauguration on January 31, 2025.
The case centers on awarding the public contract for the Mons station to Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, based on a dossier from deputy Xavier Dubois.
A judicial inquiry had been opened previously, but prosecutors concluded the matter is prescribed, ending the judicial path for now.
The Mons train station project case has been closed with no further action after prosecutors ruled the facts time-barred, ending the judicial inquiry opened earlier.
Despite the judicial closure, the project’s budget escalation, delays, and governance problems are underscored by a 2022 Court of Audit review and ongoing political scrutiny.
Historical context includes a previous 2010 investigation that was closed without charges concerning the initial public market award.
Xavier Dubois has urged the creation of a special parliamentary commission to pursue accountability, while figures like Georges-Louis Bouchez have advocated for a parliamentary inquiry.
Summary based on 3 sources