Study on interest rate restrictions (IRR): Belgian national report

DG Internal Market and Services of the European Commission have commissioned us to conduct a study on interest rate restrictions in consumer credit covering unsecured and secured credit (i.e. including mortgage credit). This project aims to identify the different types of interest rate restrictions (IRR), the Member States that apply them, and their reasons for doing so, as well as to analyse the economic, financial, and social impacts of IRR on various stakeholders. We are aware that the level of restrictions differs greatly between Member States. Please keep in mind that we are looking at the practical effects of such restrictions and therefore are interested in both the formal rules and regulations and also other less formal mechanisms that moderate consumer credit prices (for example moral consensus or ethical practice). However, in both cases we need to know how effective these rules and mechanism are.