Brussels, 06/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner Mario Monti has met the Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and his Finance Minister Didier Reynders to discuss the regime set up by Belgium for co-ordination centres. On 23 April, the Commission partly authorised the provisions taken by Belgium on these centres, but still had questions on the validity of various measures enjoyed by these bodies (see EUROPE of 24 April, p.13). After this meeting, which was described as "very constructive", the Commission announced that it had been able to bring the procedure to a close, due to the co-operation of the Belgian authorities. On capital duty, Belgium will cancel the exoneration in favour of the co-ordination centres, and replace it with a lower rate, for all companies, of 0.25% or 0.3%. On property tax, the exemption regime is maintained for co-ordination centres and extended to other companies established in Belgium. Lastly, the unusual advantages these centres enjoy are added to their tax base as this continues to be the rule for other Belgian companies.