The Brussels Times

Only one energy supplier still offers fixed contract: Should you switch?

"Traditionally, people preferred a fixed contract: it gives the consumer peace of mind because it is simple and you know what price you will be paying."

Belgian electricity prices set new records

The absolute peak falls on Wednesday between 19:00 and 20:00, when €747.93/MWh is paid to supply electricity in Belgium.

Belgian banks perform well despite economic crisis

In total, the major banks made more than €3 billion in profits in the first half of this year – only €160,000 less than the same period last year.

Why Solvay was Belgium’s titan of industry and ideas

Ernest Solvay was laid to rest 100 years ago in the nearby Ixelles cemetery after a prodigious career, much of which is not widely known today.

Few Ukrainians find work in Belgium

Ukrainian workers are statistically highly skilled and should fit the Belgian labour market well. Yet barely any have been given employment opportunities.

Belgian researchers make kidney failure breakthrough

“The genetic mutation is detected in approximately one in a thousand individuals." This discovery could therefore benefit around 10,000 people in Belgium alone.

Brussels inner city largely car-free from today: What changes

Motorists travelling through the City of Brussels from today will face traffic changes as a larger part of the city becomes a low traffic zone.

PromotedGet rid of those problem areas at Aspria

Summer loving: Does it really happen faster?

The science on whether warmer weather increases attraction is inconclusive, with little evidence linking love to temperatures.

UK greenlights updated Moderna vaccine, Belgium approval due end of August

"This so-called 'bivalent' vaccine gives us a sharpened tool in our armoury to help protect us against this disease as the virus continues to evolve."

Explosions in Crimea draw attention to the Russian-occupied peninsula

Russia blamed the blast on an accidental ammunitions explosion on the base, however it appeared to be the result of a Ukrainian air strike.

Belgium in Brief: A far-right festival on Belgium's battlefields

Many will be wondering how the resting place of so many who lost their lives fighting fascism can be used as a platform for those exact extremist views.

In pictures: 40th edition of nautical race of bathtubs in Dinant

First organised in 1982, the regatta has since grown from a local event to an international gathering, attracting some 15,000 visitors on Monday.

EU Tracker

On the agenda

August 26 - NATO milestone
Finland, Sweden, Turkey officials meet for counter-terrorism discussion, organised under terms of the two NATO-aspiring nations’ deal with Ankara. It is an important step to secure Turkey’s ratification of their NATO bid.
September 1 - Green Deal D-Day
EU lawmakers and governments have now brokered their negotiating positions on a lot of the main Green Deal updates. That means that talks between them and the Commission can now start. The bulk of this work will start in September.
September 9 - Finance ministers meet
Finance ministers meeting, agenda here.
October 3 - Eurogroup meeting
Eurogroup meeting agenda here.
October 6 - EU Presidency summit.
Czech EU presidency Council summit.
October 11 - Energy chiefs meet
Energy ministers meet for an informal summit. Preparing for the winter heating season will likely be the main item on the agenda.
October 18 - Commission to-do list
EU Commission publishes its work programme for 2023.
October 18 - Agri meet
EU farm ministers meet for a two-day agricultural summit. Details here.
October 20 - EUCO comes back
Full EUCO summit. Meeting page here.
October 26 - Zero pollution
Commission publishes its zero pollution package of rules and regulations.
November 30 - Recycle, reuse, recycle again
European Commission publishes its updated circular economy package.
December 1 - EU-US TTC
The next round of the EU-US trade and technology council is scheduled for December.
December 31 - Czech out time
Czechia hands over the reins of the EU presidency to Sweden.