The Brussels Times

Controlled blackouts: France braces for winter electricity shortage

Though controlled blackouts sound drastic, they help prevent unexpected outages which would have far more serious consequences and even affect other countries.

World 'continues to be shaken by violent conflicts,' EU marks World Humanitarian Day

The international day commemorates the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, when 22 humanitarian workers lost their lives.

Complicated border sees Vuelta bike race pass through Belgian enclave

"If (the cyclists) ride on the right-hand, they will have cycled 1,200 metres on Belgian soil, while riding on the left-hand side, they will only have been in Belgium for 460 metres."

Belgium in Brief: A boiling point in the refugee crisis

For months now, people have been sleeping on the streets instead of receiving the shelter that they are entitled to.

Number of working hours dropped by 8.5% in pandemic-driven 2020

The data shows that the unskilled and least qualified workers saw the greatest drop in their work hours during the pandemic.

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.