The Brussels Times

Belgium will return murdered Congolese leader Lumumba’s remains to his family

Lumumba's remains – several teeth and finger bones – were kept in the possession of a former Belgian police chief, who assisted in Lumumba's killing, and dissolved his body in sulfuric acid.

Belgium tops EU countries for highest level of toxic pesticides in fruit and vegetables

The EU says the use of harmful pesticides has decreased in the region, however, a recent report refutes this claim, arguing that consumers are in increasing danger.

New night train from Brussels to Berlin and Prague postponed again

The initial aim was to launch the night trains by spring 2022, which was postponed to the beginning of summer, but that target date will not be met either.

41% of young adults in the EU now hold a degree

In higher education, women now vastly outnumber men. 47% of young women now hold some sort of degree compared to just 36% of young men.

Missing people: Belgium working to find people faster via digital means

Today, 797 people are still listed as "worrying disappearances." The government will now better adjust to the digital age to solve cases more quickly.

Energy crisis: Offshore wind farms will have to pay back excess profits

Suppliers have profited massively from the rising price of energy and the Belgian government wants to return some of that money to consumers.

Making movies to save Kinshasa’s street kids

Screened in 45 festivals, Kinshasa Now has won 15 prizes and been shown in more than a hundred cities around the world.

PromotedHow can hydrogen technologies power the clean aircraft of the future?

Highest wages in Belgium? Brussels for white collar workers, Limburg for blue

The highest earners in Belgium tend to live in Brussels and Flemish and Walloon Brabant, but there are differences between white and blue collar workers.

City of Brussels drafts project to improve Pannenhuis metro area

The City plans to widen the sidewalks, add a cyclist lane and improve the safety of pedestrians crossing the nearby roundabout.

Grocery delivery app Gorillas considering leaving Belgium

Gorillas app is struggling to stay profitable in the post-pandemic world, with 300 employees laid off in their HQ and a review of activities in four countries.

Federal Government fails at hiring enough people with disabilities

More than a decade after setting itself a disability employment target of 3%, just one federal government organisation has been able to meet it.

‘Waited too long to call emergency services’: Teenagers to be prosecuted in overdose death

When a 15-year-old slipped into a coma after taking ecstasy, his friends waited far too long to call emergency services out of fear they'd get into trouble.

EU Tracker

On the agenda

Today - Sanction crimes
The European Commission will publish on 25 May its proposal to add the evasion or violation of sanctions to the list of crimes laid out in the EU treaties. Well timed, given that some governments still are not sure if paying for Russian gas in rubles is illegal.
Today - Euromertà
The Commission will unveil its plan for beefed-up powers to combat organised crime, which will simplify how criminal assets can be confiscated. Confiscation rates of criminal proceeds currently barely break above 1%.
June 21 - Golden gateway
The EU’s development days will this year focus on Brussels’ plan to up investments in energy, digital and transport in partner countries, in a bid to compete with China’s mammoth Belt and Road initiative.
June 22 - Rescheduled mother nature
The European Commission’s postponed nature protection package — which includes targets for reducing pesticide use — has been tentatively rescheduled for 22 June.
June 23 - EU growth spurt?
EU leaders are on course to be given an update on the membership applications of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine at a European Council meeting. The Commission is expected to issue its opinions on whether talks should be opened.
July 1 - Czech in
Czech Republic takes over the rotating EU presidency from France.
July 5 - Right to repair
The European Commission will publish its plan for new design requirements and consumer rights for electronics. This will likely include a definition on the ‘right to repair’, potentially unlocking longer-lasting electronics and reshaping how consumers purchase smartphones and other devices.
December 1 - EU-US TTC
The next round of the EU-US trade and technology council is scheduled for December.