The Brussels Times

Last day of Brussels Flower Carpet on Grand Place

The University of Ghent (UGent) and KULeuven remain the only two Belgian universities in the top 100 of the annual ranking, however, both have lost ground.

Far-right Vlaams Belang calls for drastic measures to curb Antwerp drug violence

"We have to stop the hostile takeover of whole Antwerp neighbourhoods. The legal upper world is making way for the criminal underworld."

Summer loving: Does it really happen faster?

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

Coastal get-away: Record number of overnight stays this weekend

The night from Saturday to Sunday saw more than 310,000 overnight stays, the highest number recorded both during this and last summer.

World first: Scotland provides free menstrual products from today

"This is more important than ever due to the cost of living crisis; we never want anyone to be in a position where they cannot access period products."

PromotedFashion & Lace Musuem presents Kidorama fashion exhibition

What's celebrated on 15 August?

Many businesses and services are closing their doors in preparation for the long weekend ahead. But what exactly is celebrated on 15 August?

Localised storms forecast as temperatures cool

Outbreaks of thunder and at times intense rainfall are expected during the day and tonight, with possibly more than 10 mm of precipitation in one hour.

'Misleading and stigmatising': WHO wants new name for monkeypox

"The monkeypox virus was named upon first discovery in 1958, before current best practices in naming diseases and viruses were adopted."

Broken promises, dismantling human rights: One year of Taliban rule in Afghanistan

"Without meaningful support, the current crisis will kill far more Afghans than the past 20 years of war."

Hidden Belgium: The Ciamberlani Mansion

The frescos were recently restored by the only sgraffito specialist still working in Brussels, so you can now clearly see Ciamberlani’s heavily symbolic art with its peacocks, sunflowers and young parents.

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.