The Brussels Times

Almost half of Belgians don’t know where their electricity comes from

"Managing the impact of the economic shock caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must not lead us to lose sight of our goal of transforming the EU’s economic model."

Brussels Airport looks to move away from short-haul flights

Other transport methods, specifically high-speed trains, play a pivotal role in stepping away from relying on airplanes for transfer connections.

Three Brussels organisations receive WWF local funds to protect nature

Three Brussels projects of different nature, from saving the bees to picking up trash in kayaks, will receive the WWF-Belgium funding.

’50-100 Ukrainian troops die on Donbas frontlines each day,’ says Zelensky

Russia is resorting to “scorched-earth” tactics in order to gain control of the region from Ukrainian forces, says the governor of Luhansk Oblast.

‘Ostend at Anchor’: 185,000 people visited maritime festival this year

This massive maritime festival gave spectators the chance to visit 170 different docket ships and explore the life of legendary Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan. Its exhibition is still open.

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

Belgium in Brief: No more rules (for now?)

After over two years of Covid-19 restrictions in place in Belgium, the last of them have been lifted today. Here's Belgium in Brief.

Belgian aircraft manufacturer to stop production of two-seater plane

Sonaca's 32 employees who are affected by this decision will be offered a job within the plane manufacturer’s parent company.

Record number of trucks on Belgian roads

Last year, the government raised more than €822 million from the passage of trucks and lorries through the country, a 25% increase compared to 2016.

Legal firearm registrations on the up in Belgium

With extremely strict licensing and registration laws, Belgium has one of the lowest homicides by firearms rate in Europe.

Brussels Heatwave Plan: How to get help when it’s too hot

People who register for Brussels' Heat Wave Plan will be checked on during times of high temperatures, and provided with water.

EU Tracker

On the agenda

Today - Agri powwow
EU agricultural ministers meet 24 May to discuss how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is squeezing food markets, supply chains and all the uncertainty it has created. Full agenda here.
Tomorrow - 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.
Tomorrow - 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.