The Brussels Times

Electronic payments not available everywhere despite legal obligation

A Russian woman has taunted Ukrainian refugees in European cities, raising questions around the responsibility of Russian citizens for the war in Ukraine.

Hidden Belgium: The Roman Bridge at Erquelinnes

A shrine to the Virgin Mary stands in a little grotto nearby. Covered with teddy bears and urgent prayers, it adds to the mystery of this strange spot.

PromotedFashion & Lace Musuem presents Kidorama fashion exhibition

Fines of €350 for walking around shirtless in Belgian coastal town

"Bare torsos in the streets or dog poop and music boxes on the beach: it is just not done."

Five museum visits to escape the sweltering heat

Museums can be cool oases out of the summer heat. These five unique museums around Belgium might just hit the spot.

Industrial water consumers do little to economise on consumption

Purely on the basis of numbers, households consume more water than businesses – around 60% of the total.

Westvleteren adopts labels on bottles for the first time in 75 years

The new labels allow consumers to differentiate the four varieties at a glance – not as handy as it might seem, since the beers are rarely on open sale.

Brussels Behind the Scenes: Paying by visa

Support for a ban on entry visas for Russians is building. But any nixing of travel privileges must be implemented wisely.

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.