The Brussels Times

OpenWay: The Belgian company that saved Russia's financial system

“We suspect that a gang of thieves have found a flaw in this model of car. They are doing it by electronic cracking, by playing with remote key fobs."

Belgian farmer with 800 tonnes of grain stuck in Ukraine

"The biggest problem now is getting all that grain out of the country. I cannot find a single driver who wants to drive to Poland."

Meal vouchers increasingly popular extra-legal benefit

An increasing number of workers are receiving meal vouchers with a value of up to €8 a day, which can help balance the costs of groceries.

Belgian electricity prices set new records

The absolute peak falls on Wednesday between 19:00 and 20:00, when €747.93/MWh is paid to supply electricity in Belgium.

Solar energy: Multiple records broken during summer heatwaves

After breaking the previous two-year record in May this year, the production of solar energy broke another record in July; August is looking exceptionally good.

Why Solvay was Belgium’s titan of industry and ideas

Ernest Solvay was laid to rest 100 years ago in the nearby Ixelles cemetery after a prodigious career, much of which is not widely known today.

PromotedFind out how CEOs in Belgium can recognise when a habit has become a dependency

Summer loving: Does it really happen faster?

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

Controversial 'neo-Nazi' music festival in Ypres cancelled

Widespread criticism and political pressure have made Ypres city council revoke the permit.

Docks Bruxsel aims for 7 million visitors in 2022

In July alone, more than 700,000 people visited the Docks, the highest attendance on record since its inauguration.

EU economy greenhouse gas emissions cast doubt over climate targets

The EU’s aim to achieve a 55% net reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 is slipping beyond reach as emissions return to the pre-2019 status quo.

Few Ukrainians find work in Belgium

Ukrainian workers are statistically highly skilled and should fit the Belgian labour market well. Yet barely any have been given employment opportunities.

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.