The Brussels Times

How Brussels’ famous Rue Neuve lost its charm for shopping

What used to be the bustling and beating heart of the city has over time turned into an empty and unattractive street, making a lousy impression on unexpecting visitors.

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.

Flemish Government must pay Greenpeace €850,000 for inadequate air pollution policy

"It is painful that in our country, you apparently have to litigate persistently to ensure that our government complies with regulations to protect our health."

Eight paracyclists to represent Belgium in European Championships

The UEC Paracycling European Championships will take place in Austria, 25-29 May. Belgian athletes will compete in four different categories.

EU auditors: ‘Blacklisting is underused in protecting EU funds against fraud’

"We have a patchwork of different approaches to exclusion at EU and Member States level."

Over 25 million animals slaughtered in Belgium in April

Despite the growing appeal of a meat-free diet in Belgium, slaughterhouses have been producing record quantities of meat this year in order to meet demand.

Belgian jogger pursued by big bird

Upon spotting the bird, the man “started to run a little faster” to get away from it, and was lucky to escape after it did not strike him with its claws or beak.

PromotedCentral Asia in the “Green” Agenda of the Energy Relations

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.

Belgian bottled water company launches new eco packaging

The design saves 65% more plastic compared to packs of six plastic bottles, and reduces the carbon footprint of bottled water by 40% compared to returnable glass bottles.

First major Belgian restaurant chain to partner with anti-food waste app ‘Too Good To Go’

People with the Too Good To Go app will be able to log on at the end of the day and purchase heavily-discounted meals that would have otherwise been wasted.

More women in politics: Jette municipality swears in new mayor

In Belgium's last local elections in 2018, only 39% of those elected were women, a slight uptake from local elections in 2012 when 36% of those elected were women.

Russian soldier jailed for life in Ukraine’s first war crime trial

Carrying out a "criminal order" by a soldier of higher rank, Shishimarin shot a 62-year-old civilian in the head with an automatic weapon.

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.