The Brussels Times

Monkeypox on the rise in Belgium: Here's what we know

From storing meat to avoid cross-contamination to ensuring your ice cream doesn't make you ill, follow this guide to make your barbecue just as safe as it is fun.

Airlines struggle to reach CO2 targets as innovation lags behind

Despite committing to reduce net CO2 emissions to zero by 2050, solutions are still not all-encompassing, leaving the aviation sector to step up to become more climate-friendly.

Belgium must reduce pesticide use by 58%

PromotedGet rid of those problem areas at Aspria

Brussels Flower Carpet returns to its roots for 50th anniversary: When to see it

After a two-year hiatus, the Flower Carpet will return to the cobblestones of Grand Place this year and will be a nod to the very first design from 1971.

Red Cross refusing blood donations over West Nile virus

As most people do not realise they are infected with the virus, there is that blood donations could risk of infecting vulnerable people.

Dutch man sentenced for smuggling 120 cocaine pellets on Thalys

A hospital scan revealed that he had swallowed 120 drug pellets. The man stated that he regularly carried out similar drug transports and received €7,000 each time.

'Sea is treacherous now': Lifeguards warn of spring tide this weekend

Better score for fatty fish and olive oil: Nutri-Score system to be updated

While some countries are looking for ways to improve the labelling healthy food, Italy has publically criticised the overall system.

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.