The Brussels Times

Chaos and traffic jams due to new Brussels traffic plan

Over 1,000 fines have been issued this year for people who endanger pedestrians while on e-scooters, but the vehicles still get scattered across the city.

A storm from space? Dark plasma hits earth today

Auroras will be visible this week in much of the northern hemisphere.

Monkeypox infections rise exponentially, more than 35,000 global cases

The WHO fears the uneven access to vaccines seen during the Covid-19 pandemic will be repeated, and that "the poorest will be left behind."

Man severely injured after new traffic pole pierces car

“It must have come up at an enormous speed because the sensors of my car did not go off.”

From finance to energy: The sectors profiting from high inflation

In the second quarter of this year, Saudi state oil company Saudi Aramco broke the world record in making the biggest profit in three months ever: €47.4 billion.

No crisis for the rich: Luxury sector 'booming' despite war and inflation

The whole luxury sector is experiencing a golden age. In Belgium, 90 new Ferraris left the showroom in the first quarter of 2022 – a jump from 71 in 2021.

PromotedFashion & Lace Musuem presents Kidorama fashion exhibition

Belgian jihadism: A thing of the past?

Belgium's threat alert is at two (out of four) but the existing terrorist groups may still attract radicalised individuals, says an Arabic studies researcher.

Nearly 9.3 million hectares of forest destroyed by wildfires in 2021

In 2021, forest fires destroyed 9.26 million hectares of land globally in 2021, including 928 hectares in Belgium, up from 2.52 million 20 years earlier.

‘Much to be done’: 35.8 tonnes of cocaine seized in port of Antwerp

A large number of drugs being seized at the port and the uptick in drug-related violence have resulted in an increase in investments in the port's capacities.

UK inflation exceeds 10% for first time in 40 years

This is the highest level of consumer price inflation recorded in the UK since 1982, stoking fears that the UK is already in a recession.

Growing concern for Swiss and Austrian ski resorts this winter

From reducing how much snow is made via cannons to increasing cable car prices, the effects of the energy crisis are expected to hit winter tourists.

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.