Good afternoon,
Travel in its many forms has been in the news this week – be it the disruption caused by strikes, the potential easing of it through the new EU/UK agreements announced this week meaning e-gates will be accessible to UK passengers, or today's story that seven – yes seven – of Europe's low cost airlines have been called out by The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 16 member groups from 12 countries, for allegedly charging unlawful fees for hand luggage.
The airlines in question are EasyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizz Air. BEUC is calling for an EU-wide investigation into the business practices of these airlines and the industry as a whole. This comes just days after Belgian consumers' rights organisation Testachats (with the support of its umbrella organisation Euroconsumers) announced it was taking Ryanair to court for "misleading" booking practices. Ryanair, for its part, denies any wrongdoing.
If you choose to drive rather than fly, you may want to read our other transport-related offering today. Four Belgian associations are taking legal action against the two-year postponement of the Brussels Low Emission Zone (LEZ). They are asking the Constitutional Court to annul the Brussels Parliament's decision to delay the stricter standards last October. If successful, more categories of diesel vehicles would be affected before 2027, which they argue should have a positive effect on Brussels' terrible air pollution situation.
If this makes you feel like abandoning mechanised transportation altogether – at least for a day – then don't forget that it is the Brussels 20km run this Sunday. You will have to have already been allocated your participation ticket to take part, but you can always support from the sidelines if you haven't got one.
Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your coffee break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:
1. ‘Unacceptable’: Postponement of Brussels LEZ challenged in court
As air pollution causes hundreds of premature deaths in Brussels every year, they call the delay "a serious setback in the protection of the right to health." Read more.
2. Seven airline companies in trouble for excessive hand luggage charges
The organisations are calling for an EU-wide investigation into the business practices of these airlines and the industry as a whole. Read more.
3. Asylum reception budget to be cut by 85% within five years
Belgium's asylum reception agency Fedasil's budget will fall from €929 million in 2024 to €138 million in 2029 – an 85% decline. Read more.
4. ‘Passive investing increasingly popular’: ‘tracker’ trading hits record high in Belgium
The growth in popularity is partly due to the increased interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Donald Trump becoming US President last year. Read more.
5. Five accidents a day – Many Belgians unaware of new rules for e-scooters
The institute recorded 1,825 accidents involving electric scooters resulting in fatalities or injuries in 2024 – or an average of five per day. Read more.
6. Over 15,000 non-profit workers to take to the streets of Brussels on Thursday
"We demand investments in higher wages, stable contracts, more leave for young workers, safe jobs and reinforced training." Read more.
7. Bureaucracy of life: How to register a birth in Brussels?
Major life events often come with significant bureaucracy. The Brussels Time created a guide to make navigating the paperwork a bit simpler. Read more.
