Hello from Avenue Louise.
It’s Katie Westwood here, back in the Belgium in Brief saddle to bring you our take on the day’s news here in Brussels.
It’s a big day for the city’s bureaucrats, with two big diplomatic events taking place in Belgium.
First up, our Political Editor Maïthé Chini has written about a gathering of EU leaders today for an informal summit in a dreamy Flemish castle. The summit – called to discuss EU competitiveness – was the brainchild of Belgian PM Bart De Wever, who has been known to vent his frustration over the bloc’s timidity on the world stage.
De Wever will be hoping that recent global events might focus the minds of those present and give the EU the incentive it needs to turbo-boost the bloc’s industrial strategy.
Here in Brussels, meanwhile, NATO defence ministers are meeting for the first time since the Greenland crisis. As our reporter Eva Hilinski notes, the absence of the self-styled US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth from today’s meeting has raised a few eyebrows – and is likely to reinforce concerns about Washington's commitment to the alliance.
But we shouldn't allow ourselves to get completely lost in global affairs. Closer to home, there are pressing issues equally deserving of our attention. I strongly encourage you to read this piece by reporter Anas El Baye about foster care in Belgium.
In French-speaking Belgium, around 1,000 children are currently waiting for a foster family, while in the Flemish-speaking part of the country, there were around 1,500 children looking for a loving home in 2025.
Anas spoke to Belgian journalist Éric Willem about his experiences of fostering a little girl. He told Anas about the joys and challenges of becoming a foster parent, as well as giving some interesting insights on the specific problems he encountered as a single gay man wanting to adopt or foster a child.
I’ll leave you with a little something for the weekend. If you need something to brighten these gloomy winter days, head into the city for the Bright Brussels festival. As Isabella Vivian reports, the festival, which runs from today until Sunday, will illuminate the capital's streets and buildings with dozens of impressive light installations.
One last thing before I leave you today, don't miss out on our event next Tuesday:
Freedom in the Age of the Algorithm
A technology superclass is taking over, while a new global underclass looms as inequality surges and algorithms displace work. Can humanity secure a fair share of this new economic order? And if not, what comes next? Live at Flagey Theatre on 17 February with one of the world’s leading thinkers on Universal Basic Income, we explore these questions and more.
Bye for now!
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1. EU leaders gather in the Belgian countryside for De Wever’s Flemish castle summit
"On the menu at the gathering: snacks in a castle, while workers suffer from short-sighted budgetary austerity measures," said the president of the General Labour Federation of Belgium. Read more.
2. NATO defence ministers set to meet for the first time since the Greenland debacle
At the meeting in Brussels on Thursday, the US will be represented not by the Secretary of Defence, but a stand-in. Read more.
3. Nearly one million Belgians own two homes for the first time ever
"Belgians continue to see real estate as a very safe investment." Read more.
4. Belgium wants to be able to intercept Russian oil tankers at sea
Following France, Belgium is looking into allowing the interception of Russian "shadow fleet" vessels. Read more.
5. ‘She is my daughter, even if the law says otherwise’
Belgian journalist Éric Willem explains why he wants the law to recognise foster families as families – not a second-class category. Read more.
6. Brussels lights up for Bright Festival over next four days
Bright Brussels is back in town this week and ready to lighten up your gloomy winter evenings. Find out what's in store here. Read more.
7. Greentea Peng and nine other acts announced to play Couleur Café
Music from Cape Verde, Brussels rap and a Jamaican Grammy-nominated reggae star are among the newest acts announced for Couleur Café this June. Read more.
