Good afternoon and a very happy Monday to you all.
It's Katie Westwood here, spicing up your inbox with our daily dish on what’s happening in Belgium.
After an utterly miserable weekend weather-wise, some of you might be plotting your escape from Brussels. But cannier types know that it’s worth sticking around. The capital of Europe opens up amazing opportunities – especially career-wise.
An EU job here is regarded as the holy grail among bureaucrats. In my former life as a British civil servant, I’d often look wistfully at EU competition announcements and dream of joining the land of milk and honey in the Berlaymont.
Even before Brexit crushed that dream entirely, I was put off applying for an EU job by the labyrinthine application process, which I assumed had been devised by a Sciences Po professor with a vendetta against Brits.
While it remains fiendishly difficult to pass the competition, it seems the process has changed a lot since my day.
For those of you who are curious to find out how it all works, check out today’s lead article by our Features Editor Isabella Vivian.
Isabella spoke to someone who passed the AD5 competition on his 16th (!) attempt. God loves a trier, and so too does the EU, apparently. Read it, and be inspired.
I also wanted to highlight a couple of stories you may have missed over the weekend.
On Saturday, we published an interview with US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, who regular readers will know has been at the centre of a diplomatic storm over the past week.
White has demanded that Belgian authorities drop an investigation into Jewish ritual circumcision, insisting the case is “a waste of the judiciary’s time” and warning that inaction will be seen as antisemitic.
During his interview with White, Brussels Times Magazine Editor Leo Cendrowicz challenged the ambassador on his unconventional approach to diplomacy and questioned whether it was appropriate for an envoy to wade forcefully into domestic legal matters.
White, never one to mince his words, doubled down, calling on Belgium to “drop the damn case”.
For a palate cleanser, you might enjoy reading this lovely piece by our reporter Kosmos Khoroshavin. In advance of Chinese New Year, Kosmos spent the day in Antwerp's Chinatown chatting to residents and shopkeepers. Read his article here.
If you have any comments, tips or suggestions to improve our coverage, please feel free to drop me an email at k.westwood@brusselstimes.com.
Bye for now!Cre
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. The golden gateway: Insider advice on getting a coveted EU job
With the AD5 Generalist Competition now open, The Brussels Times spoke to one EU official who was successful on his 16th attempt. Read more.
2. ‘Not his job to disrupt national politics,’ Belgian PM says of US Ambassador Bill White
After seven days of silence on the issue, Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever has finally responded to the comments made by the US Ambassador to Belgium. Read more.
3. What are the best and worst-paying sectors in Belgium?
With a full-time contract, Belgians can expect an average gross salary of €4,420, the site reports. Read more.
4. Rise in number of people in Brussels being fired
Just over a quarter of permanent contracts were terminated at the employer's initiative last year due to "economic uncertainty". Read more.
5. Belgium advises against travel to Mexico following drug lord death
Some planes already en route to Mexico have been forced to turn back. Read more.
6. ‘Walking epidurals’ set to transform childbirth for women in Brussels
Traditionally, epidurals required women to remain in bed, limiting mobility and the natural movements that can support the progress of labour. Read more.
7. A light at the end of the Brussels tunnel?
As costs soar and politics stall, is it worth fixing the tunnels — or whether some should disappear altogether. Read more.
