Belgium

Earth News

Belgian PM downplays talk of environment policy pause

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo committed to the EU's broader environmental agenda as Belgium prepares to chair the EU Council, despite his renewed call to focus efforts on climate change

08/12/2023

Europe News

Spain’s Nadia Calviño wins fight to head EU Investment Bank

The finance minister’s victory over Denmark’s Margrethe Vestager comes after months of wrangling

08/12/2023

Nature

Europe not ready for ban on fur farming

The EU executive has decided to buy time pushing back to 2026 a decision on whether to introduce an EU-wide ban on the keeping and killing of animals for fur.

07/12/2023

Earth News

Ministers agree petroleum industry must develop CO2 storage sites

Governments agree oil and gas firms must deploy permanent CO2 storage facilities at an unprecedented scale, but the industry argues it is pointless without also building up carbon capture and transport infrastructure, while NGOs fear the plans distract from the need to cut emissions at source.

07/12/2023

Nature

Commission proposes rules on pet welfare, illegal puppy trade

Improving pet traceability and banning practices such as ear cropping are among the measures the EU executive has proposed today (7 December) to improve animal welfare standards for cats and dogs.

07/12/2023

Business

European governments seek to unshackle from UK financial infrastructure

The EU is worried continual dependence on London-based financial clearing houses jeopardises bank stability

06/12/2023

Business

EU on cusp of new money laundering rules

Officials hope revamped laws will draw a line under a series of dirty money scandals

06/12/2023

Earth News

Member states set to dilute proposal for single hydrogen entity

Some countries back independent authority to coordinate planning, development and operation of new hydrogen infrastructure; others want restructured European gas operators’ network to take helm.

05/12/2023

Tech News

Euroviews. EU governments' hypocrisy is on full display over dangerous police AI

Our governments must be willing to put their money where their mouth is, ensuring that state uses of AI are subject to the same reasonable rules and requirements as any other AI system, Ella Jakubowska writes.

04/12/2023

Europe News

Euroviews. Future generations must be given a seat at the EU table

The EU needs a European Commissioner for Future Generations in its next college to enshrine long-term thinking and act as a guardian and conduit for future generations’ interests, Alberto Alemanno and Elizabeth Dirth write.

04/12/2023

Brussels, My Love?

Brussels, my love? Why far-right movements are simmering across Europe

In this edition of Brussels, my love?, we discuss the recent anti-migrant riots in Dublin and the different far-right movements across Europe.

02/12/2023

Earth News

Renewables welcome electricity integration plan, seek more details

Action Plan released by the European Commission puts the spotlight on electricity distributors while environmental watchdog regrets lack of initiatives to reduce energy demand.

30/11/2023

Belgium

NATO reiterates support for Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, reiterated support for Ukraine and its hopes to join the military alliance.

29/11/2023

Climate

UK introduces new eco-finance labels

Four new sustainability badges will help consumers make green investments, the FCA says

29/11/2023

Business

'What's the point?' — EU lawmakers sink teeth into digital euro

The ECB says issuing digital money will help it keep pace with technology — but some MEPs are unconvinced if not downright hostile

29/11/2023

Markets

EU retail investment inducements ban in jeopardy

Tougher consumer protection rules to encourage households to get into the stock market seem set to founder

28/11/2023

Tech News

Euroviews. AI Act's regression to self-regulation will hurt fundamental rights

Back in April 2021, when Brussels proposed the first cross-sector AI regulation in the world, it claimed to protect fundamental rights and promote innovation. In 2023, fundamental rights may not remain fundamental to this regulation, Dr Kris Shrishak writes.

22/11/2023

Belgium

Euroviews. The far left (still) doesn’t understand the Middle East conflict

It’s time to wake up to the systemic oppression characterising so much of the Palestinian leadership, especially including Hamas-ruled Gaza, and to the hatred and hypocrisy rife in our own societies, fanning flames of falsehood and frenzy, MEP David Lega writes.

22/11/2023

Economy

EU urges France, Germany to slash energy crisis spending

A European Commission report spells the return of belt-tightening after years of crisis-driven largesse

21/11/2023

Europe News

EU set to launch world's first hydrogen bank

The European Commission will inaugurate this week its much anticipated Hydrogen Bank in order to support the increase of renewable hydrogen in the EU's energy mix.

20/11/2023

Business

EU Russian sanctions stymied by complexity, poor enforcement

Economic punishments for the Ukraine invasion are still too easy to avoid, some lawmakers say.

20/11/2023

Brussels, My Love?

Brussels, my love? EU states juggle their interests with climate goals

In this edition of Brussels, my love?, we discuss rumours to keep the financial sector out of corporate sustainability regulations and examine the EU’s proposals to combat child abuse online.

18/11/2023

Business

EU’s football money-laundering plan inflamed by Chelsea claims

Lawmakers say allegations of misdealing by ex-owner Roman Abramovich lend credence to their crusade against dirty money in sport, though others urge caution

17/11/2023

Europe News

Brussels cuts EU growth forecast again to just 0.6% this year

Europe's economy will grow less than originally predicted, according to the European Commission's latest forecast.

15/11/2023

Climate

ECB berates proposed EU bank carveout from corporate due diligence law

Plans to exclude finance from EU environmental due diligence legislation aren’t going down well with supervisors in Frankfurt

14/11/2023

Belgium

UK woman murdered in Belgium identified after international appeal

‘The woman with the flower tattoo’ is named as Rita Roberts after 31 years.

14/11/2023