Belgium

Tech News

National governments wary of proposed telecom market consolidation

The European Commission is expected to come with a formal plan for a new telecom law in the autumn.

12/04/2024

Earth News

Green Deal founders amid shifting policy focus

This week saw further signs that environmental legislation is slipping down the EU policy agenda as European leaders focus on industrial competitiveness and defence and Hungary prepares to take the helm of the rotating EU presidency.

12/04/2024

Earth News

European Parliament approves energy market overhaul

MEPs have approved a sweeping reform of EU gas and electricity market regulations, with the aim of accelerating the clean energy transition, and including provisions that could further restrict Russia's ability to continue selling natural gas to Europe.

12/04/2024

Europe News

President Michel looks to capital markets to solve economic woes

A summit next week could look at alternatives to bank finance in a bid to boost Europe’s fortunes – but previous attempts haven’t met with much success.

12/04/2024

Tech News

Lawmakers visit Amazon facilities across Europe after parliament ban

The visits aim to give an insight into working conditions.

12/04/2024

Art

Bruges Triennial celebrates contemporary art and architecture

The fourth edition of the Bruges Triennial will open on 13 April, under the theme ‘Spaces of Possibility’.

12/04/2024

Earth News

Lawmakers ditch life-cycle approach to transport emission tally

MEPs, industry and clean transport campaign group at odds over the inclusion of a life-cycle methodology.

11/04/2024

Healthcare

Lawmakers seek EU-level regulation of contraceptives, abortion pills

The European Parliament includes contraceptives and abortifacients in its long-awaited position on the new EU pharmaceutical rules, intending for these to be included among items regulated at EU level.

11/04/2024

Earth News

Soil protection law survives plenary vote, but considerably weakened

Legislation designed to bolster the key role of soil in maintaining Europe's biodiversity and climate resilience has been approved by MEPs, but only after the requirements it would place on national governments were significantly lightened.

11/04/2024

Health news

Political party websites freezing out voters with disabilities - report

Severe flaws in access to websites and digital channels of the major European political families make it difficult for people with disabilities to cast an informed vote.

11/04/2024

Europe News

MEPs vote to rescind von der Leyen’s controversial SME envoy pick

Lawmakers called 382-144 to reverse the decision to appoint Markus Pieper in a suspected case of political favouritism.

11/04/2024

Europe Decoded

6 things you should know about von der Leyen's SME envoy scandal

The controversial hire of an MEP from EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s own party to a lucrative official post has drawn backlash from lawmakers, activists and her own lieutenants.

10/04/2024

Business

TotalEnergies return to Africa would rock CSDDD, claim NGOs

French fossil fuel giant is under scrutiny for its operations in a region dominated by conflict and violence.

10/04/2024

Earth News

Can Single European Sky slash aviation emissions by 10%?

Air traffic management measures can play a key role in decreasing emissions but the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels and a clear airspace design between civil and military space is crucial, according to aviation experts.

09/04/2024

Europe News

Octopus cannibalism among fears for pioneer cephalopod farm

NGOs are uniting against a pioneering octopus farm citing fears of cruelty including risk of cannibalism, while a forthcoming revision of animal welfare rules may see the European Commission plunge into the debate.

09/04/2024

Earth News

MEPs support exit from Energy Charter Treaty

In a decisive committee vote, MEPs have supported the European Union's exit from the Energy Charter Treaty over concerns its global investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system has been weaponised to sue governments over climate policy.

09/04/2024

Tech News

G7 need tech trust tests to counter China, Vestager says

Tech criteria can include environmental footprint, labour rights, cybersecurity and data security, and should be objective and independent.

09/04/2024

Europe News

Commissioner mutiny grows over von der Leyen's controversial hire

Four senior lieutenants aren't happy on hearing that fellow CDU member Markus Pieper starts his taxpayer-funded duties next week

09/04/2024

Tech News

Germany, Italy among countries against green light of telco update

The future of digital policy conclusions address the incoming European Commission.

08/04/2024

Europe News

Packed mini-plenary edition, Newsletter

Packed mini-plenary edition This week's key events presented by senior energy and environment correspondent Robert Hodgson

08/04/2024

Earth News

Did Commission's Green Deal fulfil expectations?

The Green Deal shaped Ursula von der Leyen's mandate in hopes of establishing the bloc as a pioneer in the fight against climate change. With the European Commission President's mandate drawing to a close, what were the main green achievements and which laws were held back by MEPs?

08/04/2024

Europe News

Exclusive: Von der Leyen cronyism row intensifies with NGO call

NGOs join lawmakers and senior commission officials in questioning the decision to hand a lucrative official role to a political ally.

05/04/2024

Lifestyle

A reverse book club in Brussels has guests sharing from the soul

Creating a sense of community is perhaps the hardest thing to do when gathering people together but a new, expanding book club in Brussels is succeeding by not asking for too much reading from its members.

05/04/2024

Europe News

Von der Leyen's SME Envoy appointment disputed

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is embroiled in a row over favouritism, after appointing German MEP Markus Pieper as Envoy for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, a five-year post with a salary of nearly 17,000 euros a month.

05/04/2024

Europe News

Euroviews. In the fight for due diligence, multinationals are about to lose

We will continue to the bitter end of this battle, begun five years ago, to defend workers' rights and the environment in the face of multinationals' crimes, MEP Manon Aubry writes.

05/04/2024

Earth News

Cycling Declaration hailed as ‘historic’ moment for Europe

Although it carries no legal force, cycling advocates have greeted an undertaking by governments and MEPs to make Europe a more bike friendly place as an important recognition of the health and environmental benefits and a milestone in EU transport policy.

04/04/2024