Stories from Brussels · Belgium

A new European Union regulation regarding one-click cancellation rules is set to impact the retail sector in 2026. The rule aims to reduce consumer friction and misleading practices, though it is expected to increase subscription churn rates.

Industrial lobbies successfully influenced European lawmakers to extend deadlines for removing carcinogenic or endocrine-disrupting components from products. Manufacturers previously faced a maximum 18-month window to modify recipes.

The Comeos federation is calling on the Belgian government to implement a ban on tobacco sales to consumers born after January 1, 2009. The group suggests following the United Kingdom's model to prevent minors from purchasing cigarettes in any retail outlet regardless of size.

A new European Union carbon quota market will include gas starting in January 2028. This change is intended to support climate objectives by facilitating the transition away from gas.

Minister Kravitz announced that 49 cities and municipalities will each receive 50,000 euros in support.

The Belgian Federal Parliament voted on a program law containing various budgetary measures. The text aims to curb the national deficit and limit the impact of rising debt.

European Union member states are considering a plan for the gradual integration of Ukraine into specific European institutions. According to the publication Politika, immediate accession to the bloc is viewed as extremely difficult in the short term. Instead, officials are exploring alternative formats for rapprochement, such as integrating Ukraine into specific segments of the EU market. One EU source indicated that while full membership is currently unlikely, access to certain institutional frameworks remains under discussion. Ukraine's integration into the European Union is being considered, which would involve joining specific market segments within the bloc. This plan aims to allow Kyiv to receive certain membership benefits before full official accession. The development was discussed in Moscow as part of broader European policy shifts.

The European Parliament voted 632 to 15 in favor of a position to guarantee passengers the right to bring a small personal item, such as a bag or backpack, on board aircraft free of charge.

The European Parliament is discussing a program to diversify energy sources within the European Union. Under the proposed program, support levels for companies with high electricity consumption will increase from 50% to a maximum of 70% of eligible electricity costs. Overall, the aid may cover up to half of a company's total electricity consumption. The President of the European Commission has advocated for this diversification in the European Parliament. The European Union plans to increase investment in the United States by 600 billion USD.

Hungarian Prime Minister-designate Peter Maddiard met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels to discuss the release of billions in European subsidies.