Stories from Brussels · Belgium

The European Union intends to introduce new legislation to better protect dogs and cats from exploitation. An estimated 140 to 150 individuals or entities may be affected by these changes. An estimated 140,000 to 150,000 puppies are exported annually, primarily to Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. Under the proposal, maintaining mass breeding operations would become a criminal offense starting in January 2027. Veterinary office head Martin Rudi stated that the veterinary office should receive increased powers to inspect suspicious operations. The European Union plans to introduce mandatory microchipping and registration requirements for dogs across the entire continent following years of transition periods. Currently, microchipping is only required in certain German cities and states, whereas Slovakia already imposes fines on breeders and owners for non-compliance.

The Belgian Ministry of Defense announced that the traditional tank column will be absent from this year's military parade. This measure was reportedly taken due to fears of Ukrainian drone attacks. The parade is expected to proceed without heavy military equipment.

The European Commission is investigating a metaverse platform for failing to prevent minors under 13 from creating accounts using false birth dates. The EU Commission found that the platform allowed children under 13 to bypass age checks using false birth dates and provided inefficient reporting tools for underage users. Users under 13 could bypass age restrictions by entering false birth dates during account creation. The commission noted the platform lacked effective measures to verify self-reported birth dates. Additionally, tools for reporting underage users were described as difficult to use and inefficient. The European Commission may issue a non-compliance ruling against Metaverse Platform Company following an investigation.

A report stated that this practice was previously obscured or described vaguely. The announcement indicates a shift in how financial support is allocated for military personnel.

Some European countries are considering classifying trifluoroacetic acid as a toxic substance and introducing product restrictions. Specialists warn that substance accumulation in plants and animals could impact reproductive abilities and ecological systems.

António Costa stated that work is required this year within the European Council. Key priorities include the 2028-2034 budget for the 27 member states, support for Ukraine, and regional competitiveness.

The European Commission is investigating Facebook for potential violations of EU digital regulations. Igor Berezin, president of the marketers guild, stated that fines could reach 6% of the company's annual revenue, potentially totaling billions of euros.

European Parliament members who are pregnant or on maternity leave may soon be able to delegate their votes to colleagues. Lara Walters, an MEP for the Dutch Green Labour Party, is campaigning for the measure to modernize the parliament. Walters stated the change is necessary to help members combine parliamentary duties with new parenthood. The proposal would allow female MEPs to delegate votes for three months pre-birth and six months post-birth. European Union lawmakers are proposing changes to electoral acts to include voting rights related to maternity leave. The proposal involves both technical changes to rules of procedure and addressing political debates regarding parliamentary mandates. The Council of Ministers has given its approval regarding maternity leave rights. Independent and salaried mothers will now receive the same maternity leave, totaling one week.

EU Commissioner Hanna Wirkonen stated that approximately 12 percent of children under the age of 13 in the EU use Instagram or Facebook. MEP Andreas Schwab of the CDU stated that the EU Digital Act must be upheld and that age limits set in terms of use must be actively enforced in practice. EU regulators are investigating whether Meta complies with its own terms of service regarding minor users to prevent account generation. The CDU-CSU group in the European Parliament demanded that age limits established in terms of use must be actively enforced rather than just checking birth dates. This follows the EU Commission's push for compliance with digital laws. The CDU-CSU group's internal market policy spokesperson in the European Parliament stated that merely asking for a date of birth without effective verification is insufficient to meet age limit requirements.

Portugal and Spain are working to increase European competitiveness according to Radio Renascença. The broadcaster noted that the Draghi report has not been implemented more than 18 months after its presentation. Political plans for Europe include institutional reforms within the European Union. These reforms involve ending the principle of unanimity in decision-making among the 27 member states.