Stories from Brussels · Belgium

The Chamber's Mobility Commission unanimously approved a resolution from the Flemish socialist party Vooruit on Tuesday. The resolution suggests making bicycle transport on trains free of charge. The text also requests the federal government to develop a combined ticket valid for all public transport to replace the current system requiring additional payments. Vlaamsbelang did not vote for the resolution. Currently, passengers must pay a supplement for bicycle transport. The Belgian parliament has unanimously approved a plan to make transporting bicycles on trains free. Currently, passengers in Flanders must pay 3 euros to bring a bicycle on board during peak hours, in addition to a 5 euro fare. The initiative aims to encourage travelers to leave their cars behind and use rail transport.

Several European countries are warning that Russia may increase military activity to attack EU nations by the end of the year. These initiatives aim to bolster security by 2027, according to the report. Moscow has denied these military plans.

A date has been set for the oral arguments in the trial of former Brussels federal judicial police chief Glenn Odenhard. The arguments are scheduled for November 24.

Markets reacted to criticism of the established emissions trading system following comments by Friedrich Merz at an EU industry summit in February.

The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Israeli operations in Gaza constitute strong similarities to genocide. This follows an International Court of Justice assessment regarding plausible risks of genocide in the region.

European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen stated that the war's cost is approximately 5 million euros per day. The conflict's impact extends beyond travelers and airports, potentially keeping energy prices high for months or years.

The European Commission proposes merging the Common Agricultural Policy and regional development funds into a single pool of approximately one trillion euros. The European Parliament does not oppose this restructuring provided that funding levels are not reduced. The proposal also suggests that distribution of these funds should not be decided by national capitals. This multi-year financial framework is designed for a seven-year period. The primary allocations include agriculture, regional development, road repairs, rail infrastructure, and research. The European Union is considering a proposal to merge regional funding into a single large fund valued at approximately one trillion euros. Current Commission drafts suggest capital cities should decide on fund distribution, but the Parliament proposes a different mechanism.

New European budget rules have replaced previous frameworks that had been suspended for several years. The implementation of these rules has strengthened financial market confidence among European peers.

Emma Bucherouess has been named as the fifth woman in an international police campaign aimed at solving cold cases across Europe. The campaign is part of an ongoing effort by law enforcement to identify victims and suspects in unsolved historical cases.

European Union countries are expected to finalize plans and funding for a new defense initiative by the end of the year. The project is framed as a necessary and immediate task to bolster border security. The EU Defense Commissioner stated on September 26 that EU border countries are facing challenges from Russian testing. The Commissioner noted that some regions currently lack sufficient equipment to counter these threats. The response to Russia's actions must be unified and immediate, according to the source. A spokesperson for the President stated that Europe should seek dialogue with Moscow regarding security issues instead of constructing a drone wall. The comments were made four days after a previous security statement. The spokesperson expressed concern that a physical or technological barrier might be bypassed similarly to historical defenses.