Stories from brussels · Belgium

Vice President JD Vance criticized European countries for their strict regulations surrounding artificial intelligence during his first trip abroad. He previously discussed this topic on the All-In-Podcast.

The European Union is preparing a drone package valued at 6 billion euros for Ukraine. The legislative package is expected to be finalized in the coming months. This comes as Ukraine's president stated that more drones and missiles were needed.

Experts are calling for a more rapid transition in the European Union's agricultural sector to address climate change risks. Discussions also highlight the impact of climate change on Arctic silence and animal life, and the need for strategic climate action in 2026. Amidst the hottest month on record, discussions surrounding climate change are intensifying. The EPA chief has questioned climate change, while research indicates extreme climate outcomes are possible even with 2°C of warming. Additionally, stronger hay fever is predicted due to climate change. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change convened a session to discuss strategic directions for upcoming climate change conferences. The meeting focused on planning for future events related to global climate initiatives.

The European Parliament has rejected a call to ban conversion therapy, despite a petition signed by over a million people. The decision was made despite the public support for the ban.

The oil and gas lobby is advocating for the EU to expedite the construction of thousands of kilometers of CO2 pipelines. This push involves utilizing permitting loopholes, weaker environmental assessments, and labeling projects as being in the "public interest" to make them harder to oppose. The EU currently plans to build 19,000km of CO2 pipelines by 2050, with an estimated cost of up to €23 billion. The European Union is facing a push for the expansion of CO2 pipelines.

Hungary is reportedly preparing to lift its blockade on EU loans designated for Ukraine. This decision is expected to provide financial aid to Ukraine. Hungary has agreed to lift its blockade on European Union loan packages for Ukraine. Hungary and Germany are reportedly nearing an agreement to lift Hungary's blockade on EU loans for Ukraine.

The European Union is considering extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until 2028. This measure aims to provide continued support to those displaced by the conflict.

The European Union has imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in violence. The sanctions are considered a welcome step but are deemed insufficient by advocates for Palestinian rights. Additionally, the EU is funding a firm that hires spies. The sanctions aim to curb settlement expansion. These measures are in response to specific actions by the settlers and the company. The European Union's top diplomat expressed hope that the bloc will vote to impose sanctions on violent West Bank settlers. This statement addresses settler violence in the region.

A police officer from the Brussels-North police zone has been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The officer is from the Evere, Schaarbeek, and Sint-Joost-ten-Node municipalities. The arrest follows an internal investigation.

NATO has approved a new, updated plan for building up its armed forces for the long term. The plan reflects the need for a gradual increase in both military spending and dual-use development.