Stories from Belgium

Industrial production capacity utilization in Wallonia fell to 71% in January. This represents a decline from 78% the previous year and 85% in 2022. The source noted that production capacities have been underutilized for several years due to low demand.

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.

The European Commission is pushing for increased competition regarding French dams that produce electricity. The Commission aims to introduce competition into the management of these national common resources and energy regimes.

A proposed budget spanning from 2028 to 2034 includes approximately 2 trillion euros. She described the current political landscape as a game of national interests. No specific percentage or figure was provided in the reports. Broadcasters report a expansion of the EU budget alongside consolidation efforts by member states. CISA has added two new vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog. The European Union budget is facing a expansion, according to reports. These funds are intended for repairing roads, laying rail tracks, and supporting research. Terri Reintke, Co-President of the Greens in the European Parliament, stated that differences exist between the visions of EU member states and the European Parliament. Reintke criticized the current course as serving the interests of Donald Trump rather than strengthening the union.

An EU rapporteur has called for an ambitious 2028-2034 budget to fund research, defense, and education. The proposal includes strengthening budgets for the Common Agricultural Policy.

The federal government's pension reform proposes a retirement age of 66 years. However, European regulations prohibit pilots from flying beyond the age of 65. Pension Minister Yanyam Bonne acknowledged the issue but deferred to the chamber's adoption of the texts.