Stories from Belgium

The Public Prosecutor's Office stated that a dispute over sharing a home led to an incident in a forested area near Maasmechelen. Two suspects, both from Poland, have been identified in connection with the case.

A leader discussed the need for measures to prevent single-government obstruction within the European Union. The speaker noted that a single hostile veto can currently block the entire community from acting during geopolitical crises.

The European Commission has released an open-source version of a new digital passport app for age verification. Users can download the app and verify their age by syncing it with a national identity card or passport. An EU Commissioner stated that the open-source version allows anyone to test or attempt to hack the software. The Commission claims the final online version will be absolutely secure.

The European Parliament voted to allow politicians on maternity leave to vote by proxy for the first time. Female members can delegate their votes to a trusted colleague for up to three months before their due date and for six months after giving birth. The decision was announced by the European Parliament. This follows a revision process initiated by Parliament in November 2025. The Parliament stated the measure is intended to strengthen gender equality. The vote was conducted by the MEPs to address accessibility for parents.

Flemish Minister-President Mathias Diependalen stated that employees at the Volvo Cars Gent plant should not be concerned about their jobs. A task force met at Prime Minister De Wever's cabinet this morning to discuss the factory's future.

The European Parliament approved 2 million euros in aid for 507 workers dismissed following the bankruptcy of Libertie Styl in Flemalle, Liège province. The funds are intended to assist workers in finding new employment through professional support or training.

The European Commission is temporarily allowing higher electricity price subsidies for certain companies to ease the energy crisis. This temporary state aid framework is set to remain in effect until December 31, 2026.

New EU reform proposals aim to regulate the amount of hazardous substances allowed in consumer products. The reform will distinguish between food and cosmetics, a distinction previously not made. The proposal is moving to negotiations between representatives from the European Parliament and the Council of the 27 EU member states. Manufacturers must prove that specific quantities of substances are harmless to continue use. Fraud repression authorities found that 46% of products tested on platforms such as Temu, China, and AliExpress are dangerous. The report highlights safety risks associated with goods sold on these major Chinese-linked platforms. More than 100,000 products have been flagged in an alert and must be withdrawn from sale. The report details concrete issues occurring on the ground regarding fraud repression.

Kids Life Wallonie, Brussels Family, and Kids Life Brussels announced intentions to merge into a single organization named Camille by 2027. The merger aims to create a more agile organization.

The European Parliament voted for relaxed regulations regarding chemicals used in cosmetics. The reform aims to close a regulatory gap where no distinction was previously made between cleaning agents and cosmetics. Under the new rules, such substances may only be used if manufacturers prove they are harmless. The European Parliament voted for a proposal from the EU Commission regarding cosmetic product standards. Under the new rules, cosmetic products may contain higher amounts of certain potentially harmful chemicals. The substances in question include those classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction. Manufacturers can apply for exemptions to use substances listed as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction if no alternatives are available. To qualify, companies must demonstrate that the quantity used is not harmful.