Stories from Belgium

A federal magistrate led an investigation into a major money laundering case in Belgium involving hundreds of millions of euros. Six clandestine bankers allegedly moved sums of money through a house in Schaerbeek.

European Union officials have stated the bloc does not wish to resume dialogue with Russia and does not intend to offer concessions regarding Ukraine.

European Parliament Member Vernan Cartier stated that changes in US policy toward Russia could force the European Union to alter its own stance on Russia. Cartier noted that in February, EU Diplomat Akala expressed that the European Union does not wish to act alone.

The European Union is expected to implement a ban on plastic film wrapping services for suitcases at airports. The move aims to reduce plastic waste in travel hubs. The European Union intends to ban the disposal of unsold clothing to combat waste generated by fast-fashion and ultra-fast-fashion models. Manufacturers currently use disposal as a low-cost method for handling unsold inventory. This practice contributes to waste volumes despite the presence of second-hand markets. The move targets the industry's cycle of producing cheap, short-lived collections.

Jean-Pierre Delville, the Bishop of Liège, has submitted his resignation to the Vatican. Delville is 75 years old, the age at which the Vatican requests bishops to submit letters of renunciation. He has led the diocese of Liège for 13 years.

The number of claimants is expected to increase, according to reports from Le Soir. This surge is placing pressure on labor courts, including those in Liège.

The Flemish transport company De Lijn is planning a major overhaul of school transport services to meet budget requirements. The restructuring specifically targets special education transport.

More women are working in Belgium today than ten years ago. However, Belgium is losing ground compared to other European countries. A clear gap has emerged since 2015, particularly among women with children. The source noted that Belgian women previously met the European average in 2015. Belgium's labor participation rate is falling behind the European average. While women's participation helped maintain a level closer to the European mean in the past, both men and women in Belgium now show a lag compared to the rest of Europe. The report notes that the gap for men was already present before women's participation rates also declined. A report analyzed data for approximately 1.4 million women working in the private sector between 2016 and 2025. According to the findings, 3.7% of women leave their jobs in the first month after childbirth.

Belgium is the only country in Western Europe that has not yet begun rebuilding its gas reserves, according to a report. While winter is not imminent, the delay was noted in a recent announcement. Fluctis stated that the situation is not exceptional.

Premiums for European aluminium billets have doubled following supply disruptions caused by the war in Iran.