Stories from Belgium

Federal Minister of Consumer Protection Rob Beenders has launched an investigation into new rates from telecom operator TeleNet. The operator is increasing its cheapest internet subscription by 20 euros. Beenders aims to determine if TeleNet can justify the price hike. The investigation follows reports that customers may face higher costs overnight.

Demand for Nazi-era art has risen following the re-election of Donald Trump. A gallery located in Benelux operates both online and physically to supply this art. One collector, who requested anonymity, noted that finding insurers for Nazi-era collections is difficult. One gallery owner, who requested anonymity, noted that his collection of Nazi art cannot find an insurer. The gallery is identified as German Art Gallery.

Bogdan Rządza stated that the European Union budget must remain an investment tool rather than a mechanism for uncontrolled growth in spending and competencies. The European Commission has proposed a new EU budget totaling 2 trillion euros. Member states are currently working on the proposal within the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.

Her partner was also prosecuted and received a 12-year sentence. The partner is currently being held in Arlon. The convictions stem from the abuse of several minors at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Brussels. The investigation began in 2024 following disturbing reports regarding messages shared on a social network. These messages allegedly detailed sexual acts involving minors. The perpetrator targeted young people by providing gifts and taking them to amusement parks. A psychiatrist warned of a high risk of recidivism, resulting in an additional five years of mandatory supervision following his sentence. During her initial police hearing, the woman admitted to possessing certain images. She claimed she was acting under the coercion of her former partner, but the court rejected this explanation.

A plan presented in March 2025 allows countries under excessive deficit procedures to divert up to 1.5% of GDP toward defense infrastructure, equipment, personnel, and training. This mechanism is designed to operate over a four-year horizon starting in 2025. The measure aims to prevent countries in deficit procedures from facing further corrective actions by allowing these specific structural budget allocations. The plan covers spending through 2030. The European Union has proposed a mechanism allowing countries in excessive deficit procedures to deviate from net spending targets. This activation aims to prevent countries from entering certain deficit procedures by reallocating funds to defense needs.

The European Commission is monitoring Google's AI product integration, which currently primarily allows Android users to access certain services. The regulatory focus remains on maintaining fair competition and user choice in the AI sector. The EU Commission's focus includes protecting user privacy and security against market dominance. The European Commission is requiring Google to grant third-party AI services access to Android functions currently used by Gemini. Regulators aim to ensure competitors have the same capabilities as Gemini, such as access to functions within applications. Brussels stated this move is necessary to ensure fair competition in the AI services market. Google faces potential multi-billion euro fines for advertising-related market distortions. Apple is under scrutiny for platform restrictions, while TikTok is being monitored regarding protections for young users.

The Flemish government entered an agreement with the company 3M in July 2022 to address environmental issues. The settlement includes 571 million euros, with 250 million euros specifically allocated for soil decontamination. Reports suggest the Flemish government may have been aware of the situation since at least 2017 but initially suppressed the matter. The scandal was originally revealed by the Flemish press in 2021. Noëlle suggested the settlement amount may not be sufficient to cover the actual costs.

The EU debt-to-GDP ratio increased due to higher-than-expected fiscal requirements. The gross debt stock for the administration was nearly 20 billion higher than estimated by the end of 2025. This rise occurred alongside GDP values that were slightly lower than expectations during the first year of new European budget rules. The report highlights critical concerns regarding the functioning of the European Union. This development follows recent discussions on European budgetary frameworks. Real economic growth and inflation, represented by the GDP deflator, contributed to this increase. National accounting data also showed GDP was slightly lower than expected during the first year of the new budget rules. This figure represents a deviation from previous projections. The movement resulted from both downward and upward pressures.

Import volumes for polished diamonds and other trade groups have increased by nearly 20% year-on-year. The source noted that finding a diamond is rare and not a consistent occurrence throughout the year. Diamond-making foundries are utilizing enormous rooms containing over 1,000 large diamond-making machines. The scale of production suggests there is no limit on the number of synthetic diamonds that can be made. This unlimited production capacity could essentially drive prices down indefinitely. A small stone was noted to be valued between $80,000 and $100,000. This expansion could lead to a decrease in synthetic diamond prices. Poland is conducting investments to build production capacity for HVL, a synthetic substitute for diesel fuel. The substance can be added to existing fuel at a one-to-one ratio.

The European Commission is coordinating member state measures to address Middle East conflict escalations. Proposed actions include filling underground gas reserves and utilizing flexibility in stock formation rules. The EU also plans to establish a new fuel observatory to monitor production, imports, exports, and stock levels. These measures aim to manage potential supply disruptions. The plan includes consumer protection schemes like energy vouchers and social leasing to mitigate price spikes. It also aims to reduce electricity excise duties for vulnerable households.