Stories from Belgium

The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on improved housing and breeding conditions for pets. The legislation aims to establish that consent must be explicit, meaning 'only yes means yes' across all member states. Swedish MEP and rapporteur Ebba Busch stated that the text seeks to ensure women in all member countries are protected and supported against sexual violence. The proposal currently covers 26 or 27 member states depending on the final implementation. Maria Neuchül, an SPD Member of the European Parliament, supports the measure. Under the rules, all dogs and cats must receive a microchip from a veterinarian containing origin data. Breeders, traders, and animal shelters have four years to implement chipping, while private owners have ten years for dogs and 15 years for cats. Private pet owners will have at least ten years to comply with the mandate.

A Belgian initiative has established 900 safe locations, including cafes, shops, and pharmacies, where women can seek help if they feel endangered or are fleeing domestic or partner-related violence. Personnel at these establishments are trained to contact authorities and ensure the woman's safety. This program is a project of a women's organization.

Brussels currently has more lobbyists than Members of the European Parliament. This situation poses a real risk as the technologies we use are not truly in our hands and lack social control, largely due to this intense lobbying.

The Belgian aviation sector has filed a notice for a national strike effective immediately. Workers are protesting a pension reform that includes changes to retirement age. This follows ongoing labor unrest in other sectors, such as the month-long Bpost strike where bailiffs were deployed to distribution centers on Friday. A national strike notice has been filed for Belgium's entire aviation sector. The strike is a protest against a pension reform that raises the retirement age to 66. This conflicts with European regulations prohibiting pilots from flying after age 65.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has launched an investigation into two CIA agents following a road accident. The investigation revealed the agents lacked formal authorization to operate or work within the EU. The incident has escalated from a traffic accident into a bilateral diplomatic and security issue.

A central mobile infrastructure has been targeted by a cyberattack, prompting a response from the Commission. German Ministry of the Interior spokesperson Elena Singer stated on Friday that targeted attacks against high-ranking political, military, and diplomatic figures, as well as investigative journalists, are likely conducted by a state-sponsored cyber actor. These attacks have been ongoing since February and have targeted the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Office for Information Security.

Studies in Belgium, France, Portugal, and England suggest psilocybin can treat depression, anxiety, neurosis, stress, and addictions. A psychiatric hospital experiment in Saskatchewan, Canada, involved 700 individuals with alcohol addiction. Researchers observed results following a single dose of the substance. The findings indicate a better understanding of how these substances address dependency. Researchers conducted a study involving 108 obese patients with alcohol use disorder. The study involved randomly assigning semaglutide shots to half of the participants. The research explores whether the appetite-suppressing effects of the drug, originally developed for diabetes and obesity, can influence addiction mechanisms. A group calling themselves Clusterbusters is developing protocols to treat headaches using psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms.

The European Union plans to announce specific adjustments regarding CO2 pricing this summer. While a complete abolition of the CO2 price is considered unlikely, discussions involve long-term scenarios for the German market. In Germany, electric vehicle adoption is rising, with electric cars accounting for one-quarter of all new registrations in March. The shift toward electric vehicles may eventually reduce the impact of fuel and CO2 pricing.

The Belgian Cancer Registry projects a increase in cancer diagnoses over the next decade. Julie Franckard, deputy director of the Cancer Registry Foundation, addressed the rising trend. Healthcare expenditures partially reimbursed by INAMI are expected to increase by nearly 11 billion euros between 2025 and 2035. According to forecasts from the Federal Planning Bureau, the most increases will occur in medication costs, followed by physician fees, hospitalizations, and home nursing care. The Federal Planning Bureau attributes these rising costs primarily to the aging population. The report notes that partially reimbursed healthcare expenses are already seeing a strong upward trend. Cancer cases in Belgium are expected to increase by 21 percent between 2023 and 2035. The projected rise prompted discussions regarding necessary responses and preparations.

A Belgian economic mission is expected to include approximately 450 participants, comprising 250 business people, academics, and ministry representatives. The delegation covers five distinct sectors including pharmaceuticals, life sciences, logistics, sustainable and green energy, digital transformation, defense, and aviation. The mission is being organized at a royal level.