Stories from Belgium

Companies that map their CO2 emissions and offer reduced carbon impact for construction sites will be favored in Walloon public contract awards starting in 2027. This policy aims to incentivize environmental responsibility in public procurement.

Three EU administrative bodies have approved warrantless immigration raids and mass detentions across the continent.

Belgian authorities have opened a criminal investigation into a ring suspected of selling counterfeit artworks on the international market. The investigation reportedly began after collectors discovered fake pieces attributed to artists like Malevich.

The EU Council is discussing a new regulation concerning deportations, aimed at making them more enforceable. Member states are debating the specifics of the regulation. Dutch authorities are considering a system related to this matter. The discussions aim to establish a framework for handling deportations. The proposed regulation aims to streamline or alter existing deportation procedures. The Council of the European Union is holding discussions regarding a new regulation on deportations. The discussions are part of ongoing efforts to manage migration and asylum policies within the bloc.

Malware spam is being distributed with a.uue file extension, which is an obsolete uuencode format. The attachment is actually a RAR file containing the malware. The spam campaign was noted on July 18, 2026. WordPress malware is reportedly abusing Steam profiles.

The European Union is considering new regulations for artificial intelligence in response to competition from China. The proposed regulations aim to address ethical and safety concerns. This action is being taken in the context of heightened competition with China in the AI sector. This move reflects a broader global effort to govern AI technologies. The source indicated that the regulations would address key infrastructure and cloud computing.

The European Union is set to discuss extending protections for Ukrainian refugees for a sixth time. Prediction markets indicate a 50% probability that the EU will extend protections for Ukrainian refugees.

The European Union is considering relaxing fiscal rules to allow member states more flexibility for energy investments. This move is intended to support green initiatives. This potential policy shift aims to boost the bloc's energy sector. The discussions are part of ongoing efforts to address energy security and investment. This move aims to address energy security concerns and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources. This potential shift was discussed in Brussels, with implications for energy policy and economic stability. This potential change aims to provide financial flexibility for energy-related investments and infrastructure. This move is, with NGOs and others warning of risks associated with migrant flows. This move aims to support energy companies and potentially stabilize energy prices. The proposal is part of broader efforts to address the energy crisis.

The European Commission is financing and coordinating the largest ever wildfire response for the 2026 summer. This initiative aims to address rising wildfire risks across Europe. This comes after 2025 saw over 1 million hectares burned, the largest area in EU records.

The European Union and the World Health Organization are increasing efforts to combat an Ebola outbreak. The EU has allocated €15 million for emergency operations, preparedness, and prevention measures. Health workers and religious leaders are intensifying their response to the Ebola outbreak in the Republic of Congo. Efforts focus on education and contact tracing to curb the spread of the virus. Response efforts for the Ebola outbreak in Congo are intensifying, with the WHO coordinating the efforts. This outbreak poses a public health challenge. The response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda is intensifying. The World Health Organization in Geneva reported a decrease in suspected cases. Health officials are deploying additional resources and personnel to contain the spread of the virus.