Stories from Belgium

The European Union remains the primary commercial partner for African nations. In 2025, total trade flows, including both exports and imports, exceeded $450 billion.

Three inmates required medical treatment for smoke inhalation following a fire at Saint-Gilles prison. The fire started outside the prison perimeter during the night. Emergency services managed to control the blaze quickly. No other injuries were reported during the incident. Gillis prison in Brussels. No injuries to staff or structural damage were reported.

Antwerp secured a 4-2 victory against Westerlo in a football Euro-play-off match. Westerlo played the majority of the match with one fewer player following an early red card. Antwerp player Daan Foulon noted the advantage provided by the red card.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has labeled the phase-out of nuclear power a strategic error. She is currently advocating for a renaissance of nuclear energy across the continent. In Germany, politicians from the CDU and CSU are also calling for the potential reactivation of decommissioned nuclear power plants. All German nuclear power plants have remained shut down for three years. She stated that while nuclear power may not be technically or economically viable for current needs, rising energy prices due to the Iran war highlight the risks of oil and gas import dependency. Nuclear power plants contributed less than 6% to electricity and less than 2% to total energy consumption last year before being decommissioned. The current contribution level is deemed insufficient to stabilize energy costs.

NATO members, Canada, and Italy have expressed dissatisfaction with US military actions against Iran. The criticism follows potential demands for war reparations from Iran. Iran has proposed new conditions regarding the management and tolling of the Strait of Hormuz in response to these tensions. The geopolitical situation remains fluid as leaders weigh the implications of US-led military pressure. Araghchi's departure follows a trip through Oman and Azerbaijan. The move comes after Donald Trump characterized the recent shooter as a lone wolf. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has left Islamabad following a visit to Oman and Azerbaijan. His departure follows the cancellation of a planned visit to the US by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Beijing has issued a warning to the European Union after several Chinese firms were included in sanctions related to Russia. Ukraine is also working toward the first batch of proposals for joining EU negotiations. The 20th round of sanctions is now officially implemented, with Ukraine already coordinating with the EU on a 21st round to target military-industrial capacity. China's Ministry of Commerce expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding the European Union's 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions. The sanctions package targets six Chinese companies, nine from the United Arab Emirates, two from Uzbekistan, and one each from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Iran. Affected entities face asset freezes and prohibitions on receiving financial, asset-based, or economic resources. The move aims to target entities supporting Russian interests.

A reform of the French pension system is expected to lead to lower pension payouts on average. Women are more likely to utilize part-time work or experience career interruptions, which reduces their total years of contribution. The reform reinforces the link between total years worked and pension amounts, disproportionately affecting female retirees. The law does not explicitly discriminate by gender, which would be unconstitutional, but reflects existing societal career choices. Recent pension reforms in France are contributing to differences in retirement payouts between men and women. The impact of the reform is being analyzed in relation to these career-long inequalities. New government pension reform measures in Belgium are projected to increase inequality among future retirees by approximately 9%.

The European Commission has proposed a series of legislative amendments to simplify existing AI laws. The new framework seeks to streamline oversight before the primary legislation fully enters into force. The European Commission is facing criticism regarding its approach to high-risk AI systems and data usage. Critics argue the Commission is ignoring the potential for AI to cause regular discrimination. There are concerns regarding who will ultimately decide if specific data or systems constitute a high risk. The European Union is discussing the classification of high-risk AI applications in sectors such as healthcare, education, employment, and law enforcement. Current frameworks allow developers and users discretion in assessing risk within 'grey areas' of the legislation.

An investigation by Vicky Jansen and Bill Bleek revealed that officials in the municipality of Antwerpen received instructions to avoid mentioning 'ProKit Plus' to parents and caregivers. The investigation utilized municipal documents to uncover that the specific name of the algorithm being deployed was being intentionally withheld. It remains unclear what specific data the ProKit Plus algorithm utilizes or the exact nature of its functions. The municipality has since withdrawn the instruction following the findings. This decision raises questions about transparency in AI implementation. The municipality is located in Antwerp.

All citizens from non-EU countries, including those with visa-free travel rights, must register in the new ETIAS system for short-term visits to Europe for tourism, business, or personal reasons. The collected data will be stored for three years and automatically deleted. Initial implementation saw system collapses and hours-long queues at major airports, causing missed flights, but the situation is reportedly stabilizing. European authorities acknowledge potential delays, especially in popular airports and during peak travel seasons. Biometric data submitted for a visa is separate from the biometric data required for border crossing.