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Top 24 brussels, belgium News Today

#1
NATO allies ‘punching below their weight’ face pressure to buy arms for Ukraine
#1 out of 24
world12m ago

NATO allies ‘punching below their weight’ face pressure to buy arms for Ukraine

  • NATO discusses making the PURL funding more flexible and sustainable amid mounting pressure from member states.
  • Kyiv seeks stronger funding assurances to secure continued weapon deliveries, including Patriot systems.
  • EU frozen Russian assets could finance a reparations fund for Ukraine, attracting debate and opposition.
  • Several NATO members are already contributing to PURL, while others have yet to commit.
  • Non-NATO partners Australia and New Zealand may participate in the arms-buying program.
  • Some allies push for more transparent messaging to U.S. voters about benefits from European funding.
  • There is frustration over free-riders and small pledges delaying broader support for Ukraine's defense needs.
  • Germany, Poland, and Norway joined Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands in funding the next PURL package.
  • NATO plans to refine the PURL program’s long-term framework to ensure continued support for Ukraine.
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#2
Delaying EU’s new carbon price will cost Denmark’s budget €500 million
#2 out of 24
business1h ago

Delaying EU’s new carbon price will cost Denmark’s budget €500 million

  • EU delays ETS2 start to 2028 could cost European governments revenue, Denmark cited at €500 million.
  • Stenberg says the one-year delay will deprive Denmark of that revenue during the year.
  • EU ministers push to postpone ETS2 to secure a deal on the 2040 climate target.
  • Stenberg framed ETS2 as the most cost-effective way to meet transport and building targets.
  • Climate Action Network Europe criticized the delay and urged social protections for the green transition.
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#3
EU agrees to ax trade perks for countries that refuse to take back failed migrants
#3 out of 2420.8K est. views
politics16h ago

EU agrees to ax trade perks for countries that refuse to take back failed migrants

  • EU negotiators approve a draft text linking GSP trade benefits to readmission cooperation with noncompliant countries.
  • The readmission clause may withdraw preferential arrangements if a beneficiary country does not cooperate on readmitting its own nationals.
  • The reform is tied to the Generalized Scheme of Preferences review, a program spanning 50 years aimed at helping poorer nations export to the EU.
  • EU producers warn that cheap rice imports could threaten talks, prompting concerns about farmer competition.
  • The agreement responds to rising far-right sentiment and calls for tougher migration enforcement across Europe.
  • Return cooperation will be discussed further at upcoming Justice and Home Affairs ministers meetings.
  • The agreement includes a correction note clarifying which rice-producing countries could affect support.
  • The reform aims to balance development goals with trade access, linking human rights, labor, and environmental reforms to preferences.
  • The draft text was approved late Monday by EU negotiators.
  • The plan forms part of a broader revision of a 50-year-old program aiding poorer exporters into the EU.
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#4
UK aims to secure agreement to rejoin Erasmus student exchange scheme
#4 out of 24
politics19h ago

UK aims to secure agreement to rejoin Erasmus student exchange scheme

  • Britain aims to rejoin Erasmus and participate from 2027, signaling closer UK-EU ties.
  • Negotiations target a final deal by January to allow Erasmus participation from 2027.
  • Talks also address a mobility agreement granting long-term rights for work and study.
  • UK officials contend discussions on food standards and carbon emissions are progressing.
  • UK officials emphasize a broader reset of ties with Brussels after defence talks stalled.
  • Keir Starmer and EU ambassador comment on renewed closeness and strategic aims.
  • EU ambassador notes that stronger UK-EU relations benefit Europe as a whole.
  • Discussions include a potential exemption from EU rules on mycotoxins and foie gras debates.
  • Youth mobility talks began earlier, with ongoing negotiations to expedite deals.
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#5
POLITICO’s Sustainable Future Summit — live updates
#5 out of 24
politics12h ago

POLITICO’s Sustainable Future Summit — live updates

  • Europe's sustainability agenda faces a backlash as political groups push to soften environmental laws.
  • Trump’s return to the White House is pressuring Brussels to loosen its green rulebook.
  • China leads the global clean-tech race, adding pressure on European industry.
  • The summit aims to cover energy, industry and mobility within Europe’s transition.
  • Live coverage begins at 9 a.m. CET with the full agenda of panels and interviews.
  • The context centers on Ursula von der Leyen’s second term and Europe’s regulatory direction.
  • The summit seeks to question whether industry can stay competitive while going green.
  • The report emphasizes the urgency of Europe’s transition amid global shifts.
  • The event organizers promise to cover debates on the transition away from fossil fuels.
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#6
EU countries reject ‘blank check’ guarantee to Belgium over Russian assets loan
#6 out of 24
politics11h ago

EU countries reject ‘blank check’ guarantee to Belgium over Russian assets loan

  • EU governments push back on Belgium's demand for wide guarantees to back a loan using frozen Russian assets.
  • The plan concerns €140 billion of frozen Russian assets in Belgium used to fund Ukraine's needs.
  • EU leaders aim to balance political cover with legal safety, avoiding an unlimited guarantee.
  • The European Commission is close to unveiling a legal framework for the loan in time for the December talks.
  • Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever seeks guarantees that exceed €140 billion and last beyond sanctions.
  • EU diplomats emphasize political difficulty for member states to approve a blank check.
  • The discussion centers on how comprehensive guarantees should be, amid concerns about taxpayer exposure.
  • EU ambassadors have reviewed sections of the Commission's legal proposal to build consensus.
  • A December EU summit is set to decide on the loan framework and guarantees.
  • EU leaders seek a viable solution that balances Belgium's request with broader financial responsibility.
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#7
‘Eurostar forced my 81-year-old father to stand for his journey’
#7 out of 24
world10h ago

‘Eurostar forced my 81-year-old father to stand for his journey’

  • Eurostar disruption forced an elderly group to stand on a Brussels–Paris service after last-minute cancellation.
  • Eurostar apologized and said the disruption fell short of the level of comfort expected for customers.
  • Officials attributed the confusion to a miscommunication about tip-up seats amid disruptions.
  • Compensation was offered for the delay and the lack of seating after review.
  • The incident involved a third-party booking, complicating refund eligibility.
  • The Times published readers’ notes and responses about similar travel downgrades and compensation disputes.
  • Eurostar pledged to review the incident with Brussels teams to prevent recurrence.
  • Passengers faced limited refreshments and a closed bar during the disrupted journey.
  • The article section includes a quoted exchange clarifying the situation from Eurostar's side.
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#8
Brussels nativity scene faces controversy over faceless characters
#8 out of 24
crime8h ago

Brussels nativity scene faces controversy over faceless characters

  • Belgian authorities are investigating a brazen weekend theft from a Christmas Nativity scene.
  • Artist Victoria-Maria Geyer created the faceless nativity figure from soft fabrics to invite universal identification.
  • The theft targets an icon that was widely scorned online for its design.
  • The incident raises questions about security and the ongoing debate over the display’s symbolism.
  • The artwork was meant to let Catholics of all backgrounds identify with the story.
  • The nativity feature was created to remove identifying features from the figure.
  • The theft is part of broader coverage of AP News’ world features and related videos.
  • Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage as part of the investigation.
  • The story ties into global discussions on religious symbols and public display.
  • The incident occurred in Brussels and is linked to AP News’ international coverage.
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#9
There’s no green backlash, EU climate chief insists
#9 out of 24
politics4h ago

There’s no green backlash, EU climate chief insists

  • Hoekstra says there is no green backlash; the EU’s 2040 goal is an acceleration, not a downgrade.
  • EU policy shifts aim to pair climate action with competitiveness and independence, Hoekstra says.
  • Hoekstra downplays petitions against the EU’s carbon border tax as diplomatic chatter.
  • Many countries publicly oppose the border tax, yet privately acknowledge its effects are manageable, Hoekstra notes.
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#10
Belgian cops raid EU foreign service in fraud probe
#10 out of 2423.0K est. views
crime4h ago

Belgian cops raid EU foreign service in fraud probe

https://www.politico.eu/article/belgian-cops-raid-eu-foreign-service-in-fraud-probe/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/12/02/belgian-police-raid-european-external-action-service-in-anti-fraud-operationhttps://www.dw.com/en/european-fraud-probe-targets-former-eu-official-mogherini/a-74985269
Politico.eu and 2 more
  • A high-profile EU fraud probe targets the EEAS, the College of Europe, and affiliated training programs, signaling broad scrutiny of EU-funded junior-diplomat initiatives in Brussels and Bruges.
  • EU prosecutors say there are strong suspicions that fair-competition rules were breached when confidential procurement information was shared with a tender candidate, widening concerns over integrity.
  • The investigation centers on a nine-month training program for junior diplomats and its 2021–2022 EEAS tender, with potential procurement fraud, corruption, and secrecy violations under scrutiny.
  • The raid took place at the EEAS administrative office building at Rue d'Arlon 62, clarifying that the main HQ was not the site of the searches.
  • Belgian authorities are widening scrutiny to EU-funded junior-diplomat training beyond the Diplomatic Academy, implying broader oversight of EU training programs.
  • The EPPO-led operation received clearance from Belgian judicial and police authorities, illustrating cross-agency collaboration in EU-wide probes.
  • The operation underscores EU concerns about integrity in training programs that prepare junior diplomats for EU foreign service roles.
  • Private residences were included in the searches, signaling the investigation's wide reach beyond institutional settings.
  • The incident highlights ongoing EU vigilance over how training contracts and procurement data are handled within its foreign service ecosystem.
  • The investigation ties EU-funded training for junior diplomats to possible breaches of transparency and accountability in major EU institutions.
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