News

Temporary European measure protects children while safeguarding privacy

10 July 2026

The European Parliament has extended the temporary measure that allows online platforms to proactively detect, report and remove child sexual abuse material. According to MEP Assita Kanko, the measure remains essential as long as negotiations on a permanent European law continue. To be clear, this …

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Road vignette to make foreign motorists contribute to Belgium’s road network

10 July 2026
Ben Weyts

From 1 May 2027, Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels will introduce a road vignette for passenger cars and other vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. The Flemish Government aims to ensure that foreign road users also contribute to investments in the road network. At the same time, Flanders will reform …

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Work pays: Parliament approves major tax reform

10 July 2026

“People who work should clearly be better off because of it.” With that objective in mind, Parliament has approved the tax reform put forward by Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s government. Following the pension reform and the decision to limit unemployment benefits in time, this marks the N-VA’s …

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Francken on new defence deal: “After 20 years, Belgium finally has air defence again”

8 July 2026
Theo Francken

On the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken, together with Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz, signed a landmark defence agreement. Belgium and the Netherlands will jointly procure a layered air defence system. “After 20 …

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Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt opens new return centre: “There’s no point travelling on to Belgium”

7 July 2026
Anneleen Van Bossuyt

This autumn, a new European return centre will open in Nazareth-De Pinte for people who entered the European Union through another Member State before travelling on to Belgium. Under EU rules, the first Member State where an asylum seeker arrives is responsible for processing their asylum …

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Verstraeten quits Anderlechtse Haard inquiry committee: “A sham investigation”

6 July 2026
Gilles Verstraeten

Brussels MP Gilles Verstraeten has resigned from his role as rapporteur of the parliamentary inquiry committee investigating Anderlechtse Haard. According to him, the committee was never given a genuine opportunity to uncover the truth due to political obstruction, an unrealistic timetable and the …

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