BRUSSELS, Belgium – In a significant step towards strengthening bilateral relations, the Kyrgyz Republic and the European Union have signed an agreement on enhanced partnership and cooperation. The signing ceremony, which took place in Brussels, was part of President Sadyr Japarov’s working visit to Belgium. The agreement was signed by Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Police in the province of Limburg, in cooperation with Child Focus, are asking for help in finding 14-year-old Noor Meddahi, who has been missing since 23 October. Meddahi, from Genk, is of average build, 1.56 metres tall and has distinctive features including dark eyes and long curly black hair. She may have been wearing white
The Belgian federal government will lose billions of euros in excise tax revenue on fuel in the coming years as more and more people trade in their diesel or petrol cars for an electric one, De Tijd writes on Saturday, citing several studies. The number of electric cars in Belgium will increase sevenfold by the
The German-speaking Community of Belgium, now known as East Belgium, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its parliament last Wednesday. A ceremony at La Monnaie opera house in Brussels was held to mark the occasion. The Community’s origins can be traced back to the annexation of three German districts to Belgium following the end of World
High voltage operator Elia plans to invest €9.4 billion in Belgium between 2024 and 2028, according to an update of the group’s investment plans. Most of this will be spent on the Princess Elisabeth energy island off the Belgian coast. But Elia will also invest in the construction of the Ventilus and Boucle-du-Hainaut high-voltage lines.
Belgians aged 16 and 17 will be able to vote in the June 2024 European elections without having to register first, the country’s Council of Ministers decided on Friday. Belgium already decided to lower the voting age for European elections to 16 in spring 2022. It was the fourth European country to do so, and
The concentration of the four PFAS (PFAS4) chemicals considered most dangerous to health exceeds the standard of 4 nanograms per litre of water for a significant part of the water consumed in Brussels, La Dernière Heure reports. Alain Maron, Brussels’ Environment minister, said on Wednesday that the 20 PFAS detected by Vivaqua since 2020 are
Despite Belgium’s attempts to strengthen its defence, the number of soldiers in the army continues to fall. Recruitment is on the rise, but due to retirements and dropouts during training, outflow still exceeds intake, Het Belang van Limburg writes on Monday. A turnaround may not take place until 2026. The federal government has decided to
Belgium’s minister of Agriculture, David Clarinval, will chair the Council of European Agriculture ministers on Monday alongside his Flemish counterpart, Hilde Crevits, due to the formation of the new Spanish government. Belgium will formally take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2024, succeeding Spain. Belgian
Belgium welcomes “the agreement that will free innocent women and children” being held hostage in Gaza, Foreign minister Hadja Lahbib said on X on Wednesday. “This is a first step to be followed by further actions in accordance with international law. The pause should ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza,” she said. Hamas
