EU home-affairs ministers open talks in Luxembourg on stronger Schengen border management
21 Arrests after International Drug-Smuggling Ring Exploits Brussels Airport Security Loophole
Belgian parliament postpones vote on controversial home-entry powers to detain migrants
Latest News
Brussels-Based Coalition Urges EU to Keep Biometrics in Digital Omnibus Travel Rules
An alliance of airports, airlines and tech providers launched in Brussels on 1 October to lobby for biometric-friendly rules in the EU’s forthcoming Digital Omnibus. The group warns that restrictive data-storage provisions could derail seamless-travel projects at Belgian and other European airports, affecting passenger flows and infrastructure planning.
Wallonia updates shortage-occupation list, easing work-permit path for non-EU talent
Wallonia has issued a new shortage-occupation list valid until 30 September 2027, enabling faster work-permit processing for 28 specified roles. The move gives companies in southern Belgium a quicker path to hire non-EU specialists and reflects shifting labour-market needs in green tech and advanced manufacturing.
New EU Animal-Product Border Checks Take Effect; Belgian Ports and Airports Gear Up
EU Implementing Regulation 2026/551 applies from 1 October 2026, tightening veterinary controls on a broader range of animal-origin products. Belgian ports and Brussels Airport have ramped up staffing and systems, but importers should expect slightly longer clearance times and new documentation requirements.
1 October Rule Changes Tighten Deportations and Add New Mobility-Linked Measures in Belgium
Belgium’s 1 October rulebook brings faster deportation for convicted non-citizens, gives authorities power to revoke offensive personalised plates, imposes overstay fees at Brussels EV chargers, and lets student-entrepreneurs keep reduced social contributions after age 25. Mobility and HR teams should update compliance checklists, advise staff to carry eID cards to medical appointments, and adjust company-car policies to avoid new fines.
Five-Hour Queues at Brussels Airport Expose Growing Pains of EU Entry/Exit System
Brussels Airport admitted that non-EU passengers queued for up to five hours on 30 September after multiple Entry/Exit System kiosks failed. The incident underscores staffing gaps and technical issues in Belgium’s roll-out of the EU biometric border regime, creating knock-on risks for business travellers and international assignees. ([zaventem.me](https://www.zaventem.me/en/article/wachtrijen-tot-vijf-uur-op-brussels-airport-reizigers-krijgen-water-en-speculoos))
Court Deadline Looms as Belgian Government Faces €10,000-a-Day Fines Over Brussels Airport Noise
A Brussels court has given the Belgian Government until 1 October to cut aircraft noise from Brussels Airport or pay daily fines. The looming penalty forces policymakers to weigh curfews and route changes that could disrupt airline schedules and affect corporate mobility into the EU capital. ([brusselstimes.com](https://www.brusselstimes.com/2338420/belgian-government-must-address-brussels-airport-noise-concerns-by-thursday))