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.
Belgium Scraps Age Cap and Paperwork for Student-Entrepreneur Status
Effective 1 October 2026, Belgium removes the 25-year age cap and several paperwork hurdles for the ‘student-entrepreneur’ social-security status. The move makes it easier for both Belgian and international students to launch or keep a business while studying, enhancing the country’s appeal for academic-linked start-ups and simplifying compliance for employers mentoring student founders.
EU Proposes 5G ‘Critical Communication System’ After Belgian Border Failures Highlight Gaps
After Belgian firefighters and police lost radio contact during recent cross-border incidents, the European Commission proposed a bloc-wide 5G emergency network that would keep first-responders connected when they cross internal EU borders. The plan, published 30 September, foresees satellite back-up and full rollout by 2036, with clear benefits for companies operating mobile workforces across Belgium and neighbouring states.