Belgium and the EU

Latest business news about Belgium and the European Union.

EU leaders scramble to summit amid Belgian strike — 30 January 2012, 18:23 CET

Belgium was at a standstill Monday, as transport workers and other public officials went on an anti-austerity strike that nevertheless failed to cause major disruption to 2012's first EU summit.

Belgium on strike ahead of EU summit — 30 January 2012, 09:37 CET

Belgium was in chaos Monday, just hours before an EU summit, with transport and other public services halted by a national strike called by unions in protest at EU-ordered austerity measures.

Fiscal discipline must be coupled with job growth: PMs — 18 January 2012, 17:37 CET

Strict budgetary discipline will only let the European Union emerge from financial crisis if it is accompanied by job-creation measures, Belgian and Dutch leaders said Wednesday.

Belgian unions call general strike for EU summit date — 17 January 2012, 18:45 CET

Belgian trade unions on Tuesday called a general strike for January 30, the date of a summit of European Union leaders in the capital Brussels.

EU policy to cause 15 years of recession: Belgian minister — 12 January 2012, 11:05 CET

The austerity measures imposed by the European Commission on EU states will drag Europe into 15 years of recession, a Belgian minister said in a newspaper interview published Thursday.

EU trade chief faces tax probe over Italian home: reports — 10 January 2012, 14:12 CET

Belgian tax authorities are investigating European Union trade chief Karel De Gucht over his purchase of a second home in Italy's Tuscany region, Belgian media reported on Tuesday.

Ratings giant hits Belgium as crisis lashes euro heart — 26 November 2011, 23:07 CET

Talks among six parties trying to fix a deficit-cutting budget for Belgium after a crushing credit-rating downgrade could run through the night, party sources said early Saturday.

Belgium and four other nations face EU fines on deficits — 10 November 2011, 11:56 CET

Belgium was handed an urgent warning from Brussels on Thursday to get its public finances back on track and deliver a 2012 budget cutting its deficit by the middle of next month.

Foul play behind surge in Albanian asylum seekers: Belgium — 18 October 2011, 18:00 CET

Belgium warned Tuesday that foul play may be the cause for a surge in Albanian asylum seekers this month, but said they would be sent home quickly in accordance with visa-free regime regulations.

EU 'indignants' camp out in Brussels park — 08 October 2011, 21:27 CET

About 150 anti-capitalist "Indignants" who marched from France, the Netherlands and Spain, defied a ban to set up camp in a Brussels park Saturday to protest EU-ordered austerity measures.

Bosnia's asylum seekers to be repatriated: Belgium — 28 September 2011, 22:31 CET

Bosnian asylum seekers in Belgium whose numbers have increased in recent months after the introduction of a visa-free regime will be repatriated, a Belgian official said Wednesday.

Power blackout hits Brussels — 19 September 2011, 18:30 CET

European Parliament staff had to be evacuated Monday when a power cut paralysed parts of the Belgian capital Brussels.

Euro-fragile Belgium heads for turmoil as PM quits — 14 September 2011, 12:59 CET

Belgium, already targeted by bond markets, headed into uncharted waters Wednesday after a surprise decision by its caretaker premier to resign amid deadlock in talks to end the country's longest political crisis.

Belgium lower house approves second Greece bailout — 13 September 2011, 18:11 CET

Belgium's lower house of parliament on Tuesday approved the second bailout for debt-straddled Greece agreed at a July 21 summit of the 17 nations sharing the single currency.

Belgian minister scolds Germany over euro debt crisis — 31 August 2011, 17:16 CET

A Belgian minister lambasted Germany's handling of the eurozone debt crisis, accusing Berlin of lacking solidarity while telling, along with its ally Paris, other Europeans what to do.

Belgian party says ready to help end political crisis — 21 July 2011, 11:25 CET

A key party in Belgium said Wednesday it was ready to help end the country's long festering political crisis by negotiating the formation of a government, but listed a number of conditions.

Belgium lowers 2011 deficit forecast from 3.6% to 3.3% — 12 July 2011, 17:25 CET

Belgium, confronted with warnings from credit ratings agencies that its debt could be downgraded, lowered its 2011 public deficit forecast on Tuesday from 3.6 per cent to 3.3 per cent.

Belgium calls for pan- eurozone bond to help Greece — 29 May 2011, 23:11 CET

Eurozone states should consider reviving the controversial idea of creating a joint bond that could be used to help Greece overcome its debt crisis, Belgium's finance minister said on Sunday.

Belgium hopes France will take paroled child killer — 12 May 2011, 16:14 CET

Belgium's justice minister on Thursday said he had transferred convicted child killer Michelle Martin's case files to France and hoped Paris would finally agree to allow her into a convent there upon early release from jail.

EU's Ashton gets tongue-lashing from foreign minister — 04 May 2011, 17:27 CET

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton faced sharp criticism Wednesday of her performance by Belgium's foreign minister, in the first such public criticism by a senior partner.

Belgian court to place ex-EU official, lobbyist on trial — 21 April 2011, 11:46 CET

A Belgian court will put a Dutch former European Commission official and a French farmers union lobbyist on trial over a decade-old corruption affair.

Belgium sees Portugal bailout at EUR 80-85bn — 08 April 2011, 11:36 CET

Portugal can reasonably be expected to need around 80-85 billion euros to help overcome its debt crisis, Belgium's finance minister said Friday as the EU met to discuss a bailout request.

EU 'ready' to help Portugal if asked: Belgium — 24 March 2011, 14:23 CET

European partners will come to Portugal's rescue if the crisis-hit Lisbon caretaker government asks for financial assistance, Belgium's finance minister Didier Reynders said Thursday.

Greenpeace activists sentenced for EU summit breach — 17 March 2011, 19:38 CET

A Belgian court sentenced 10 Greenpeace activists to suspended jail terms of one month and fined them 1,100 euros each for breaching the security perimetre at a European Union summit in 2009.

Arson bid at EU headquarters but little damage — 03 March 2011, 22:15 CET

Arsonists set off a fire in the building hosting European Union summits Thursday but caused little damage, the Brussels prosecutor's office said.