Author: OMN AI

The European Commission has selected 46 strategic raw material projects across the European Union to help secure key supplies and cut reliance on China. Three of the chosen projects are in Greece. They will benefit from faster permit reviews and support in seeking public and private funding. The announcement came on Friday as the EU stepped up efforts to make its supply chains more secure. The projects span 16 EU member states and cover 15 of the bloc’s 17 listed strategic raw materials. These materials include copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, rare earths, magnesium and tungsten. They are used…

Clashes broke out near Brussels Central Station on Friday as thousands of people joined a protest against the federal government’s austerity plans. The rally was organised by the country’s socialist trade union. While the main march remained peaceful, smaller groups clashed with police before and after the event. Some protesters threw wooden beams, glass bottles and rubbish bins at officers, according to reports from the scene. Police sent large numbers of officers to areas around the station. They also checked groups of young people who were not wearing trade union colours. Police said the main union rally passed without major…

Public transport services across Belgium are expected to face disruption on Friday, October 9, as trade unions organise action against the federal government’s expected budget cuts. A further day of action is planned for Monday, October 12. The measures may affect commuters, students, workers and other passengers who rely on trains, buses, trams and metro services to reach their destinations. The protests are linked to concern that planned savings could place too much pressure on ordinary people and public services. Unions argue that workers and households should not carry an unfair share of the cost of balancing the national budget.…

Student protests in Belgium have drawn attention to the cost and quality of education, with young people calling for better resources and improvements to classroom conditions. Demonstrations have taken place as similar unrest continues in France, where students have been protesting against problems in public schools. The events show how concerns about education can spread across borders when young people face similar pressures. In Liège, students gathered to protest rising education costs, crowded classrooms and shortages of learning materials. These concerns affect the daily experience of students who depend on schools and colleges for their education. When classrooms are overcrowded…

Belgium Transport Strikes are expected to cause major disruption as workers prepare for national days of action against the federal government’s planned budget measures. Public transport services are expected to be affected on Friday, October 9, and again on Monday, October 12. The action could also affect flights at Brussels Airport and other services, creating problems for commuters and travelers across the country. The strikes are linked to opposition to planned budget cuts and economic reforms. Trade unions have argued that the government’s measures place too much pressure on workers and public services. They are demanding changes to the proposed…

Belgium Student Protests continued in Liège on Thursday, October 8, as hundreds of young people demonstrated against rising education costs and conditions in the French language education system. The protests have created major disruption in the city, with authorities warning businesses to close early and asking residents to avoid the centre. The movement has been influenced partly by the student protests taking place in neighboring France. Students have raised several complaints about the cost of education. They say tuition fees have increased while classrooms remain overcrowded and access to study materials can be difficult. Protesters argue that education should remain…

The Brussels population has stopped growing after almost three decades of continuous increases, according to new demographic figures released on Wednesday, October 7. The Brussels Capital Region recorded only 39 more residents at the start of 2026 than one year earlier. The change marks a major shift for the Belgian capital, which had experienced steady population growth since the mid 1990s. Officials say the slowdown is linked to changes in migration and movement toward other parts of Belgium. The region had about 1.26 million residents on January 1, 2026. While the population technically increased, the change was so small that…

Brussels is considering a new tax approach that could increase payments from major technology companies while avoiding a direct digital tax aimed only at American firms. The European Commission is examining a wider company levy that could apply to large businesses earning more than 100 million euros a year in the European Union. The proposal is designed to raise additional money for the bloc while reducing the political risks linked to a tax focused specifically on US technology companies. The idea would change an existing EU proposal known as the Corporate Resource for Europe plan. Under the possible new system,…

Residents in parts of Brussels are being warned about Waste Collection Delays later this week as planned national days of action are expected to disrupt public services. Households affected by the industrial action have been asked not to place certain rubbish bags outside on Friday, October 9, and Monday, October 12. The request is intended to prevent waste from building up on city streets when collection teams are unable to operate normally. The Brussels regional waste agency has advised residents to keep blue and yellow bags at home during the affected days. People are expected to put those bags out…

Belgium’s government is facing difficult Belgium Budget Talks as Prime Minister Bart De Wever and coalition partners try to find more than ten billion euros in savings and new revenue. The negotiations are entering an important stage after ministers spent much of the weekend discussing ways to reduce the country’s deficit. The government wants to improve public finances and avoid further pressure from rising debt costs, but disagreements remain over taxes, health spending and other measures. The coalition partners met for several hours on Sunday to examine a revised budget proposal. The discussions were described as serious but did not…