March 7, 2023 - l'Européenne de Bruxelles

New EU scandal prompts watchdog to ask Commission to clarify sponsored trip rules

March 7, 2023 1809 views

European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has sent a formal letter to the European Commission asking it to clarify its procedures and rules concerning EU officials’ business trips paid for by third parties. O’Reilly, who as Ombudsman is tasked with investigating instances of potential administrative malpractice throughout the EU institutions, noted that her request was prompted by a recent Politico report, which found that the Director-General of the Commission’s transport department (DG MOVE), Henrik Hololei, had taken numerous trips to Qatar between 2015 and 2021 that were partly funded by the Qatari…

A city for people: Schaerbeek avenue to become ‘intermodal urban boulevard’

March 7, 2023 1809 views

Boulevard Auguste Reyers in northeast Brussels is one of the arteries into the capital, with thousands of vehicles making the journey to and from the city centre each day. But plans are afoot to give the avenue a major facelift, making it more friendly to other transport modes. Until several years ago, the large boulevard was dominated by the vehicle overpass that essentially made the constant file of cars a defining feature. In 2015 Pascal Smet – Mobility Minister at the time – decided not to renovate the imposing concrete…

Luminus, EDF Renewables and Jan De Nul join forces for Belgian offshore wind project

March 7, 2023 1809 views

The Luminus, Jan De Nul and EDF Renewables groups have joined forces to respond to a call for tenders for offshore wind energy in Belgium for the first phase of the Princess Elisabeth zone, the three companies announced on Tuesday. The Princess Elisabeth zone has been identified by the Belgian federal authorities as a key zone to increase renewable electricity production in the country. The area is part of an artificial energy island that will be built off the Belgian coast by 2026. The total capacity of offshore wind energy…

City council happy with Good Move plan despite protests

March 7, 2023March 7, 2023 1809 views

Despite a fourth citizen inquiry about Brussels’ much-discussed Good Move traffic plan at the City Council on Monday evening, the Capital Region’s Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt said that she is “happy” with the results. Two residents challenged the Good Move plan – which prioritises pedestrians and cyclists over cars in the streets in different Brussels municipalities – on Monday, claiming that it has an adverse impact on people with reduced mobility in their neighbourhood of the Marolles. “There are people who are really not happy and you have…

Brussels Arts-Loi Metro station closed due to fire service protest

March 7, 2023 1809 views

The Arts-Loi Metro station in Brussels is closed off to the public on Tuesday morning as a result of the national demonstration by the police and fire services – which is part of the announced week of protest actions organised by the public services. Over 500 police officers, firefighters and ambulances are gathered around the station and even a helicopter is circling overhead. The demonstration started this morning at 10:00 and protestors marched along the Congress Column towards the Arts-Loi station. “When there are too many people above ground, the…

Belgian chef takes home “Top Chef”… and a Michelin star

March 7, 2023 1809 views

Mallory Gabsi, a former Belgian runner-up for “Top Chef”, has been awarded both the Michelin Young Chef award as well as one of the organisation’s illustrious stars for his restaurant in Paris. Gabsi, who was born in Ixelles, opened his eponymous restaurant in Paris in April 2022 on Rue des Acacias 28. Now the 26-year-old has received his first Michelin star – one of 44 newly-starred restaurants this year. As if that wasn’t cause enough for celebration, Gbasi also received the Young Chef award, presented to him by Michelin president…

An attack on staff’: Delhaize stores to be turned into franchises

March 7, 2023 1809 views

The Delhaize supermarket chain has announced that it will transform all of its Belgian stores that it currently directly manages into franchises. The move directly contradicts previous assurances to employees and has been widely condemned by Belgian unions, Belga News Agency reports. In a press release published on Tuesday morning, Delhaize claimed that it was compelled to make the decision in response to the increased market share of its 636 already-franchised stores in Belgium. Whilst these stores have performed strongly, the remaining 128 directly-managed stores saw their profitability and market…

Asylum seekers at Brussels canal evacuated and to be rehoused

March 7, 2023 1809 views

A large number of asylum seekers have been sleeping rough along the canal in Molenbeek. Since mid-February, the line of tents and makeshift shelters has spread down the edge of the waterway. On Tuesday, they are finally being evacuated for rehousing. For months on end, the pavements next to and bridge over the canal in Molenbeek Saint-Jean near Belgium’s Asylum agency Fedasil’s registration centre Petit Château have been lined with tents housing asylum seekers who were denied the shelter to which they are legally entitled in Belgium. In recent weeks,…

Devoteam achieves 1B turnover

March 7, 2023 1810 views

Last year, the International IT group Devoteam achieved a turnover of 1 billion euros. The Belgian branch also puts record figures in the books. Around 500 people are working at Devoteam in Belgium. Another 150 should be added this year. The combined revenues of the Belgian entities Devoteam NV and Devoteam G Cloud amounted to more than 100 million euros in 2022. Devoteam currently has branches in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Zaventem. Within a few months, the company will move to the new Wings office complex in Diegem, which will house, among…

A well-filled list of participants for the third edition of the cup of Belgium

March 7, 2023 1810 views

This weekend, more specifically on Sunday 12 March, the third edition of the Belgian Cup is scheduled. In one day, 112 pilots in different groups will fight for the title of Best Belgian in iRacing, and that with the GT3 cars available on the platform and on the Sebring virtual circuit. A busy day for Adrien Debois and Valkyrie, who have been taking care of the organization for three years. In 2021, the cup of Belgium was held above the baptismal font. Then inspiration was drawn from the Coupe de…