September 2023 - l'Européenne de Bruxelles

Nicotine pouches banned in Belgium, for much of cigarette producers delight

September 27, 2023 778 views

The decision to prohibit the sale of nicotine pouches in Belgium, effective from October 1, has significant implications for public health and tobacco control efforts. The move is part of a comprehensive anti-tobacco plan endorsed by Federal Minister of Public Health Frank Vandenbroucke and other ministers. By taking this action, the Belgian government is making a clear statement about its commitment to reducing the harms associated with nicotine consumption. Nicotine pouches, which do not contain tobacco but deliver nicotine and flavorings, have gained popularity in recent years as an alternative…

Ageing Facebook is still most popular social network in Belgium

September 26, 2023 802 views

According to data provided by the Media Information Center (CIM), Facebook continues to maintain its dominant position as the largest social network in Belgium. In particular, the year-on-year increase in the number of Facebook users confirms the importance of Facebook in the Belgian social media landscape. However, it is worth noting that Facebook’s user base differs from that of its competitors. Figures from the CIM survey show that 68.9% of respondents are active Facebook users. What makes Facebook stand out even more is that the average age of its active…

Alexander De Croo: we should not worry about the complexity of Belgian institutions

September 25, 2023 828 views

For the Belgian citizen who occasionally wonders why our country is so complicated, they can rest easy on both ears. Because from a distance of 5,885 kilometers, our prime minister sent him a reassuring message! Building on the boundless optimism he had already displayed at the United Nations, Alexander De Croo stated that we should not worry about the complexity of Belgian institutions. “Some people are always complaining about the complexity of our country,” he lectured at a gathering for American Belgians at the ambassador’s residence in New York. “But…

Emilio Gerasimos Mesoloras: I want to help young people who are struggling to stay on the right path

September 25, 2023 828 views

Participating in the Strongest Man of Belgium competition is not without danger. Emilio Gerasimos Mesoloras (24), a youth coach by profession, experienced this firsthand on Sunday. During one of the challenges, he lost a part of his pinky finger. “It’s painful, but everything is going well. I’ll come back stronger than ever next year,” he says. On Saturday, the title of Strongest Man of Belgium was contested on the Grote Markt in Sint-Niklaas. The one who scored the best on six superhuman challenges, such as pulling a twelve-ton tractor forward,…

New Audi Q4 e-tron to be assembled in Vorst

September 23, 2023 869 views

The Audi Q4 is getting a facelift. While the whole world is focusing on the car’s technical specifications, we Belgians are particularly proud of where the Q4 will be assembled. Because the Q4 e-tron will roll off the production line at the Audi plant in Vorst! In other words, the Q8 e-tron will have a new companion on the Vorst production line. The model features considerable additional technology compared to the pre-makeover version. New shock absorbers and a tuned steering system aim to provide an even sportier feel. Standard equipment…

Belgium is fully in line with climate obligations – state lawyers

September 23, 2023September 23, 2023 870 views

The Belgian State has played its part in the fight against climate change and has met its targets”. This was the argument put forward by lawyers representing the Belgian State at the Brussels Court of Appeal on Friday. ‘Belgium has been passive and is moving in the right direction’, they said. In 2015, the non-profit organization Klimaatzaak took legal action against the Belgian authorities for failing to meet European and global commitments on climate change, putting its citizens at risk. In June 2021, the French-speaking Court of First Instance in…

Green plans take a toll: Henegouwen station is not in line with ‘neutrality’

September 22, 2023 885 views

The plan to build a new gas power plant in Henegouwen is no longer in line with Eneco’s ambition to provide only CO2-neutral electricity to its customers by 2035. Only Tessenderlo still feels compelled to invest in gas power plants. Eneco is no longer a candidate to invest in a large gas-fired power plant in Manage, near La Louvière. Although the permitting process is still ongoing, the company intends to focus on renewable energy or flexible solutions with green hydrogen or battery parks at the site, says Bert Clinckers, the…

De Croo used UN tribune to applaud to himself

September 22, 2023 885 views

“In difficult circumstances, we must remember what we have achieved.” That was the message delivered by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Thursday to the press in New York after addressing world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly. “We can listen to the doomsayers who claim that Belgium is the ‘Greece of the North Sea.’ But is that really the case? I have a lot of respect for the Greeks, but Belgium is twice as prosperous as Greece,” the Prime Minister declared. He pointed to factors such as the…

EC recommends to keep glyphosate in use for another ten years

September 21, 2023 898 views

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to allow the ‘controversial’ herbicide glyphosate to be used for another ten years. If a substantial majority of EU countries do not oppose it, the pesticide can be used until at least 2033. Glyphosate, known under the brand name Roundup from the manufacturer Bayer (formerly Monsanto), has many opponents. Some researchers believe the substance can cause cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, glyphosate is thought to have a significant impact on biodiversity in nature. However, in line with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the…

New EU rules: a speed limit for young drivers and special SUV treatment

September 21, 2023September 21, 2023 899 views

The EU is coming up with some crazy proposals again. It makes for some interesting articles, and in a few years, it’ll be the new normal. The European Union is at it again. Policy-makers of unknown origin can throw trial balloons with hefty compensation. Right now, they have launched a frontal attack on young drivers and SUV owners. Indeed, both target groups are being hit hard. There’s a draft law proposal for a special SUV license. Additionally, newly licensed drivers will have to adhere to a lower maximum speed limit….