Business is booming at this pandemic-hit Brussels resto as it bounces back in style. Imagine opening a new business just on the eve of what turned out to be the worst health crisis in living memory. That is the fate that, inadvertently, befell the owners of The Fifty One a restaurant in Brussels. Little did…
Author: Martin Banks
Going down a treat for Valentine’s Day
Calling all romantics out there. That one day of the year when we can all maybe indulge our loved ones is fast approaching. Yes, it is Valentine’s Day again very soon so why not try to hit the spot by treating your beloved to something tasty at a restaurant? Eating establishments all over Brussels have…
Importance of Traineeships
Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash EU auditors say that traineeships have grown in importance as more and more young people in the EU complete a traineeship before they get a regular job. In a review issued on 6 February the European Court of Auditors points to several challenges though. They say these include: varying definitions of traineeships,…
2024 European Railway Awards
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash There are numerous obstacles to overcome to ensure rail has access to the skilled labour it needs, an event was told. It was one of the key messages to emerge at the 2024 European Railway Award ceremony in Brussels. The event coincides with the EU Year of Skills which, it was said,…
European Greens Elect Spitzenkandidaten
Delegates from all the European Green parties have elected Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout to be the “face and heart” of the Green campaign for the EU elections, at their congress in Lyon, France. The elected leading candidates ‘Spitzenkandidaten’ will represent the Greens in the upcoming political debates and campaign events. Reintke commented: “I am overwhelmed and…
Taiwan Tourism Popular at Brussels Travel Show
It may not yet be a traditional destination for many Europeans but Taiwan has much to offer. And the small island nation is proving to be one of the most popular attractions at this year’s annual holiday trade fair in Brussels. The four-day show (Salon des Vacances/Vakantiesalon), at Brussels Expo, opened today and runs until…
Interference in Taiwan Elections Condemned
Photo by Joel Fulgencio on Unsplash A senior expert on Chinese-Taiwan relations has told MEPs how he believes Beijing “sought to interfere” in Taiwan’s recent president elections. Speaking in the European Parliament on Wednesday, J. Michael Cole claimed that China used a whole range of measures to try to influence the outcome of the poll at the start of…
Best Tourism Villages Initiative
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash UN Tourism has opened applications for the 2024 edition of its Best Tourism Villages initiative. Over the past three editions, UN Tourism – the new name of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) – received almost 600 applications from nearly 100 countries. Currently, the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages Network brings together 186 members…
CO2 Reduction Targets At Risk
Photo by Precious Madubuike on Unsplash The EU’s CO2 emissions reduction targets for new passenger cars will not be achievable as long as important prerequisites are missing, says a report published today by the European Court of Auditors. Despite lofty ambitions and strict requirements, most passenger cars on EU roads still emit the same quantity of CO2 as 12 years…
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Photo by Håkon Grimstad on Unsplash Irene Shashar, a survivor of the Warsaw ghetto, has addressed MEPs in a plenary session in Brussels to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On a highly-charged occasion on Thursday she described how she survived the horrors of Nazism in Warsaw as a “Holocaust Hidden Child”. This involved fleeing through a sewer to…