Each winter, as fireworks and chinking glasses welcome in the New Year, a clock starts up within me, ticking down to 14 April. My limbs grow heavier, my chest tightens, and my brow furrows. I find myself jumpy and cringe at sounds and movements, startled by catching my foot on a paving stone or by…
Having walked nearly 1,000 kilometres across every Belgian region andprovince while researching my travel guide, I made a surprising discovery:Belgian residents, including Belgians, often don’t realise how much thiscountry has to offer. Compact yet remarkably diverse, Belgium rewardscuriosity with layers of history, culture and the unexpected.The country is often defined by its icons: beer, chocolate,…
The EU Political Report enters 2026 with both reflection and renewal, following the passing of its long‑serving Editor in Chief, James Wilson, in late 2025. Wilson, a respected journalist originally from Scotland, spent his career shaping incisive commentary on European and international affairs. Based in Brussels, he led the publication while also serving as a…
Europe’s cost‑of‑living debate was reignited on 2 May, when the central bank confirmed that interest rates would remain elevated for the foreseeable future — a decision that landed heavily with households already stretched by rising prices. The announcement underscored a simple reality: borrowing costs will not fall quickly, and the era of cheap credit that…
The upcoming committee week in Brussels will be dominated by budget politics, AI regulation, and a dense round of ministerial and diplomatic activity across the institutions. As the European Parliament returns to Brussels for committee week, the institutions are gearing up for a dense stretch of legislative work and political signalling. With the Strasbourg plenary…
The European Women’s Lobby congratulates MEPs and urges the Commission to act now on EU-wide consent-based rape legislation. Mary Collins, EWL Secretary General, writes for EU Political Report. The European Parliament’s vote on 28 April sends a clear and long-overdue signal: the European Union must move beyond outdated, force-based definitions of rape and establish a…
Belgium’s postal strike has now stretched into several weeks, leaving Brussels and much of Wallonia without regular deliveries, with millions of letters and parcels stuck in blocked distribution centres. The strike began at the end of March and has intensified through April, evolving into one of the most disruptive labour actions Bpost has faced in…
The European Parliament’s vote on Tuesday to demand a seven‑year EU budget 10 percent higher than the European Commission’s proposal is more than a routine skirmish in the annual Brussels budget ritual. It is a statement of political intent, a test of institutional confidence, and a reminder that the Parliament—often underestimated in budgetary debates—still knows…
© Photo by Planet Volumes on Unsplash The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has entered a far more dangerous and economically disruptive phase than when tensions first flared, leaving Europe exposed to a shock that is now reshaping global energy markets. The near‑closure of the strait following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, and…
© Photo by Anastasiia Krutota on Unsplash Russia’s war against Ukraine has entered a phase defined by battlefield exhaustion and political acceleration in Europe, as Kyiv’s survival increasingly depends on decisions taken in Brussels. The military situation remains largely static: Russia continues to push along parts of the eastern front, relying on manpower advantages and…
