Brussels, round 2.

Belgium's capital has a well-known money problem. But unless someone fixes the city's broken political system, it will be the ruin of many more finance ministers.

www.euractiv.com/opinion/the-...

The Brief – Brussels, the sorrow of Belgium

The creative solution to Ukraine's reparation loan has inspired some creative imagery to illustrate the dilemma. But there's only so long leaders can talk about golden eggs and boats, rather than putting the plan into action.
www.euractiv.com/opinion/the-...

Italy’s bridge is just the most audacious example of imaginative arithmetic to deliver grand designs under the guise of defence.

www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

The US exported a world-beating 123 billion cubic metres of LNG last year, and Europe bought the lion’s share of it. But even if we’d bought the lot, it would only have cost around $50 billion. What with the rest of the money?

@hodgson.bsky.social digs for details.

www.euractiv.com/section/eet/...

📣 Stay in the loop on the next EU budget 💶

🎢 Our reporters are covering every twist and turn, LIVE, of what is set to be the most important budget in EU history.

🔖 Bookmark and keep this link open, as we report on von der Leyen's proposal, and initial reactions.

www.euractiv.com/section/econ...

💡 Solutions to fund the just transition are on the table at #FfD4: debt reforms, scaled-up public climate finance, ending fossil fuel subsidies...

🌍 The EU must act—not only to support Global South escape a fossil fuel debt trap, but also to strengthen multilateralism at these turbulent times.

The bank books are open but spending the new billions wisely will require a major change of mindsets, writes Nick Witney. Are MS ready to swap complex and expensive aircraft, ships and tanks for drones, missiles, cyber surveillance, and AI systems? @ecfr.eu
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

Thank goodness for farming lobbies leading the good fight for meaty food names.

"Words matter!" insists the farming federation driving this noble mission. As someone who is paid to be a pedant about this, I gladly agree.

Today's Brief >>
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

D-DAY FOR BRUSSELS: Euractiv launches its 5th policy vertical on Defence.

“Euractiv has landed, we will continue to make a splash, and we are here to stay. Fitting then, that we bring you FIREPOWER on D-Day,” Editor-in-Chief Matthew Karnitschnig.

www.euractiv.com/introducing-...

Politicians always find a way to claim victory after defeat... In case you missed it, my first The Brief went out yesterday 👇

My turn on the Brief today, musing on the soon-to-be bygone days of cigarettes and surf, set to the tune of Initials BB. The rush for smoke-free generations has now led several states to overlook civil liberties in the name of public health.
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

Brussels is a crucible of contradictions, a territory claimed by many but conquered by none. The closer you look, the more confounding it becomes. And yet...
My valedictory brief:
www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1509...

Yesterday, a Cureghem resident, Jonas, showed me around his neighbourhood, which in recent weeks has been rocked by a series of shootings.

We spoke about how the escalating drug violence is impacting locals, and is even driving them away.

"Complexity is the price of political peace: this is how Belgium has survived for two centuries," says leading economist Bruno Colmant. But that's the past; now the national mission should be "Simplify Belgium and stimulate entrepreneurship."

Get the full interview here:

Global affairs aside, one would have thought there is enough that needs attention within the country to catalyse an agreement between the five coalition parties. Not so, as the leaders seem open to any opportunity that will excuse them from the boring business of forming a Federal Government.

News is by nature busy but 2024 has been unusually so. The cascade of information never lets up and we tend to focus on how things are different today from yesterday. Stepping back to see the longer-term trends is a habit we practise less often. Here's the last year as told by The Brussels Times.

What makes a great city? How to create harmony from apparent chaos? Celebrated writer Geert van Istendael was insightful and compelling with his observations on Brussels, a place that seems to defy order.

www.brusselstimes.com/brussels-2/8...

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