Ryanair slashes Brussels 2026/27 winter capacity after Belgium confirms €10 passenger tax
EU justice ministers in Brussels strike deal to accelerate returns and widen ‘safe third country’ concept
Cyprus outlines 2026 migration presidency agenda during Brussels JHA Council
Latest News
EU Entry/Exit System Goes Live – Belgium Deploys Biometric Kiosks at All Gateways
The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System is now operational, and Belgium has already installed kiosks at all major airports and seaports. The system will automate Schengen-stay calculations, giving companies clearer compliance data but also exposing over-stays instantly. Employers should audit travel patterns, update traveller briefings and monitor privacy-impact reports.
Belgium to Launch Smartphone-Based e-ID Card in 2026, Slashing On-Boarding Times for Expats
Belgium will let residents store their identity card in a secure smartphone app from 2026. For expatriates, the e-ID eliminates weeks of waiting for the residence card and removes an extra visit to the commune. Companies must update onboarding procedures and digital-identity checks, but the move promises faster, cheaper and more secure mobility compliance.
EU Ministers in Brussels Back Tougher Migration Pact, Fast-Track Deportations
EU ministers meeting in Brussels have struck a political deal on a migration pact that speeds up deportations and tightens asylum rules. Belgium will have to expand detention capacity and adjust immigration workflows, while employers that rely on refugee talent may face shorter application windows and higher compliance risks.
Rolling-Stock Shortage Forces Eurostar to Cancel Peak-Hour London–Brussels Trains
Eurostar cancelled its key early-morning London–Brussels round-trip on 8 December due to rolling-stock shortages, disrupting more than 1,500 mainly business travellers. Companies should brace for further short-notice cancellations until additional trainsets return to service and build contingency plans for urgent same-day trips between the UK and Belgium.
Atlantic Storms and ATC Strikes Ripple Into Belgium, Delaying 4,800 European Flights
Severe weather and ATC strikes elsewhere in Europe produced nearly 5,000 flight disruptions that cascaded into Belgian schedules. Business travellers connecting via Brussels should expect rolling delays and ensure expense documentation for EU 261 care obligations. Employers are urged to build extra buffer time into December itineraries.