economy

Russia’s Oil Windfall Evaporates as the Ruble Strengthens

Despite a rise in oil prices, Russia’s economy finds itself in a paradoxical bind. Since June 13, 2025, the price of Urals crude—Russia’s primary export blend—has surged past the G7-imposed cap of $60 per barrel. But

2 days ago

World

Belgian insurer estimates sleep deprivation at work costs companies €9 billion a year

According to a survey by KBC Verzekeringen, the financial impact of sleep deprivation in the workplace is substantial. “At least €9 billion per year,” the study concludes. In May, 508 employers and

2 days ago

Society

Closure of Audi factory heavily impacted economic activity in Brussels

The closure of the Audi factory in Brussels weighed heavily on economic activity in the capital region, according to a report by the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis (BISA). The shutdown

4 days ago

Business

ING expects global economic slowdown in second half of 2025

The global economy will continue to grow in the second half of 2025, but at a slower pace, according to ING Belgium’s latest outlook. The slowdown is mainly driven by the trade

6 days ago

Business

Brussels and federal government faced with probable rating downgrade

For months, Brussels has been anxiously awaiting a rating from credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P), which is likely to announce a new downgrade for the region on Friday evening. A

1 week ago

Business·Politics

Belgium’s budget deficit to widen after 2028, Planning Bureau reports

Belgium’s government deficit is expected to grow in the coming years, according to new projections from the Planning Bureau. The deficit will increase from 4.5 per cent of GDP in 2024 to

1 week ago

Society

Belgian PM outlines foreign policy vision during meeting with diplomatic corps

On Thursday, Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever laid out his government’s foreign policy vision to the country’s diplomatic corps in Brussels. In his speech, De Wever stressed the urgency of international

2 weeks ago

Politics·World

Belgium blocked 147 illegal streaming websites last year

Last year, Belgium blocked 147 websites illegally distributing copyrighted films, TV series and sports broadcasts, the FPS Economy revealed on Thursday. These platforms offered content without the creators’ permission, amounting to digital

2 weeks ago

Business·Innovations

Number of dollar millionaires in Belgium declines further

The number of dollar millionaires in Belgium fell to 134,600 in 2024, 2.5 per cent less compared to the year before. This marks the third consecutive annual decline, according to data released

2 weeks ago

Business·Society

Trump wins temporary reprieve as he fights against court block on tariffs

US president rails against judges who ruled against him as appeals court grants pause until challenge is heard The Trump administration is racing to halt a major blow to the president’s sweeping tariffs after a US

3 weeks ago

Politics·World

Why this leading AI CEO is warning the tech could cause mass unemployment

The chief executive of one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence labs is warning that the technology could cause a dramatic spike in unemployment in the very near future. He says policymakers

3 weeks ago

Innovations

Court of International Trade Halts Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs in Stinging Legal Defeat

As President Donald Trump embarks on his second term, the velocity of policy shifts emerging from Washington has alarmed, confused, and polarized observers across the Atlantic. Many transatlantic analysts continue to frame

3 weeks ago

Business·World

Stocks push higher after a federal court halted Trump’s tariffs

Stock futures gained Thursday after a federal court ruled late Wednesday that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority to impose sweeping tariffs, throwing into chaos the administration’s core trade policy that has threatened to

3 weeks ago

Business·World

Euro could become alternative to dollar, says ECB president

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde sees a unique opportunity for the euro to expand its global influence. Speaking at the Hertie School in Berlin on Monday, Lagarde argued that recent global

4 weeks ago

Business·Politics

Government launches plan to strengthen Belgian industry

The federal government has on Friday launched the “Make 2025-2030” competitiveness plan, a strategic plan to strengthen the Belgian industry. The plan provides for close cooperation between the federal and regional levels.

4 weeks ago

Innovations·Politics

US president Trump threatens EU with 50% tariffs from June

US president Donald Trump has threatened on his social media channel Truth Social to impose 50 per cent import tariffs on goods from the European Union from 1 June. The announcement made

1 month ago

World

Belgians avoid products from the US, Russia and China, survey shows

Belgians are avoiding buying products from the United States, Russia and China, according to a survey by Kantar released on Monday. The results highlight the impact of the economic and political context

1 month ago

Business

European Commission predicts Belgium’s budget deficit will rise to 5.5% by 2026

On Monday, the European Commission warned that Belgium’s budget deficit could rise to 5.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year and 5.5 per cent in 2026. That rise is

1 month ago

Politics·World

Europe is losing appeal to foreign investors, survey shows

Europe has become less appealing to foreign investors over the past year, according to a survey by the consultancy firm EY. Traditionally strong performers such as France and Germany experienced a sharp

1 month ago

Business

Flanders wants EU to focus on security and competitiveness

Flemish minister-president Mathias Diependaele presented the government’s vision of the European Union on Wednesday. In the vision note, Flanders calls on the EU to focus on its core tasks of security and

1 month ago

Politics

Credit agency S&P issues negative outlook for Belgium due to rising budget deficit

US ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has downgraded Belgium’s credit outlook from stable to negative, citing concerns over the country’s rising budget deficit. This is a warning to the federal government

2 months ago

Business

Governments eye billion-euro stake in Brussels Airport

The federal and Flemish governments are exploring a joint purchase of the Canadian pension fund OTPP’s 30 per cent stake in Brussels Airport, potentially taking majority control. The price tag could be

2 months ago

Business

IMF warns of ‘major negative shock’ from Trump’s tariffs

Lender cuts forecasts for every major economy, with UK expected to grow by 1.1% this year, down from 1.6% Donald Trump’s tariffs have unleashed a “major negative shock” into the world economy,

2 months ago

World

European Central Bank cuts eurozone interest rate for seventh time to 2.25%

The European Central Bank (ECB) has cut the eurozone interest rate for the seventh time since June 2024, reducing it by a further 0.25 percentage point to 2.25%. The ECB made the

2 months ago

Business

Markets soar following Trump’s reversal on trade tariffs

The global market meltdown turned into euphoria on Thursday morning after Donald Trump’s about-turn on tariffs imposed on the rest of the world, with the exception of China. After triggering a global

2 months ago

World

Belgian company delays IPO over global market turmoil

Belgian company I-care Group is delaying its plans to enter the stock market due to the economic instability caused by US trade tariffs. The specialist in predictive maintenance for industrial machinery, based

2 months ago

Business

Flemish exports amounted to 418bn euros last year

According to figures from Statistics Flanders, the export of goods from Flanders amounted to 418 billion euros in 2024. That is 3.7% less than in 2023, but still the third-highest export figure

3 months ago

Business

Spanish PM vows to expand defence industry before summer

Madrid – Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that the Spanish government will outline and begin implementing a plan to increase the defence sector before the summer. “The objective of this plan is

3 months ago

World

economy

Russian Enterprises on the Brink of Bankruptcy Amid Mounting Economic Crisis

Russia’s Oil Windfall Evaporates as the Ruble Strengthens

Belgian insurer estimates sleep deprivation at work costs companies €9 billion a year

Closure of Audi factory heavily impacted economic activity in Brussels

ING expects global economic slowdown in second half of 2025

Brussels and federal government faced with probable rating downgrade

Belgium’s budget deficit to widen after 2028, Planning Bureau reports

Belgian PM outlines foreign policy vision during meeting with diplomatic corps

Belgium blocked 147 illegal streaming websites last year

Number of dollar millionaires in Belgium declines further

Trump wins temporary reprieve as he fights against court block on tariffs

Why this leading AI CEO is warning the tech could cause mass unemployment

Court of International Trade Halts Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs in Stinging Legal Defeat

Stocks push higher after a federal court halted Trump’s tariffs

Euro could become alternative to dollar, says ECB president

Government launches plan to strengthen Belgian industry

US president Trump threatens EU with 50% tariffs from June

Belgians avoid products from the US, Russia and China, survey shows

European Commission predicts Belgium’s budget deficit will rise to 5.5% by 2026

Europe is losing appeal to foreign investors, survey shows

Flanders wants EU to focus on security and competitiveness

Credit agency S&P issues negative outlook for Belgium due to rising budget deficit

Governments eye billion-euro stake in Brussels Airport

IMF warns of ‘major negative shock’ from Trump’s tariffs

European Central Bank cuts eurozone interest rate for seventh time to 2.25%

Markets soar following Trump’s reversal on trade tariffs

Belgian company delays IPO over global market turmoil

Flemish exports amounted to 418bn euros last year

Spanish PM vows to expand defence industry before summer

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