News & media

The BCA 2026 Priorities Papersets out the sectors in which the authority will exercise particular vigilance, and outlines its strategic policy priorities for the year, including the development and deployment of its enforcement instruments. For in-house counsel, the document is an important roadmap: it signals where investigations are most likely to originate, what new tools the BCA is acquiring, and which compliance initiatives deserve immediate attention. The most prominent change in the 2026 paper is the replacement of the construction sector, considered a priority sector in 2025, with sport, media and entertainment.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept, it is increasingly a practical tool in corporate legal departments. For in-house counsel, the pressure to deliver faster while managing risk has never been higher. AI-assisted drafting presents a significant opportunity to streamline work, yet it also raises valid concerns about accuracy, compliance, and strategic judgment.

On 16 December 2025, the European Commission published its proposal to amend the rules governing medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices in the European Union — the MDR and IVDR — under the formal reference COM(2025)1023. The label attached to the exercise is “simplification.” The substance is more ambitious than that.

Since the Court of Justice’s September judgment in EDPS v Single Resolution Board (C-413/23 P, ‘SRB Case’), the discussion on the notion of personal data has hardly slowed, and practitioners keep adding fresh voices on the likely consequences of the verdict. The discussion has also been enriched by proposed amendments to the GDPR and the Regulation 2018/1725 resulting from the latest Digital Omnibus proposal.

The European capital markets are fragmented across Member States, burdened by high access costs, and governed by a framework that places EU markets at a disadvantage compared with the United States and the United Kingdom, particularly for smaller and growth companies. The EU Listing Act was developed as part of the Capital Markets Union to address these issues.

In one of the first cases in which the PIA was applicable, the Antwerp Labour Court of Appeal was called upon to rule on the findings of observations carried out by a private investigator in the context of proceedings seeking recognition of a dismissal for serious cause of a protected employee.

With Flanders’ mandatory solar panel (PV) obligation taking effect on 1 April 2026, many organisations are preparing to install photovoltaic systems on their buildings.

On 19 December 2025, the Belgian legislator adopted an Act regarding some reforms to the social criminal law. This Act entered into force on 1 February 2026 and applies to offences committed from that date onwards.

Why is the Commission taking a step back to look at the digital rulebook now? Over the past decade, the European Union has built an extensive digital rulebook. From data protection and cybersecurity to online platforms, artificial intelligence and data…

The Belgian Companies and Associations Code (CAC) contains far-reaching criminal provisions that have a direct impact on corporate housekeeping. Directors (including de facto directors) and legal representatives of Belgian branch offices face significant personal risk if they fail to comply…

2025 was an interesting year for sustainability from a legislative and policy perspective. The European Commission’s (the “Commission”) focus on competitiveness and simplification has led to the publication of a number of omnibus packages, proposing to simplify existing legislation across several key areas – sustainability, agriculture, digitalisation, defence and chemicals.

On 19 November 2025, the European Commission (EC) presented the Digital Omnibus on AI Regulation Proposal (AI Proposal). Adopted as part of the Digital Omnibus Package, the AI Proposal introduces targeted amendments to Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act) aimed at…