Employment law reforms 2026 – 3 key takeaways
On 9 December 2025, the Belgian federal government approved legislation introducing reforms to the labour market and employment law.
European Commission Proposes Biotech Act to Boost Health Biotechnology in the EU
On December 16, 2025, the European Commission published its proposal for a regulation establishing a European Biotech Act to strengthen the EU's biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors with a primary focus on health.
Employment Law Updates: The new European Works Councils Directive and New Flemish Compliance Duties
The European works council was introduced in 1994. In multinationals, topics can have an impact on the workers in several EU member states, so it can also be useful to organise a staff information or consultation process at European level.
Deactivation of mailbox and phone number after termination of employment.
DPA reiterates strict guidelines In its decision of 7 October 2025, the Litigation Chamber of the Belgian Data Protection Authority (DPA) confirms its strict guidelines on closing professional mailboxes and linked email accounts upon termination of employment. The DPA ruled…
Automatic data collection mechanisms for tax purposes and their potential violation of the GDPR – does the FATCA case undermine the Belgian datamining proposal?
The mother of most automatic data collection mechanisms is the so-called Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), adopted in 2010. The FACTA requires that non-US financial institutions, and certain other non-financial institutions, to report foreign assets held by their US account holders to fight tax evasion and fraud. These account holders include individuals whose only link to the US is their place of birth, often referred to as “accidental Americans”. If the non-US entities fail to comply, they are subject to a significant withholding rate of 30% on US-originated fund flows.
First FAQ on the Cyber Resilience Act
The authors of this blog are participating in the EU-funded project CRACY, helping SMEs understand and comply with the Cyber Resilience Act.
On 3 December 2025, the European Commission has adopted a frequently asked questions document on the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), providing further clarification and examples on how manufacturers should approach the forthcoming compliance obligations for their products with digital elements (PDEs).
One bus, many passengers: how the digital omnibus rewrites the EU digital rulebook
How do you keep up? - that’s the question many digital rights lawyers have been asking themselves over the past few years.
EU-Inc: a new corporate regime for Europe?
Entrepreneurs in the EU benefit from access to the European Single Market. Yet in practice, those operating across several Member States face 27 different legal and administrative realities.
In this fragmented landscape, a striking new initiative is gaining momentum: EU-Inc, a proposal for a pan-European legal entity with one uniform structure and one regulatory framework, regardless of the Member State of incorporation.
Minimum Wage Directive survives cliff-hanger CJEU ruling
The CJEU has ruled on Denmark’s challenge to the EU Minimum Wage Directive, confirming its validity but striking down two provisions that interfered with national wage‑setting powers. The judgment clarifies the limits of EU competence while preserving the Directive’s role…
The EU Digital Omnibus: What we need to know about its impact on GDPR and Digital Compliance
The European Commission’s Digital Omnibus proposal, published on 19 November 2025, marks a significant shift in the EU’s approach to digital regulation. Designed to simplify and harmonize existing frameworks, it introduces changes that will affect consumer law, data protection, and…
Reform of end-of-career schemes
Following the coalition agreement, the National Labour Council (NAR) concluded several collective bargaining agreements on 21 October 2025. These agreements concern, among others, the planned reform of the “end-of-career schemes” (“landingsbanen” or “régimes de fin de carrière”), aimed at encouraging employees to remain active in the labour market. The Royal Decree of 5 September 2025, published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 30 October 2025, also amended the provisions regarding the entitlement interruption allowances in line with this reform.
Understanding the EUʼs International Procurement Instrument
What You Need to Know Key takeaway #1 Earlier this year, the Commission relied for the first t ime on the EUʼs International Procurement Instrument in order to take measures against China for its failure to ensure reciprocal access to…
Behind closed doors: Understanding the Silent Bankruptcy Procedure
On 1 September 2023, a significant development in Belgian insolvency law came into effect with the introduction of the Silent Bankruptcy Procedure, also known as the Pre-pack procedure. In just two years since its launch, this innovative tool has quickly…
From Boardroom to Courtroom: what companies and directors need to know about criminal liability under the new Criminal Code
In six months, on 8 April 2026, Belgium will implement the brand-new Criminal Code, marking the first comprehensive update in over 150 years. This reform modernizes and simplifies criminal law by clarifying rules and introducing new concepts. For companies and…
Flexible connections: a lifeline to be used with caution
As Belgium’s electricity grid(s), at least in certain areas, approaches saturation and grid reinforcements to meet increasing electrification, lags, flexible connections are envisaged as one potential solution.
Wage Freeze Imposed in Belgium for 2025-2026
Belgian labor law fixes the maximum margin by which labor costs may increase in any given period (the “wage norm”). The reason for this wage norm framework is to preserve the countryʼs competitiveness in the international market.