Ugo Realfonzo

Senior Editor. Covering Belgian and international politics, culture and history.

Great War soldiers exhumed in silence in Ypres

The bloody battlefields of Belgium have unearthed the remains of another 22 soldiers from the First World War.

Why Belgium released a new coin worth €12.50

The coin is also official legal tender, which raises the question: why is it worth this unusual sum?

Serbians cycle to Strasbourg via Brussels to protest Vučić repression

A group of two-wheeled protestors want to pressure the EU into calling out Serbia's authoritarian turn.

EU delays retaliation after welcoming Trump's tariff 'pause'

Countermeasures announced by the EU will be paused for 90 days to "give negotiations a chance," announced President von der Leyen.

EU countries agree to hit back at Trump's tariffs

"The EU considers US tariffs unjustified and damaging, causing economic harm to both sides, as well as the global economy."

Don't give in to external pressure on EU bid, Ukrainian MP tells Brussels

In an exclusive interview with The Brussels Times, Ukraine's leading MP on anti-corruption calls on the EU to "not be a hostage to alien powers".

Belgium regrets 'US going backwards' after Trump pressures European companies

Belgium's Foreign Ministry has contacted the US Embassy after letters were sent to Belgian companies ordering them to comply with Trump's anti-diversity order.

Trump announces 25% tariff on cars - Von der Leyen 'deeply regrets' move

The EU leader has responded to Trump's announcement by vowing that the bloc will protect its workers, businesses and consumers.

Everyone should have 72 hours worth of 'war supplies', EU warns citizens

"The idea is not to scare people, but to give EU citizens peace of mind."

Dark clouds over the future of Western foreign aid

"We had a group of young people on a bus going to Beirut, and we had to call them to tell them to say that you need to turn back – the activity has been cancelled."

'There is no PTSD when it's ongoing' - the invisible battles of Ukrainian medics

Today's battlefields are the "most terrifying and brutal" in the history of warfare, says the co-director of a new film on Ukrainian army medics.

When the King nearly carved up Belgium into a Nazi vassal state

A recently-discovered secret document shows how Leopold III was willing to give up the majority of Belgium during WWII, and keep a small territory in Wallonia for himself.

UK to propose EU youth mobility to revive post-Brexit relations

The British government had opposed such a mobility scheme up until recently.

National strike: What trade unions say about Belgium’s budget woes

Belgian unions believe the new Federal Government’s planned spending cuts have "little to do with getting the budget in order".

Von der Leyen launches EU's AI plan with €200 billion in investment

"The AI race is far from over," von der Leyen told the summit in Paris.

British PM in Brussels for first EU summit since Brexit

Five years after Brexit, the 'informal' defence summit is widely anticipated as the beginning of the reboot in relations between Brussels and London.

Holocaust denier tribute at Flemish Parliament exposes 'dark soul of Flanders'

"They keep on honouring those kinds of people and I was thinking well, maybe in 2025, this is not possible anymore. But it goes on."

'The EU is very bad for us': Trump sets up trade war

"They don't take our cars or our agricultural products. So they're good for tariffs".

Trump 2.0: America’s king to begin where he left off

It’s Blue Monday, and Donald Trump is entering the White House. What can we expect?

EU boosts investigation into X over suspicions of Musk’s manipulation

It comes amid growing anger at the political interference of X owner Elon Musk in European affairs.

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