Author: Ariane Mutoni

The measure was prompted by the sharp increase in low-value imports, mainly from e-commerce platforms established outside the European Union. Every year, billions of small parcels cross the Union’s borders, creating an unprecedented administrative burden for customs authorities. According to the EU legislator, the previous regime also encouraged practices such as undervaluing goods or artificially…

The facts A couple applied to rent an apartment in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. The monthly rent amounted to EUR 1,395, plus EUR 195 in fixed charges. The prospective tenants had a combined net income of approximately EUR 4,200 per month. This income met the commonly applied standard of three times the basic rent, but not three times…

New binding social objective through 2042 The most significant change concerns the introduction of a new binding social objective (BSO) for the period 2026-2042. The decree stipulates that the existing social housing stock must be expanded by 50,000 additional social rental units by no later than December 31, 2042 (Article 2.23, §1 VCW). This objective…

1. Background and scope of the new obligation Directive (EU) 2023/2673, amending Directive 2011/83/EU as regards financial services contracts concluded at a distance and repealing Directive 2002/65/EC, inserts a new Article 11a into the Consumer Rights Directive. This introduces a new obligation for traders concluding distance contracts with consumers through online interfaces. Although the Directive…

The reason is clear. Although the European Union benefits from an internal market, businesses still face, in practice, diverging national rules, formalities and administrative procedures. For start-ups, scale-ups, investors and international groups, this fragmentation remains a barrier to growth, financing and cross-border expansion. The EU Inc. aims to provide a pragmatic response to these challenges.…

A vendor due diligence essentially means that a transferor or seller, before the actual sale process is initiated, even before the company is brought to market, conducts an internal review of the company in order to identify potential issues or deal breakers (matters that could affect the purchase price or result in extensive warranty obligations)…

1. A “Disguised Right of Pre-emption” in Practice Although this does not constitute a classic right of pre-emption, whereby the tenant simply steps into the position of a third-party purchaser, the system does require the seller to first submit a concrete and complete offer to sell to the tenant. In that sense, this right of…