Advocate General’s Opinion in Ikea v Vlaams Belang | Political Use of Trade Marks and “Due Cause”
Introduction On 13 November 2025, Advocate General (AG) Szpunar delivered his Opinion in Case C‑298/23, Inter IKEA Systems BV v. Vrijheidsfonds VZW and others. The case concerns the use of IKEA’s well‑known trade marks in a political campaign run for the Belgian political party Vlaams Belang and, more broadly, how far political actors can go […]
OECD Releases Side-by-Side Administrative Guidance Package on Pillar Two
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released a Side-by-Side administrative guidance package under the Pillar Two Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) framework. The guidance is designed to support the coordinated and consistent application of the GloBE rules across jurisdictions, with a particular focus on the practical operation of side-by-side regimes adopted by different implementing countries and regions. From an administrative […]
MiCAR licence applications finally available in Belgium
1. Introduction Since 30 December 2024, the EU’s Regulation 2023/1114 on markets in crypto-assets (“MiCAR”) has been fully applicable. On 4 December 2025, the Belgian Parliament adopted, in plenary session, a law implementing MiCAR (the “Implementing Law”), which designates the national competent authorities responsible for the licensing, supervision, and enforcement of crypto-asset entities. The law, […]
The EBA sheds new light on Strong Customer Authentication
In October 2025, the European Banking Authority (“EBA”) released three Question and Answers (“Q&A”) on the topic of strong customer authentication (“SCA”). In particular, the Q&As focussed on the topics of (i) payment terminals that do not allow for an offline PIN, (ii) which encryption techniques should be used for exchanging data and (iii) the […]
An “alcohol-free gin” cannot be called “gin”
In a judgment of 13 November 2025 (C-563/24), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) clarified that the use of the mention “gin” for non-alcoholic gin is prohibited, even if accompanied by the mention “alcohol-free” PB is a company that sells and promotes, among other things, a non-alcoholic beverage called “Virgin Gin Alkoholfrei” […]
Book 9 « Securities » of the Belgian Civil Code, Title 1 « Personal Security »
On 15 May 2025, the Belgian legislature passed the bill introducing Title I “Personal Securities” of Book 9 “Securities” into the Civil Code. This title comprises the first part of a book that will ultimately also govern mortgages, pledges, retention of title and retention rights, and privileges. It will enter into force on 1st January […]
EU Pay Transparency Directive | Practical Implications for (all) Employers
The EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive 2023/970) introduces significant obligations aimed at increasing transparency to strengthen the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women. Member States must transpose the Directive into national law by 7 June 2026. Therefore, employers should start reviewing and adjusting their pay […]
EU Listing Act | Key Changes to the Prospectus Regulation
I. Introduction: EU Listing Act Package On 8 October 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted the Listing Act, a legislative initiative designed to enhance the attractiveness and accessibility of EU public capital markets, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”), with the overarching objective of making these markets more attractive to both issuers […]
The EU Data Act now applies | Key Compliance Points for Businesses selling Connected Products and Services
The Data Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/2854) applies across the EU as from 12 September 2025. It reshapes access to and use of data generated by connected products and related services and the design by default of these connected products and related services, introduces pre-contractual information obligations, tightens contract fairness rules (B2B) and sets essential requirements […]
Two years of FDI Screening in Belgium: What’s New?
The Federal Public Service of Economy (“Federale Overheidsdienst Economie” / “Service public fédéral Economie”) has published its second annual report on the Belgian Foreign Direct Investment (“FDI”) screening mechanism, covering the period from 1 July 2024 up until 30 June 2025. The report demonstrates a system that is consolidating and evolving in its second year […]
The European Commission invites stakeholders’ feedback on new technology transfer rules
Introduction The European Commission is currently seeking public feedback by 23 October 2025 on its proposed updates to the rules that govern how companies in the EU share technology with one another. These rules – known as the Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (nr. 316/2014; “TTBER” – see publication in the Official Journal of the […]
Protection of national trademarks against stocking elsewhere within the European Union
CJEU clarifies that a national trademark holder can prevent a third party from stocking infringing goods in another Member State if those goods are intended for sale in the country where the trademark is protected. In a judgment of 1 August 2025 (C-76/24), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) clarified the scope […]