France has already been carrying out this type of border control with Italy since 2015. In a few days, these will be extended to all its borders. “It is a model that has proven itself” wrote Michel Barnier on X. “We are going to generalize it across all of France’s land borders. »
These controls should be maintained until April 30, 2025, according to what France has notified to the European Commission. Under the principle of free movement in the Schengen area, a Member State can only reintroduce controls at its internal borders temporarily and in the event of a serious threat to public order or internal security, recalls the League of Rights of Man (LDH).
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Modem choice
Internet connection users will no longer be required to purchase their modem from their operator when taking out an internet subscription from November 1. Modems and routers are in fact part of the user’s terminal equipment, who will therefore be able to choose them freely for broadband and internet telephony, according to a decision taken by the Belgian Institute of Postal Services and Telecommunications (IBPT ).
The aim of the measure is to increase competition in the telecommunications market and allow the user to choose a more durable device or one offering additional functionalities, for example in terms of security.
Television services are not affected by this decision because BIPT considers it unlikely that an alternative TV decoder will be developed due to low market demand. Users will therefore have to continue to use that of the operator. Conventional telephone communications and services with higher quality levels, such as non-residential services, are also excluded from the measurement.
In its decision taken in October last year, the BIPT ordered operators to make the necessary IT adaptations to allow end users to be able to connect their own equipment to the network within twelve months, i.e. from the 1st November 2024.
This change endorsed by the BIPT is part of a dynamic at the level of the European Union, which has already mentioned the principle of the user’s choice of its terminal equipment in several directives and regulations.
Currently, around ten European countries, including Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, already allow customers to freely choose their modem.
Internet outage
People experiencing a prolonged outage of the internet or telephone network will be able to request (small) compensation from telecom operators from November 1.
The operator will now have to compensate customers affected by the interruption for more than eight hours of a public electronic communications service, such as the internet or telephone. This measure applies to both fixed and mobile services. Prepaid card users will also be able to receive compensation if they request it.
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Compensation starts at one euro after the first 16 hours of outage and increases every day, unless it is a case of force majeure for the operator (breakdown linked to a natural disaster for example).
The operator may also offer another form of compensation, such as free services.
The compensation will be readjusted each year according to the consumer price index.
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Epizootic haemorrhagic disease vaccine
From November, Belgian farmers will be able to vaccinate their cattle against the epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus. The Hepizovac vaccine has been approved for use by the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP).
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is a viral disease that is transmitted via the bites of certain mosquitoes. Affected animals show symptoms similar to those suffering from bluetongue, also called bluetongue disease.
There is currently no outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in Belgium. The authorities note, however, that this disease is approaching the Belgian borders. The vaccine is the only effective way to prevent it.
Vaccination is carried out on a voluntary basis.
The epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus vaccine will become compulsory in 2025, only for cattle.
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Mandatory prescription for certain medications
Access to Sinutab and similar medicines will be subject to the presentation of a medical prescription from November 1, indicated the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP).
A royal decree recently published in the Belgian Official Gazette now requires medical prescription for medications based on the active ingredients (pseudo-)ephedrine and fusidic acid, i.e. Sinutab and similar medications.
