AGP Executive Report

Industrial Investment: Unilin will invest over €100m to modernise its Unilin Panels Oostrozebeke (Belgium) particleboard site, adding a new continuous press and cutting energy use by 8% while keeping output at 575,000m³. Biotech & Pharma: Gilead and Lakefront Biotherapeutics have completed the acquisition of Ouro Medicines, adding gamgertamig (OM336) to expand T cell engager inflammation pipelines, with registrational studies expected as early as 2027. Regulated Tech in Belgium: TOMI Environmental Solutions secured EU regulatory approvals for its Binary Ionization Technology, now authorised in Belgium and several other member states via mutual recognition. Payments & Retail: Wero is expanding in Germany for online shopping via ING, following Belgium’s earlier go-live, pushing account-to-account payments into everyday e-commerce. Energy Transition: A new study suggests offshore wind could cover about 11% of the North Sea by 2050 if current commitments are met. Diplomacy & Trade: Belgium plans to open an embassy in Tashkent, aiming to deepen cooperation on logistics, energy and critical raw materials with Central Asia. Logistics/Industry: Unilin’s upgrade and Belgium’s embassy plans both point to continued focus on manufacturing competitiveness and cross-border supply chains.

Automotive Finance & AI: Ghent-based Sofico has acquired US AI firm Vinli to turn its Miles fleet management platform into an AI-powered decision engine, serving 40+ customers across 30 countries. Retail Demand: Eurostat data shows eurozone retail volumes fell 0.4% in April, with Belgium among the biggest monthly decliners (-1.8%) as fuel sales dropped. Low-Emission Aviation: Ostend-Bruges Airport hosted a demonstration electric cargo flight (Beta Alia CX300), aiming to scale electric and hybrid aircraft testing in Benelux. Agri-Feed Expansion: De Heus is buying Belgian feed producer Voeders Huys, adding ~250,000 tonnes/year capacity in Bruges and northern France. Food Manufacturing Investment: Cargill unveiled a €56m expansion in Mouscron, nearly doubling gourmet chocolate capacity and upgrading edible oils bottling plus a new extrusion pilot plant. Energy Transition Outlook: A study projects offshore wind could cover about 11% of the North Sea by 2050, up from 1% today, including Belgium. EU Enforcement: The European Commission launched infringement actions in its June package, including a Seveso III transposition push for Spain.

EU Policy: The European Commission adopted the 2026 European Semester Spring Package, pushing Member States toward competitiveness, skills, resilience and decarbonisation while keeping fiscal discipline and tackling the housing crisis. Belgium & Trade/Logistics: Amnesty International joined a Belgian criminal complaint against FedEx Belgium over alleged unlawful transit of military-linked cargo destined for Israel, raising questions about permits and oversight at Liège Airport. Cyber & Media: Europol’s “Operation Kratos 2” arrested 29 suspects and disrupted illegal streaming networks across Europe, taking down over 27,000 piracy URLs. Aviation/Industry: ACI Europe reported European airport passenger traffic fell 0.7% in April 2026 year-on-year, with Germany hit hardest by industrial action. Energy/Climate: Soil Capital’s large farm dataset suggests regenerative practices can cut drought-related crop losses in France, with bigger benefits where adoption is higher. Hydrogen Watch: Belgium’s hydrogen station rollout faces a “kilograms-per-day” reality check, with current vehicle numbers still too small to prove economics. Payments/AI: Worldline and ING completed a production agent payment pilot in Europe, using Mastercard rails and Belgium-based infrastructure.

Agentic Payments in Production: Worldline and ING say they’ve completed the first end-to-end European agent payment in a live production setting, using Mastercard rails and the same Belgium-based infrastructure—turning “agent commerce” into a pan-European reality. Energy Storage Finance: Aukera Energy has reached financial close on Belgium’s Project Volt, a 170MW/340MWh BESS in La Louvière, backed by €97.5m debt facilities and a 15-year Elia capacity remuneration contract. Belgium Food Manufacturing Investment: Cargill will put €56m into three Belgian sites—edible oil bottling in Izegem, chocolate production in Mouscron, and an innovation centre in Vilvoorde—to expand capacity and R&D for European demand. Aviation Disruption: Ryanair reports major cancellations and delays tied to a “wildcat” strike by Belgian air traffic controllers, affecting flights to/from Charleroi and Zaventem and leaving thousands stranded. Telecom Infrastructure Expansion: DIDWW extends SIP trunking to Belgium, adding local call termination coverage across more European markets. Security & Defence: Belgium’s frigate Leopold I sails for a NATO North Atlantic deployment, supporting maritime combat training and protection of key trade routes. AI Licensing Standards: SPUR expands its publisher usage-rights coalition, adding new members including Belgium-based Mediahuis, to set common rules for AI use of journalism.

North Sea Security: Belgium’s updated Marine Spatial Plan (in force to 2034) puts more focus on maritime security and protecting critical seabed assets like offshore wind cables, with Defence, the coastguard and inspection firms stepping up. Payments & AI Commerce: Worldline and ING completed Europe’s first end-to-end agentic payment in production across Belgium and the Netherlands on Mastercard rails, showing “agentic commerce” is moving from pilots to real transactions. Fintech Under Scrutiny: Wise is facing a Belgian money-laundering investigation tied to suspected suspicious transactions worth over €500m, adding to prior US regulator actions and hitting the firm’s shares. EV & Battery Signals: Analysts expect EV and energy storage orders to pick up in 2H26, with LG Energy Solution highlighted on multiple ESS order waves and Europe/Asia Tesla momentum. Automotive Finance AI: Ghent-based SOFICO is buying US AI firm Vinli to accelerate its agentic AI push for automotive finance and leasing. Digital Identity Rules: AVPA warns a Spanish regulator decision on biometrics could force non-biometric alternatives for EU digital identity wallets, raising compliance pressure for identity tech providers.

Payments & AI Commerce: Worldline and ING completed Europe’s first end-to-end “agentic” payment in production with Mastercard, running across Belgium and the Netherlands on the same infrastructure. Belgian Aviation Disruption: Skeyes air traffic controller strikes forced Brussels Airport to cancel about 100 flights and suspend all flights to/from Belgium from 2pm to 9pm, with knock-on effects for other Belgian airports. Fintech Under Probe: Belgium’s public prosecutor is investigating UK fintech Wise over suspected anti-money laundering control failures, with prosecutors citing cross-border requests tied to alleged underlying crimes. Dairy Market Signals: EU milk collection rose 4% in March (Belgium +9.2%), while average farm-gate milk prices fell 19% year-on-year, with Belgium down sharply (-30%). Food & Nutrition M&A: Lactalis acquired UK active nutrition firm Protein Works, adding DTC and protein-based brands across Europe including Belgium. Budget Pressure in Belgium: The Federal Planning Bureau listed 264 options to close Belgium’s budget gap, urging fast action as consolidation needs rise. Defense & Industry: FN Herstal unveiled the FN ARKA rifle platform, while Belgium’s FN also continues expanding modern small-arms offerings.

Belgian Finance Watch: Wise shares slid after Belgian authorities opened a money-laundering probe into the fintech’s use for alleged criminal activity, citing weak client identification and activity checks. Port & Logistics: Brussels Airport’s air-freight continuity is secured as Van Moer Logistics takes over Ziegler’s air cargo operations after Ziegler bankruptcy, aiming to protect jobs and expand multimodal services. Energy Transition: Gasunie inaugurated a 32-km hydrogen pipeline section in Rotterdam, linking Maasvlakte hydrogen supply to the Pernis industrial cluster and setting up future links toward Germany and Belgium. Maritime Rules: The IMO’s 2010 HNS Convention is set to enter into force on 29 Nov 2027, closing a long-standing liability gap for hazardous sea cargo. North Sea CCS/Hydrogen Policy: A new report warns CCS and hydrogen scale-up across the North Sea needs coordinated infrastructure planning, clearer cross-border rules, and stronger investor confidence. Health & Biotech: A Radboud/Ghent study finds many psoriasis patients can safely taper newer biologics, potentially cutting injections and costs. Belgium in the Supply Chain: TerraPower Isotopes and PanTera expand actinium-225 production, adding capacity in Fleurus and Mol to support cancer therapy trials.

Belgian finance under scrutiny: Wise shares plunged after Belgian prosecutors in Brussels lodged queries over alleged anti-money-laundering non-compliance tied to about €500m in cross-border activity, with the fintech saying it’s cooperating and that no specific findings have been shared yet. Cybersecurity risk for industry: Belgium’s Centre for Cybersecurity warned that Windows Netlogon flaw CVE-2026-41089 is being exploited in the wild, urging patching after Microsoft released fixes. EV remarketing support: AVILOO launched a battery warranty backed by independent diagnostics, aiming to reduce uncertainty in used EV sales across dealer and fleet channels. Digital commerce expansion: TikTok Shop will roll out in Belgium on June 15, adding a “Sell Across Europe” feature for multi-country selling. Green claims enforcement: The EU Commission opened infringement procedures against Belgium and 19 other states for not fully transposing green-claims and sustainability-label rules ahead of the September 2026 application date. Aerospace/defence procurement: The US approved a possible foreign military sale to Belgium of AGM-184 Joint Strike Missiles for F-35A internal carriage. Pharma leadership move: Ardena appointed Ariane de Ganck as Chief Scientific Officer, strengthening CMC and project execution across its CDMO services.

EU Sanctions Watch: Brussels is weighing a temporary freeze on its Russia oil price cap, keeping it at $44.10/bbl instead of letting the next July reset potentially jump toward ~$65, as Middle East tensions and Strait of Hormuz disruptions keep energy markets volatile. Belgium Media & Law: Belgium’s constitutional court rejected most of Netflix’s challenge to a rule requiring streaming platforms to invest in local content; the fight now heads to the European Court of Justice on technicalities, but the core principle stands. Energy & Industry: A new analysis argues Europe’s “clean energy future” still leans on fossil-fuel import realities, even after energy diplomacy helped during the Ukraine shock. Textiles Circularity: AMI’s Textiles Recycling Expo, launched in Brussels in 2025, has now debuted in Charlotte, spotlighting recycling as a key industry fix. Climate on Food Supply: Heat waves are stressing European agriculture, with impacts reported on poultry egg quality and fruit size via water scarcity and heat stress. Belgian Business/Manufacturing: Sonaca is set to expand Belgium’s role in F-35 tail section production, reinforcing local aerospace manufacturing capacity.

Heat & Food Supply: A continent-wide heat wave is stressing European farms and livestock, with fragile eggshells and smaller fruit sizes linked to poultry heat stress and water scarcity, raising risks for food quality and supply chains. Energy Security: UK grid operators warn extreme heat could trigger blackouts as ageing infrastructure struggles above 30C, after past power losses and wider pressure on utilities. EU Sanctions & Oil Markets: The EU is weighing a temporary freeze on its Russian oil price cap at the current level (about $44.10/bbl), as the Iran war pushes prices higher and the next review could lift the cap. Belgium Industry Leadership: TVH has appointed Giuliano Parodi as CEO from 1 September 2026, bringing nearly 25 years in industrial equipment and automotive, including long experience in Belgium. Construction & Water Infrastructure (Belgium): BESIX Environment and Socogetra plan to overhaul a Belgian wastewater treatment plant, targeting major upgrades to local water infrastructure. Agribusiness Pressure (EU): Italian tobacco growers fear EU regulatory changes could undermine livelihoods, with concerns about subsidy access and cheaper imports.

Belgian public finances: Belgium’s budget debate is heating up as the federal government targets a 15–20bn euro cut to hit the EU 3% deficit rule, while critics argue the real issue is tax collection and underpayment via structures like management services companies. Aviation & industry costs: Belgium is set to increase its aviation tax again, raising fresh concerns among airlines and adding pressure to travel and logistics costs. EU trade & sanctions: Ireland and EU officials are scrutinising Aughinish Alumina after claims its alumina exports could indirectly support Russia’s war effort, with EU sanctions discussions now moving toward tighter controls. Energy & infrastructure: Flemish authorities extend energy support for industry into additional sectors, while BESIX Environment and Socogetra plan a wastewater treatment overhaul in Belgium. Health & research: The 17th European Glaucoma Society congress lands in Brussels (30 May–2 June), spotlighting surgery, imaging and digital innovation for eye care. Security cooperation: Japan joins NATO’s PURL Ukraine initiative with about $14.7m for non-lethal equipment, underlining continued allied procurement support.

EU-China Trade Tensions: China warned it will take “necessary” measures after the European Commission prepares steps to shield EU industry from Chinese competition, with Beijing arguing protectionism would hurt European consumers and competitiveness. Belgium Industry & Trade: Brussels also published new detail on how EU export controls are evolving, with more decisions pushed to member states and growing focus on end-use and transaction context. Energy Prices in the EU: The Strait of Hormuz crisis is still biting: EU petrol and diesel rose sharply between late February and late May, with Belgium among the biggest jumpers. Belgium Aviation Tax: Belgium plans to increase its aviation tax again, raising fresh concerns for airlines. Water & Wastewater Infrastructure: BESIX Environment and Socogetra are set to overhaul a wastewater treatment plant in Belgium. Semiconductors & AI Supply Chain: LAM Research’s event highlighted advanced chip technologies and featured a Belgian spin-off, Vertical Compute, tied to imec. Health in Brussels: The European Glaucoma Society congress opens in Brussels today, bringing surgery, imaging and industry programming together. Retail Tech: TikTok Shop expands to Belgium from June 15, adding new buying and selling options in-app.

Aviation Tax Shock: Belgium plans another rise in its “vliegtaks” embarkation tax, with airlines warning it will hit competitiveness and tourism. Border Tech Strain: The EU Entry/Exit System is causing long queues and delays at airports, including Belgium’s Brussels Airport, as first-time biometric enrolment bottlenecks travellers. Aerospace & Industry: Leonardo is expanding UK helicopter support with a new Elstree maintenance hub, while Belgium’s Sonaca is set to manufacture F-35 tail sections. Energy & Climate: Puratos says it has achieved carbon neutral status for core scope 1 and 2 categories, backed by renewable power and efficiency projects. Textiles Circularity: TEXAID and Avery Dennison trial RFID tagging in Belgium to speed up textile sorting for EU waste rules. Solar Compliance: SGS Belgium-backed IEC CB testing recognition boosts international approval pathways for solar PV testing via Delhi Test House. Logistics in Motion: Astral Aviation delivered 100 tons of humanitarian aid from Liège to DR Congo using multi-leg air cargo planning.

Belgian Aerospace & Defence: Belgium has inaugurated a fully digital production line at Sonaca in Gosselies for F-35A horizontal tail sections, with the first stabiliser built and an estimated €192m investment; the BeLightning consortium says the programme could bring €400m+ in benefits and create 150 skilled jobs by 2035. EU Competition & Consumer Rules: The European Commission unconditionally cleared Arla’s acquisition of DMK and DOC under the EU Merger Regulation, finding no competition concerns across key dairy and whey markets. Regulatory Pressure: Brussels also opened infringement steps against 20 EU states, including Belgium, over delayed transposition of the “Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition” rules on green claims and labels. Logistics & Retail Tech: TikTok Shop expands to Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Poland from 15 June, aiming to boost in-app buying for EU sellers. Industrial Relations: Bpost and unions agreed a new collective deal for this year and next after strikes over later working hours, adding job security, higher meal vouchers and a bonus. Energy & Security: Norway joined France’s “Enhanced Nuclear Deterrence” programme, raising participating countries to ten, including Belgium.

AI in Banking: Morgan Stanley says AI is more likely to cut European bank costs than crush revenue, projecting 10%+ headcount reductions over five years and structural gains in cost-to-income ratios. Fashion Resale: Zalando is partnering with Vestiaire Collective to bring verified pre-owned luxury to Zalando’s Pre-owned category across 14 European markets. Logistics Tech in Belgium: PostNL is rolling out Datalogic Memor 35 handhelds to keep parcel operations running smoothly as older devices hit end-of-life. Warehouse Automation: Dematic and Alheembouw are building an NMBS logistics centre in Mechelen with a high-bay warehouse and AutoStore system for railway spares. EU Consumer Enforcement: The European Commission fined Temu €200m over illegal products, including unsafe baby toys and defective chargers. Maritime Decarbonisation: IMO approved new safety guidelines for ammonia-fuelled gas carriers, with Belgian FPS Mobility and EXMAR among partners. Energy Storage Push in Belgium: Engie and NHOA Energy are constructing a 320 MWh battery in Belgium, adding to the country’s grid flexibility build-out. Cocoa Volatility Response: Cargill is expanding cocoa-free chocolate options (NextCoa) as the industry looks for alternatives amid supply swings.

Belgium Business Leadership: TVH has appointed Giuliano Parodi as its new CEO from 1 September, bringing nearly 25 years of industrial equipment and automotive experience from Yanmar and earlier roles at Bobcat and Fiat. Belgium Health & DeepTech: ReVision Implant raised €4m to advance its brain-based visual prosthesis toward human trials, including new cleanroom capacity and support via European innovation programmes. Belgium Biotech/Industry Finance: D-CRBN secured €17.5m to scale CO₂ recycling tech, aiming to turn industrial emissions into circular carbon molecules. EU Trade & Environment: The European Commission’s leather deforestation stance is under fire after research suggested leather could drive significant forest loss, while Brussels moved to drop bovine hides from the EU Deforestation Regulation scope. Belgium Diplomacy: Belgium summoned Russia’s ambassador over threats to Kyiv diplomats, warning Moscow against intimidation and calling for genuine peace talks. Energy/Industry Watch: Engie has started construction on a third Belgian battery park, adding to the country’s push to expand storage capacity. Security & Defence: France and Norway signed a defence pact under a French-led nuclear deterrence initiative, with Norway set to come under France’s nuclear umbrella—an EU security signal that also matters for Belgium’s defence planning.