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Develop your internal network in social media
While working with the EU as a consultant, I've learned a lot about the importance of an internal network. You can have the best ideas in the world, but if you've got no insider support for what you plan to do, you won't get anything done. Every Dire...
What's the tone of EU social media?
In tone, successful social media is meant to engage and enlighten, the way a nice conversation with a friend (or even a random stranger) can. Such unexpected chats add value to your life. They take a concern or an idea and explore it with you, offeri...
The European Commission and mass communication
There are two issues when it comes to the European Commission and mass communication: leadership and audience. Fortunately, these issues are pretty easily resolved by the EC's communication units - provided they have the flexibility and the support t...
European communications and social media
European communications through more socia media would be a good idea right about now.Communicating through social media could help people understand what the EU does, who does it, and how. It could help people understand not only the EU's relevance,...
Belgium beats the USA in income distribution
I think that the USA and Belgium are both great countries, each in their own way. But in income distribution, Belgium (and most EU countries, save for the UK) kicks US to the curb. And that's important, as this video demonstrates. Maybe that's why we...
Drink like a Bruxellois(e)
Belgium is THE place for beer. Brussels is the capital.Beer connoisseurs the world over are awed by the selection available in our fair city. You could drink a different label of beer every day for two years and still not have tried everything. Appro...
Business in Belgium
Belgian business is personal. Remember that.American business is not.What follows is a gross exaggeration meant only to poke fun at the differences in work culture. Please don't take it too seriously and gift me with comments of a cruel nature.In the...
Get married to a Belgian in Belgium
An American reader planning to wed a Belgian in Belgium has provided some insight on what it's like to get legally married in Brussels.What is a legal marriage in Belgium? In Brussels or in any other city in Belgium, the commune in which you or your...
Shopping in Belgium
In Belgium, it's up to the buyer to be the expert in what they are purchasing. Never never never never never trust the company to sell you what you need. Always always always check to ensure that you are buying what you want and not what they want to...
Still no government
'L'Union fait la force - Eendracht maakt macht'Belgium's two main mottos say it all. Strength in unity. Divided by language.In Belgium, we've gone now for 321 days now with no federal government. And we're none the worse for wear. Since mid-February,...
Brussels Citizens University
Brussels Citizens University (1-3/10/2010): Where is Brussels heading? Organised by Aula Magna, with the support of ULB, VUB and FUSL...
Buying property in Belgium - how to buy a house, how buy an appartment in Belgium
Purchasing property in Belgium is a commitment.A purchased property with a mortgage that is sold within five years of purchase carries a heavy capital gains tax. There are several layers of paperwork in buying a property and all of them cost. Overall...
Start a Business in Belgium
Image from betterthangettingby.comA post in response to some questions about business in Belgium that I've got via email:Belgium has a number of avenues available for those looking to start a business. Belgium is the political capital of the economic...
Is the EU a brand?
This weekend a German woman told me, "I pay 200 euros a month in taxes to the European Union, and outside of (expletive)-ing with the euro, I can't tell you what it does."Lack of clarity and consistency in communication between government and citizen...
The EU and the European citizen's perspective
The EU has an image problem.The EU is criticized by some communication experts for being too distant, too top-down, too old (too old-fashioned that is) and too touchy when it comes to external criticism (a person is either with us or against us - whi...
The EU could learn from Facebook
They can criticize Facebook all they want. But EU bureaucrats and the EU could benefit from thinking more like Facebook and less like a top-heavy treaty organization.First, be user-driven. Facebook develops and innovates for its users and responds qu...
Private data and the EU
The EU is getting very concerned with protecting the private data of its citizens.Between organising an 'Article 29' Working party to research and advise on the amount and use of private data by corporations running social media platforms (Facebook i...
Europe Day
May 9th is Europe Day.On May 9th, 1950, the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the idea of a supranational community for Europe. His idea soon became the economic union of France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherl...
What are Eurocrats paid and how does one become a Eurocrat?
There is some smoldering resentment in Brussels when it comes to salary. In Belgium, salary is the result of an individual negotiation between the employee and the employer, and the truth of the salary is often a carefully guarded secret. Most people...
Eyjafjallajokull and the economics of the EU
I and a special guest that has been with me for three weeks are now stranded in Brussels.We had plans to finish his vacation in Dublin (not enough rain here in Brussels, you see). But now my week of hard-earned vacation may be spent...well, possibly...
