Imagine that you come back from vacation but you’re unhappy about your trip: the hotel was not as described or your reservation wasn’t confirmed and you had to be transferred to another hotel. The Expat Welcome Desk explains how you should react…

Think European, vote local + VoteBrussels campaigns are reaching high!
While our CEIO staff backed the VoteBrussels volunteers duty on several EC buildings, Commissioner Oettinger himself showed up to express his support to the initiative.

More info :

• Sign up now! www.vote.brussels
• Share the encouragement from Commissioner Oettinger: https://twitter.com/GOettingerEU/status/1013738585906872326
• Bust those myths about obligatory voting: www.vote.brussels/4-myths
• Answer people's FAQs: www.commissioner.brussels/…/683-political-participation-678…
• And start to talk about the local election issues & candidates: https://brussels-express.eu/category/brussels-elections/

The jury for the architectural competition on the "Loi 130" project of the European commission met for the first time last week. Brussels-Capital Region is represented in the jury by the Minister-President and the Master Archictect "Bouwmeester" Mr Kristiaan Borret is also jury member. The Brussels Commissioner for Europe, Mr Alain Hutchinson, proposed as deputy-jurer, attented the meeting.
More info on the project: http://ec.europa.eu/oib/loi130-competition/news_en.htm

During the month of May, Belgian tax authorities send out the tax return forms in brown envelopes, to all tax payers. Depending on your situation, filling in these returns can be quite complicated! Below are some guidelines from the Expat Welcome Desk.

Since 1^st January several changes have taken place in various areas of Brussels life: the registration of residential tenancy contracts; the level of penal fines; the maternity leave for self-employed women; a BE HOME rebate; and the procedures for household garbage collection.

From January pay attention to your garbage collection because the days and schedules are going to change. And there’s another change: a new orange bag for organic waste. The Expat Welcome Desk summarises the important points below.

A road accident can be a frightening experience and you may find it difficult to stay calm. Being an expat in Brussels and perhaps not fluent in the local language only adds to the problem. But it is important that you try to keep a clear head and follow the right procedure…

Need tips on how to settle down in Brussels? What can be better than getting some advice from an expat AND Greeter? Klaus, of Belgian and German origin, shares ten of his best tips.