Author: Axel Woit
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Tightening of public procurement regulations following new European threshold amounts from January 1, 2026
The European threshold amounts indicate whether or not a public procurement is subject to the European regime, and in particular to the European rules on publication, references in the tender documents, remedies, etc. Public procurements with an estimated value equal to or higher than the European thresholds will be subject to European publication. This means…
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Tax challenges for cryptocurrency investors
Under current Belgian tax legislation, capital gains realised by individuals on cryptocurrencies may either be exempt as part of the normal management of private wealth, taxed as miscellaneous income at a separate rate of 33%, or – in cases of a regular and organised activity – taxed as professional income at progressive rates. Recent practice…
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Reconstruction of destroyed or damaged non-zoned dwelling: No time pressure without a clear insurance amount
Judgment of the Council for Permit Disputes of September 18, 2025, no. RvVb-A-2526-0037. What was the issue? The owner of a house lost his home after a fire in 2016. This house was not zoned for residential use, as it was located in an agricultural area, a zone where residential construction is generally not permitted.…
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Farewell to Two Familiar Faces: Leo Peeters and Ann Vranken
Leo Peeters has built an exceptional career as a lawyer specializing in corporate, financial, and economic law, gaining extensive experience in areas such as M&A, reorganizations, and financial law. He began his career as a legal counsel at several companies, including PwC and EY, where he served as a Partner for many years. In 1998,…
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To Share or Not to Share. Why pre-contractual information is essential in commercial collaborations.
What does this duty to inform entail exactly? Before signing an agreement, you must provide your contracting partner with two documents: 1. The draft collaboration agreement2. The pre-contractual information document (PID) The PID is the central document and consists of two parts, which must include at least the following information: This also applies to extensions…
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Local authorities no longer judge and participate in their own construction projects
In Flanders, construction projects are assessed for their environmental impact. In many cases, the applicant will therefore have to provide a note identifying these impacts (project EIA screening note). This note also determines whether a so-called environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required, which is a comprehensive expert report on the environmental impact. It is initially…
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Local authorities no longer judge and participate in their own construction projects
In Flanders, construction projects are assessed for their environmental impact. In many cases, the applicant will therefore have to provide a note identifying these impacts (project EIA screening note). This note also determines whether a so-called environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required, which is a comprehensive expert report on the environmental impact. It is initially…
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Andersen in Belgium is now a Certified B Corp
What? This certification connects us to a global community of businesses committed to meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental responsibility, ethical governance, transparency, and accountability. It reflects our dedication to balancing purpose and profit by integrating positive impact into every aspect of our operations. We reinforce our commitment to act with integrity, supporting our communities, and…
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Constitutional Court annuls prohibition on teaching by former police officers in the private investigation sector
Content of the Act of 18 May 2024 on private investigation The Act of 18 May 2024, which repealed and replaced the Private Detective Act of 1991, was intended to professionalize the sector. To that end, it introduced strict rules determining who may perform which functions: Proceedings before the Constitutional Court A former police commissioner,…
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An offer is not always binding: Ghent Court of Appeal clarifies in real estate sales
The sale of real estate rarely occurs without legal nuance. This is once again demonstrated by a recent ruling of the Ghent Court of Appeal dated June 4, 2025. Hereby, the court rules that an offer from a prospective buyer, despite being accepted by the seller, does not automatically result in a definitive sale nor…