In the context of its policy to focus its private banking activities on selected onshore and off-shore markets, where the group already has a significant presence, Dexia has decided to sell its UK private banking activities, said Dexia in a statement today.

Belgium's Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said solving frozen conflicts in former Soviet states and tackling organized crime would be among the main priorities in the year ahead. De Gucht was addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna for the first time as Chair-in-Office.

The fifth edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) shows Belgium slipping again. In terms of trend performance, Belgium is falling behind on over half of the indicators, suggesting problems in the future, said the European Commission.

Belgacom's shareholders will see the benefits of the takeover of Telindus from 2007 said Belgacom President CEO Didier Bellens. Belgacom now controls 32.5 million Telindus shares, or just under 91 per cent of all stocks.

Belgium's Serge Brammertz has been appointed Commissioner of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Brammertz will succeed Detlev Mehlis.

Just days before Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt's visit to the US, where the Belgian PM meets George Bush for just 30 minutes, Belgium's employers have made a well-timed plea for a more favorable business climate.

Belgacom now controls 32.5 million Telindus shares, or just under 91 per cent of all stocks. Belgacom set itself an initial goal of controlling at least 75 per cent of all shares.

On 1 January 1986 Spain and Portugal acceded to the European Community. The Community opened up more towards the south, continuing a movement started five years earlier with the accession of Greece.

Banksys, owned by major Belgian banks, is looking for partners. The company, founded in 1989 following the merger of Belgian payment networks Mister Cash and Bancontact, authorizes, secures, and guarantees electronic payments in Belgium.

Belgian chemicals group Recticel adjusted its forecasts for 2005 results. For the full year 2005, Recticel expects sales to grow by some 7%.

Brussels is where most of the European Parliament's activities take place. So why is Strasbourg still the official 'seat' of the Parliament and the general secretariat in Luxembourg?

Belgian PM Verhofstadt welcomed French President Jacques Chirac's suggestion that a group of 'pioneer' countries take the lead in Euroepan integration.

Belgium, which currently holds the OSCE chair, restated the need for Turkey to sign the Ankara protocol extending the EU's customs union to all ten new member states including Cyprus.

Belgium's Solvay today announced the acquisition of Mississippi Polymer Technologies. Solvay has assembled among the largest and most distinctive range of specialty polymers, said Vincenzo Morici, head of Solvay's Specialty Polymers unit.

Following the Turkish avian influenza outbreak, Belgium has started a general public call center to answer questions as to the disease. The government is also providing further information at www.influenza.be.

As of 1 January 2006, companies in Belgium have been able to claim notional interest deduction. The original law foresaw the amount of the notional interest deduction remaining on a separate account for the financial year and the three following financial years.

The procedure to expand the industrial zone started back in 1990. That's 15 long years ago, said Marc Langohr, Director of the East Belgium Economic Promotion Agency. The industrial zone was full, which made it extremely difficult to attract new companies.

Belgium's pricy supermarket chain Delhaize launched, on 2 January, a new campaign that has cut prices by some 1 to 1.5 per cent on 1000 products. Delhaize, which is number two in Belgium, recently posted disappointing quarterly results.

France Telecom has decided to not increase but to withdraw its bid. This is due to the strategic and financial criteria of its industrial project for acquiring Telindus not being fulfilled, said France Telecom in a statement.

Brussels Review will wind down its reporting from today till the first week of January 2006. We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of Belgian business and look forward to you reading Brussels Review in 2006. Our sincere seasonal wishes.

Telindus directors stated yesterday that Belgacom's improved second offer is better in monetary terms, although France Telecom still offers better development perspectives.

The National Bank of Belgium noted a 'marked' improvement in consumer confidence in December.

ING Belgium's Chief Economist Peter Vanden Houte says Belgian investor confidence in November was at its highest level for eight months.

Belgium, unlike Italy, was not today referred to the European Court of Justice by the European Commission for breaches to the internal market legislation.

Belgium's cut-price supermarket chain Colruyt posted turnover growth of 11.95 per cent for its six month operating period (from 1 April to 30 September 2005).

The European Commission today cleared, under EU merger regulation, acquisition of joint control of Belgian Post by Luxembourg-based CVC group and Post Danmark (via Post Invest Europe) and the Belgian State.

Foreign trade continued to post progress in 2005, albeit with a negative pressure on Belgium's favorable trade balance.

Despite both experiencing the Zeebrugge ferry catastrophe, the UK and Belgium have so far failed to fully transpose into national law EU legislation on roll-on/roll-off passenger ships.

The recent ill-informed press speculation surrounding the current investigation into Promocy is completely false, said Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary.

Companies will soon electronically register employees for social security administration.

InBev's world headquarters were blocked by workers protesting against restructuring plans. This follows three days of industrial action at the beginning of the month.

The draft law on the Generation Pact was finally passed by the Belgian Chamber yesterday.

Belgacom yesterday increased its offer for Telindus to €16.6 per share, just 5% up on France Telecom's €15.8. Belgacom's latest offer represents a total price of just under €600 million.

Interviewing 700 SMEs, Unizo concluded that 15.6 per cent of Flemish SMEs have jobs for employees from the east.

Belgian insurer and bank Ethias has received the Ethibel label for its First Pension Savings plan. Ethias has committed to investing according to ethical guidelines.

Public authorities should show the way by paying their bills within the agreed periods, said Robin Vieveen, Managing Director of Intrum Justitia Belgique.

Suez now holds 98.62% of Electrabel's total share capital.

10% less software piracy in Belgium could create almost 4000 new jobs, US$2.6 billion in economic growth and US$844 million in extra tax, argues BSA's Belgian branch.

Small companies, above all, often do not have the time to regularly check what is installed on their computers and how many licenses they have, said Erik Dejonghe, Spokesperson for Business Software Alliance Belgium. At times, that can lead to unintended transgressions. That's a pity.

National debt stood at EUR 279.45 billion on 31 November 2005, according to the latest figures released by the Belgian Debt Agency. Belgium is still more than a decade away from the Maastricht standard of 60 per cent of GDP.