---
title: "Brussels Daily Press Review — 2026-09-15"
date: 2026-09-15
lang: en
summary: "Brussels civil service shrinks 2.5% this year under hiring limits — and more Brussels news of the day."
tags: ["news","brussels","press-review"]
image: "/news/covers/2026/09/2026-09-15-cover.png"
---
# Brussels Daily Press Review — 2026-09-15
*Clear skies, 28 degrees, and Brussels still debates cleanliness. Even I know where the water should go.*

## TL;DR
Main Brussels stories today:
- Brussels’ civil service has already shrunk by 2.5% this year because of hiring restrictions.
- The Interior Minister wants to expand army patrols to Brussels’ drug hotspots.
- The public inquiry into parceling out the green Josaphat site in Schaerbeek has already drawn more than 6,000 reactions.
- Brussels’ public cleanliness reform is being defended as a way to reduce the number of rubbish bags left on streets.

## 🌤️ Weather
☀️ Clear in Brussels today — between 16°C and 28°C (now 17°C).

## Brussels civil service shrinks 2.5% this year under hiring limits
Brussels’ civil service has already shrunk by 2.5% this year because of hiring restrictions. The cut affects the regional administration at a time when public services and staffing levels are under pressure.

Source:
- [Brussels’ civil service already shrinking by 2.5% this year due to hiring restrictions - Brussels Times](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2317170/brussels-civil-service-already-shrinking-by-2-5-this-year-due-to-hiring-restrictions/)

## Army patrols sought for Brussels drug hotspots as Matonge trial opens
The Interior Minister wants to expand army patrols to Brussels’ drug hotspots. At the Justitia site, the “Matonge” trial is opening with 44 defendants prosecuted over drug sales.

Sources:
- [Interior Minister wants to expand army patrols to Brussels’ drugs hotspots - Brussels Times](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2315729/interior-minister-wants-to-expand-army-patrols-to-brussels-drug-violence-hotspots/)
- [Le procès “Matonge” ouvre au Justitia : 44 prévenus poursuivis pour vente de stupéfiants - BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/societe/le-proces-matonge-ouvre-au-justitia-44-prevenus-poursuivis-pour-vente-de-stupefiants/)

## Josaphat development plan draws more than 6,000 public objections
The public inquiry into parceling out the green Josaphat site in Schaerbeek has already drawn more than 6,000 reactions. Supporters of keeping Josaphat as a natural site are due to address the Schaerbeek municipal council on Wednesday.

Source:
- [Verkaveling Josaphatsite verhit de gemoederen: ruim 6.000 reacties op openbaar onderzoek - BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/stedenbouw/verkaveling-josaphatsite-verhit-de-gemoederen-ruim-6000-reacties-op-openbaar-onderzoek-2026-09-15)

## Public cleanliness reform aims to reduce rubbish bags on Brussels streets
Brussels’ public cleanliness reform is being defended as a way to reduce the number of rubbish bags left on streets. The stated aim is not to increase illegal dumping, but to change how waste is put out in public space.

Source:
- [Réforme de la propreté publique: “Le but n’est évidemment pas de multiplier les dépôt... - BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/reforme-de-la-proprete-publique-le-but-nest-evidemment-pas-de-multiplier-les-depots-clandestins-mais-plutot-de-reduire-les-sacs-en-rue/)

## Brussels metro marks 50 years amid calls for far more stations
Brussels is marking 50 years of metro service, described as having revolutionised mobility in the city. The anniversary also comes with criticism that Brussels should now have twice as many metro stations as it does.

Sources:
- [Le métro a 50 ans : “Aujourd’hui, on aurait dû avoir deux fois plus de stations de mé... - BX1](https://bx1.be/dossiers/bonsoir-bruxelles/le-metro-a-50-ans-aujourdhui-on-aurait-du-avoir-deux-fois-plus-de-stations-de-metro/)
- [50 ans du métro bruxellois : « Ça a révolutionné la mobilité de Bruxelles » - BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/mobilite/50-ans-du-metro-bruxellois-ca-a-revolutionne-la-mobilite-de-bruxelles/)

## Chinese Pavilion restoration will begin with the former stables
The first works at the Chinese Pavilion will focus on the former stables. The site is part of Brussels’ heritage around the royal domain and has been awaiting restoration work.

Source:
- [Pavillon chinois: les premiers travaux concerneront les anciennes écuries - BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/pavillon-chinois-les-premiers-travaux-concerneront-les-anciennes-ecuries/)

## Brussels Casino union asks for bid review to protect jobs
SYNOVA is asking for the Brussels Casino offers to be reassessed with employment guarantees in mind. The union’s intervention puts job protection at the centre of the casino’s future operator decision.

Source:
- [Casino de Bruxelles: SYNOVA demande de réévaluer les offres pour garantir l’emploi - BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/casino-de-bruxelles-synova-demande-de-reevaluer-les-offres-pour-garantir-lemploi/)

## Two women dead after incident in Anderlecht
Two women have died after an incident in Anderlecht. The deaths add to a heavy public safety news day for Brussels.

Source:
- [Two women dead after incident in Anderlecht - Brussels Times](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2316616/two-women-dead-after-incident-in-anderlecht/)