Belgium has become a key battleground in Europe's fight against organised crime. With the Port of Antwerp serving as one of the continent's main entry points for cocaine from Latin America, drug trafficking is fuelling violence, corruption and growing concerns about public security. As authorities step up their response, one question remains: is Belgium doing enough to tackle the drug trade?

This question sparks this debate between Brussels Mayor Philippe Close, from Socialist Party, and Brussels MP Mathias Vanden Borre from the opposition party N-VA. Close and Vanden Borre debate whether Belgium's current approach is working, clash over the balance between law enforcement and public health, and discuss how to curb the influence of organised crime while making the country's cities safer.

Listen to this special edition of The Ring, brought to you from our studios in Brussels.

The Ring is Euronews’ weekly political showdown, where Europe’s toughest debates meet their boldest voices.

In each episode, two political heavyweights from across the EU face off to propose a diversity of opinions and spark conversations around the most important issues of EU affairs and the wider European political life.

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