At the start of the EU2024 presidency Belgium presents its priorities to the European Parliament.
Protect, strengthen and prepare for all citizens of the EU.
Madame President dear Roberta ladies and gentlemen dear colleagues first of all I would like to express my gratitude to the European Parliament for all the work that has been done over the past years but also express my um expectation to do quite some work in the last months
We still have work to do and I hope we can uh we can work together with you in the most fruitful way possible possible ladies and gentlemen 2024 will be a crucial year a lot is at stake for Europe a lot is at stake for the West a year where our democracies
And our liberties will be put to the test not only with the election for this house but equally so for the US Congress equally so with an election for the American president if 2024 brings us America first again it will be more than ever Europe on its
Own we should as Europeans not fear that Prospect we should embrace it we should embrace it by putting Europe on a more solid footing stronger more Sovereign more self-reliant a Europe that delivers and makes a difference in people’s lives protecting them strengthening the economy preparing a common European future the Belgian
Presidency wants to contribute to this effort and we are grateful that we can build on the efforts and the many successes of the Spanish presidency that just finished ladies and gentlemen in spite of all the challenges we Face Europe is a good place to live if not probably the best in the
World the Euro the internal market and social cohesion these are the cornerstones of our prosperity we managed to turn turned the page on Co faster than many others in the world we achieved unity and solidarity in the face of the Russian war of aggression against an innocent Ukraine a solidarity we absolutely need
To keep up with the Ukraine facility and continued military support for America and for other allies the support for Ukraine is a strategic question it is a geopolitical consideration for us Europeans the support to Ukraine is existential it goes to the heart of our security and our prosperity ladies and gentlemen one of
The biggest challenges ahead is keeping our European economy strong and vibrant Europe cannot become an economic Museum if we want to remain that Innovative creative Capital rich and productive continent we will have to switch to a higher gear the United States of America gave its industry a giant fiscal boost a
1.2 trillion subsidy bazooka that is me making even the biggest European member states Flinch and on the other side we see China strengthening its grip over World Markets the only way we Europeans would not get squeezed is to revive the spirit of the great Jack delore opening
Up the markets of the future for European competition energy digital artificial intelligence defense and capital markets the problem is Europe is strong on Innovation but weak in skill scaling up those Innovations our young entrepreneurs struggle today to bring their ideas to the market they struggle finding risk capital and Venture Capital
To grow their businesses and to conquer new markets we need to go from invented in Europe to developed in Europe all the way to made in Europe and to do that we need more than just a few pockets of capital in a handful of European cities
We need need the whole of Europe every corner of our continent to turn into one big Capital Market accessible to all young entrepreneurs from stockold to Naples from Dublin to Sofia that is why the Belgian presidency has asked former Italian Prime Minister enrio Leta to come with a report to give the European
Single Market a new momentum and we need to make a similar shift when it comes to our industry to keep industrial investment strong to keep industrial production here Among Us in Europe for that we need an industrial deal alongside the green deal it is not only vital for our prosperity but also
Crucial to win the fight against climate change the climate policies of China and un united states contain an abundance of carrots for their industry while we here in Europe all too often grab for the stick by not merely fixing the climate goals but also nailing down the way in
Which these goals need to be achieved we are leaving too little room for our companies too little room for Innovation and for creativity in order to Prevail in the fight against climate change we need a Europe with Focus to focus on bringing down green gas gas greenhouse gas emissions to support
Companies who develop and use these clean Technologies to become more technologically neutral in our policies and let us not forget to create the necessary social support for these climate policies by making green Investments accessible to all not just to the Happy few that is why our presidency wants to give a new impetus
To our social agenda on the initiative of the president of the European commission we bring together the social Partners to discuss the future of social dialogue to confront the challenges that we Face to discuss how disruptive changes in our social and economic models such as artificial intelligence can be best addressed this initiative
Goes hand inand with the Belgian presidency’s ambition to ensure a strong implementation of the European pillar of social rights as we prepare for the next institutional cycle ladies and gent that keeps it needs shoulder responsibilities members from 27 countries to 30 countries this is a huge
Permanent should be at the very heart of the development of the [Applause] Union the social European contract disinformation outside to weaken Structure a sufficient capacity our C expect this from specific and we need to protect our we have expectations we progress achieved particularly in the area of migration ladies and gentlemen is a challenge which keeps us all uh busy to be honest solv continue making part of our history whether we like it or
Not what part talent to make the count related to and interal to be respected Europa isra both from the Palestinian only soltion can freedom and Security in the Middle East ladies and gentlemen our European project was born out of a devastating War The Darkest Hours of our European history marked by
The sh that led to moral insight and repentance it provided Europe with a clear sense of direction a duty also a duty to support the Democratic and free Ukraine against a war of aggression from Russia a duty to help a path through lasting peace between Israel and Palestine but above
All a duty to ourselves to Future generations to pass on a Europe that is more free than the one that we live in today and let us be clear that is not self evident we see glimps from those Darkest Hours in our societies today we see today women’s rights under
Pressure we see the rights of minorities and of lgbtqi people curtailed we see The Return of fascist symbols in in our streets and a rise of anti-Semitic violence the fight against our demons never ends it remains our most important task most important task for all of us
Yet you see a lot of young Europeans from all corners of our continent who are more than ever committed to a free Europe a Europe where you can live where you want a Europe where you can love who you want Europe where you can be who you want these
Values these values is what is at stake at the European ballot boxes in June ladies and gentlemen it is a Cause worth fighting for I thank you thank you very much