De toespraak van de Belgische premier in het Europees Parlement: "2024 wordt een cruciaal jaar"

Good morning, everyone! 

It’s a great day for my country. Finally, we can reveal the priorities for our incoming presidency. The people of Belgium have the European Union in their DNA. Brussels is rightfully the capital of the EU. Because we embody the diversity and the unity the European Union incarnates. 

Six months at the helm of 27 member states. A true honor but a great responsibility. And our goal is to deliver. Deliver in the interest of all citizens of the EU. All 455 million citizens are on board. The times might be challenging. We will give it our utmost best to deliver. 

Europe was not created in a single heartbeat or along a single, straightforward path. It was built through concrete achievements, often small, sometimes big. We will build on our rich history and experience as a founding member of the European Union. We will take a sober approach to our presidency, focusing on finding solutions and eliminating obstacles. 

We know the expectations are high, and rightly so. 

2024 is an important year. 

80 years ago, on D-Day, allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, marking the beginning of the end of World War II. Solidifying a peaceful future for the countries that now make up our union. Erasmus, the Treaty of Lisbon, and the Single Market are embedded in our daily lives. 25 years ago, the euro was introduced as a new, single European currency. Today, we cannot imagine a world without the European Union. We travel freely across borders. 

We pay, connect, work, live, study, and even call one another as if 27 are 1.  But the past few years have been a rude awakening. A horrific war on the European continent and in the Middle East call for action. The atrocities human beings can inflict upon each other go beyond comprehension. We will not let down our guard and protect our values of dignity and human rights for all. 

A global pandemic and energy crisis put our societies to the test and stretched our economies to their limits. 

Europe came together to purchase vaccines and to cushion the effects of the energy crisis. That is a testament to a Union that works for all its citizens without any distinction. 

But people are looking for certainty. For a clear perspective that things can get better. And for this, they look to the EU. Our presidency comes at a watershed moment. 

We need to respond to clear expectations. 

To protect our people, strengthen our economy, and to prepare our shared future. 

During our presidency, we will: 

• Protect people. How will we do that? By ensuring the security and wellbeing of all Europeans. Protecting our borders, strengthening the social and health agenda, and preserving Europe’s unity in supporting Ukraine. 
   

• Strengthen our economy. We urgently need to enhance the EU’s competitiveness on the global stage, while delivering the green, digital, and just transition. 
   

• Prepare the future. The EU needs to cater for its citizens. It is our responsibility to ensure that Europe is fit for their future. We will work to reform the Union, its policies, budgets, and institutions in view of possible future enlargement. 

Belgium stands ready to deliver. 

First, by focusing our efforts on the legislative agenda. 

The Spanish presidency is making great strides, and we’ll continue their work, starting January first. More than 150 files are still on the table. 2024 is an election year. We have until mid-April few months to finalize as much as possible of the legislative agenda. So, it will be a close call. But luckily, we are used to working overtime ;-) Europe is at its strongest when we work together. And we’ll show everyone that this is still the case. 

27 member states have shown they can pull together and achieve successes. Because that is what people expect of us. There are the remaining elements of the Green Deal. Important measures for our European industry. Vital reforms to our energy systems. Key acts for the Digital space. Necessary legislation to get a grip on the internal dimension of migration in Europe. And we need everyone to accomplish our goals. Companies and citizens need space to keep investing and creating without polluting our planet. Citizens need support to insulate their homes and choose for environment friendly transport. 

Next to legislative agenda, Belgium will also support the discussions on the strategic agenda for the next five years. What Union do we want in 2029? Where lie the priorities of our citizens? And how do we achieve them? That is the objective of this strategic agenda. 

Finally, we will concentrate on internal reforms and future enlargement of the Union. Enlargement brings geopolitical stability to the Europe. But it’s futile if candidate countries and the EU are not ready for it. The unity of our Union will be key for our success. 

In June, Europeans will vote for the Union of their choice. Let’s show them what Europe can do if we put our minds to it. The future lies in their hands. And we are here to serve. As Belgians, we are at our best when we are challenged. When no one else believes, we are going to go the extra meter. We often do. Belgians know how to be proactive and creative. If we can keep up our efforts – we can make the achievements that build tomorrow’s Europe.  

A whole team is ready for you. I count on all of us to go for a better, more inclusive, and more prosperous Union. We have no time to waste. Delivering is our goal. It’s embedded in the official emblem of the presidency. Europe is at a crossroads. Blue is the defining color of our Union. Capital letters signify that the EU has never been as important as today. The yellow “b-e” is what unities the federal government and the federated entities. Yellow is the color that represents all of us. And the whole logo echoes the colors of Ukraine, signifying our unity in supporting them.   

Our citizens expect us to deliver, 

So let’s take a look.