At a press conference held on Friday 12 April, the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, took stock of the progress and difficulties encountered at the halfway stage of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Prime Minister stressed the effectiveness of its Presidency in managing legislative affairs in the run-up to the elections. He expressed his satisfaction at the completion of 67 legislative agreements, surpassing the initial target of 16. These agreements include major advances such as the Artificial Intelligence Act, the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the Digital Platform Workers Directive (see EUROPE 13374/10). Major consensuses requiring unanimity were also reached, including the €50 billion for Ukraine, the 13th sanctions package and a ‘European Peace Facility’.
While the Prime Minister also highlighted renewed support for Ukraine and European farmers, he also focused on the issue of immigration. “The fact that the migration pact has been voted in the European Parliament is an important achievement” (see EUROPE 13388/11), he explained, adding that it was crucial to implement it without delay.
The ‘Green Deal’, dependent on a competitive economy. Alexander De Croo spoke of the importance of the ‘European Green Deal’, explaining that its success depended on a strong economy and “an ambitious competitiveness agenda”. He emphasised the need for a solid competitiveness programme and annual investment of around €1 trillion over the next 25 years to support this commitment. He also quoted Enrico Letta, former Italian Prime Minister, who will be presenting a report on the future of the European single market at the next European Summit.
With regard to the political agreement on the law on nature restoration, which the Council has not yet ratified (see EUROPE 13378/1), Mr De Croo clarified the Belgian abstention position, aimed at balancing ecological imperatives with economic realities. “Something is brewing that is not balanced”, he noted, acknowledging the concerns shared by several European countries and calling for caution in order to maintain a robust economic base and keep heavy industry in Europe.
Security issues and the fight against disinformation in Europe. The Prime Minister also addressed the recent pro-Russian influence operation aimed at weakening European support for Ukraine. He announced proactive measures, including legal action against identified interference and the expulsion of diplomats suspected of espionage. He called for an improvement in European tools to combat Russian propaganda and disinformation, with an urgent meeting of Eurojust and an expansion of the mandates of the European Anti-Fraud Office.
Hadja Lahbib confirmed that Belgium and other EU Member States had begun to strengthen their defence mechanisms against disinformation and foreign interference. Ms Lahbib also stressed the importance of defending European democracy and supporting Ukraine. She also stressed the urgent need to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)