Gerolf Annemans MEP: Belgian Presidency of European Council is “bad news.”

EP President Roberta Metsola said that Parliament is ready to deliver on citizens’ expectations ahead of the 6-9 June European elections, to make Europe fairer, more competitive and fit for the digital age.

Press conference on the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union. Photographer: Alain ROLLAND Copyright: © European Union 2024 – Source : EP

“2024 will be a crucial year, where our democracies and liberties will be put to the test”, said Alexander De Croo, referring to the European, but also the US presidential elections: “If 2024 brings us ‘America first’ again, it will be more than ever ‘Europe on its own’”.

Prime Minister De Croo urged MEPs to maintain solidarity with Ukraine and continued military support, highlighting the existential nature of the cause for Europeans.

He also called for European capital markets to be opened up to boost innovation, and for an Industrial Deal alongside the Green Deal. “The climate policies of China and the US contain an abundance of carrots for their industry. While we, here in Europe, all too often grab for the stick”, he said.

On migration, Prime Minister de Croo said that upholding a more coordinated and integrated foreign policy approach is part of the solution. To that end, he called for broad partnerships with third countries to help them become more stable.

The Belgian Prime Minister also said that the EU has to do everything it can to put an end to the suffering in Israel and Palestine. He called for more safe and open humanitarian corridors to be opened in Gaza.

The EU must support Israel in freeing their hostages and must help the country in its legitimate battle against the terrorist organisation of Hamas.

Belgian MEP Gerolf Annemans, a member and former chairman of the Flemish nationalist Vlaams Belang party,  however, said that the Belgian Presidency is “bad news” as it will be “pursuing a federalist agenda at the European level, until the European elections, which will put an end to this left-green government of Europe”. 

Gerolf Annemans has previously accused successive Belgian governments of being “blind slaves to the extremist federal EU agenda.”

An Antwerp city councillor since 2000, he was first elected to the European Parliament in 2014.

Read also: Belgian EU Council Presidency is opening Pandora’s Box.

“As Belgium embarks on its presidency, it’s clear that the EU would be more than well advised to get its own house in order on pressing geopolitical issues of domestic relevance before embarking on frivolous policy programmes,” writes Gary Cartwright.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Main image: Photographer Eric VIDAL Copyright © European Union 2024 – Source : EP