EP President Metsola have an audience with his Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians, followed by a New Year’s Reception.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President attends the New Year's reception hosted by Philippe, King of the Belgians

The Belgian government stated that its thirteenth EU Presidency comes “at a moment when the European Union stands at a crossroads, dealing with the consequences of the Russian illegal aggression in Ukraine, the pandemic, the energy crisis, disinformation, extreme climate events, and a renewed conflict in the Middle East”.

The Belgian Presidency’s six key priorities are: 

•	Defending rule of law, democracy, and unity;

•	Strengthening our competitiveness;

•	Pursuing a green and just transition;

•	Reinforcing our social and health agenda;

•	Protecting people and borders; and

•	Promoting a global Europe. 


During Belgium’s EU Council Presidency, a new European Parliament will be elected between 6 and 9 June.

Plenary session - Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency

Inauguration of the artwork “L’Aire d’un Souffle” placed in the proximity of Luxembourg Station in presence of the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr Rainer WIELAND, arrives to the venue of the ceremony and greets H.E. Ms Hadja LAHBIB, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and Federal Cultural Institutions of the Kingdom of Belgium, as well as Mr Rudi VERVOORT, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Inauguration of the artwork “L’Aire d’un Souffle”

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

EP Mini-Plenary Session - Formal sitting - Address by His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Hadja LAHBIB, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency of the Council

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mathieu MICHEL, Belgian Secretary of State for digitisation

AFCO - Presentation of the priorities of the Belgian Presidency

EMPL Committee - Presentation of the Council Presidency’s programme

AFET - Exchange of views with Hadja LAHBIB, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs

AGRI - Presentation of the Belgian Presidency's priorities

IMCO trilogue on Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI)

ENVI - Presentation of the Belgian Presidency of the Council programme

ENVI - Presentation of the Belgian Council Presidency’s programme.

INTA - Presentation of the Belgian Council Presidency’s programme

CULT - Presentation of the priorities of the Belgian Presidency

FEMM - Presentation of the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council

IMCO - Presentation of the Belgian Presidency of the Council programme

ITRE - Presentation of the Belgian Presidency's priorities

TRAN  - Presentation of the priorities of the Belgian Presidency

REGI - Presentation of the Belgian Presidency's priorities

His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians, addresses MEPs in a formal sitting during the plenary session. This is the first time King Philippe addresses the European Parliament. One of his predecessors, King Baudouin, appeared before MEPs in 1987, during a plenary session in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal sitting - Address by His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians

EP President Metsola meets His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians, before he addresses the plenary. This news item shows the arrival, meeting and extracts from the address in plenary. This will be the first time King Philippe will have addressed the European Parliament. One of his predecessors, King Baudouin, appeared before MEPs in 1987, during a plenary session in Strasbourg.

Visit of Philippe, King of the Belgians to the European Parliament: arrival, meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and extracts from the address in plenary

Extracts of the Lex signing ceremony in the frame of the Plenary Session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Arrivals and signing ceremony with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Hadja LAHBIB, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency of the Council.

LEX signing ceremony: signature of five COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Hadja LAHBIB, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency of the Council

Belgium holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2024. Belgium has announced that it will be working to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as climate change, economic growth and social cohesion; whilst acting as a neutral mediator to lead the legislative work and seek compromises among the EU Member States. Belgian Ministers present the priorities of the presidency in the EP Committee meetings (ITRE, ECON - 22/01 - LIBE - 23/01).

Presentation of the Belgian Presidency priorities: extracts from the presentation by Belgian Ministers in the EP Committee meetings (ITRE, ECON - 22/01 - LIBE - 23/01)

Belgium holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2024. Belgium has announced that it will be working to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as climate change, economic growth and social cohesion; whilst acting as a neutral mediator to lead the legislative work and seek compromises among the EU Member States. Belgian Ministers present the priorities of the presidency in the EP Committee meetings (EMPL, REGI, TRAN - 23/01).

Presentation of the Belgian Presidency priorities: extracts from the presentation by Belgian Ministers in the EP Committee meetings (EMPL, REGI, TRAN - 23/01)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister hold a press conference on the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The key priorities of the Belgian Presidency are defending the of the rule of law, strengthening EU competitiveness, a green and just transition, and finally address address all remaining legislative files associated with the new European pact on migration and asylum. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister on the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

As President of the Council, Belgium leads the European agenda and promote cooperation among the Member States in the following six months. Their aim is to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as rule of law, democracy, green and just transition or social and health agenda. MEPs discuss with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo the programme of Belgium’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January. Closing remarks by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of the European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight and Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: Closing remarks by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of the European Green Deal and Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister

As President of the Council, Belgium leads the European agenda and promote cooperation among the Member States in the following six months. Their aim is to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as rule of law, democracy, green and just transition or social and health agenda. MEPs discuss with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo the programme of Belgium’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January. MEPs debate

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: MEPs debate

As President of the Council, Belgium leads the European agenda and promote cooperation among the Member States in the following six months. Their aim is to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as rule of law, democracy, green and just transition or social and health agenda. MEPs discuss with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo the programme of Belgium’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January. Round of the Political Group Leaders.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: Round of the Political Group Leaders

As President of the Council, Belgium leads the European agenda and promote cooperation among the Member States in the following six months. Their aim is to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as rule of law, democracy, green and just transition or social and health agenda. MEPs discuss with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo the programme of Belgium’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January. Opening statements by Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister and Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of the European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: opening statements by Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister and Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of the European Green Deal

As President of the Council, Belgium leads the European agenda and promote cooperation among the Member States in the following six months. Their aim is to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as rule of law, democracy, green and just transition or social and health agenda. MEPs discuss with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo the programme of Belgium’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January. Arrivals and opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister, on the occasion of the presentation of the priorities of the Belgian presidency Council of the European Union during the plenary session in Strasbourg. This news item shows extracts from the arrival of Prime Minister De Croo and welcome by President Metsola, extracts from the bilateral and extracts from the debate in the hemicycle.

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Belgian Presidency: Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister and extracts from the debate

Belgium is taking up the Presidency in the first 6 months of 2024, and the first piece exhibited is L’Aire d’un Souffle by world-renowned Belgian artists Ann Veronica Janssens and Michel François. The Aire d'un Souffle will remain for 5 months, freely accessible 24 hours a day on the Esplanade Solidarność. This news item shows extracts from the inauguration ceremony of the artwork L’Aire d’un Souffle in presence of Rainer WIELAND, Vice President of the European Parliament, Karine LALIEUX, Minister of Pensions and Social Integration, and Rudi VERVOORT, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Inauguration of the artwork “L’Aire d’un Souffle” in presence of Rainer WIELAND, EP Vice President, Karine LALIEUX, Minister of Pensions and Social Integration, and Rudi VERVOORT, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region: extracts

From 1 January to 30 June 2024, Belgium holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (the "Council"). As President of the Council, Belgium leads the European agenda and promotes cooperation among the Member States. The aim is to strengthen the European Union and makes progress in several areas, such as climate change, economic growth and social cohesion. Belgium then acts as a neutral mediator to lead the legislative work and seek compromises among the EU Member States. This news item shows extracts from the meeting between the EP Conference of Presidents and the Belgian Federal Parliament.

EP Conference of Presidents meets the upcoming Belgian Presidency: extracts from the meeting with the Belgian Federal Parliament

Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister, hold a press conference on the upcoming Belgian Presidency. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister on the upcoming Belgian Presidency

From 1 January to 30 June 2024, Belgium hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (the "Council"). As President of the Council, Belgium lead the European agenda and promote cooperation among the Member States. The aim is to strengthen the European Union and make progress in several areas, such as climate change, economic growth and social cohesion. Belgium then act as a neutral mediator to lead the legislative work and seek compromises among the EU Member States. This news item shows extracts from the meeting between the EP Conference of Presidents and the Belgian Government and from the press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister.

EP Conference of Presidents meets the upcoming Belgian Presidency: extracts from the meeting with the Belgian Government; and extracts from the press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister

Jerzy BUZEK, EP President meets with Yves LETERME, Belgian Prime Minister, Melchior WATHELET, Belgian Secretary of State, and Alain LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR), in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Jerzy BUZEK, EP President meets with Yves LETERME, Belgian Prime Minister, Melchior WATHELET, Belgian Secretary of State, and Alain LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR)

Joelle MILQUET, Belgian Minister for Employment and equality, presents the Programme of the Belgian presidency to MEPs during the meeting of the Committee on Employement and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament, in Brussels.

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