Belgium is a founding member of the European Union

Belgium is member of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995 and of the Eurozone since 1 January 1999.

The country's capital, Brussels, is together with Luxembourg City and Strasbourg, one of the three official seats of the European institutions. Belgium is a constitutional monarchy in which the King is head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of the government.

EU - Belgium

Charles MICHEL, Belgian Prime Minister, is the fifth EU leader to debate the future of Europe with MEPs and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the EC, on 3rd May 2019.

The Europeans want the EU to change. This is why the European Parliament is taking the leadership over a reform of the EU.

Parliament set out its vision for the future of Europe in three resolutions voted in plenary session on 16 February 2017. MEPs suggested, among other things:

<ul>
	<li>turning the Council of Ministers into a genuine second legislative chamber, and its configurations into preparatory bodies similar to Parliament’s committees,</li>
	<li>appointing an EU finance minister and giving the EU Commission the power to formulate and give effect to a common EU economic policy, backed up by a euro-area budget, and</li>
	<li>creating a fiscal capacity consisting of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and specific additional budgetary capacity for the euro area, funded by its members as a part of the EU budget.</li>
</ul>

Debate on the Future of Europe with Charles MICHEL, Belgian Prime Minister

His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians, addresses  MEPs in a formal sitting.

This will be 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.

Formal sitting - Address by His Majesty King Philippe

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”

Roberta Metsola, EP President participates to the ceremony for the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge - ceremony in Bastogne

Roberta Metsola, EP President participates to the ceremony for the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge - Ceremony at the American Military Cemetery of Hamm (Luxembourg)

European elections 2024 - Ambiance shots of polling stations in Belgium

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Zaventem (Belgium) - Meeting with young people

His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians

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

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians

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

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

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

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

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates in the ceremony for the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. This news item shows extracts from the arrivals and meeting at the Senningen Castle, with Luc FRIEDEN, Luxembourg Prime Minister, and Alexander DE CROO, Prime Minister of Belgium, after the ceremony at the American military cemetery of Hamme. On 16 December 1944, German units attacked the American front line in the Ardennes, which covered the North of Luxembourg and the East of Belgium. It was the prelude to one of the bloodiest battles of the Second World War: the Battle of the Bulge. Thousands of American and German soldiers lost their lives in the unforgiving combats that took place in one of the harshest winters in known history.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, at the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge: extracts from the arrivals and meeting at the Senningen Castle (Luxembourg)

Roberta Metsola, EP President, participates to the ceremony for the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. This news item shows extracts from the ceremony in Bastogne (Belgium) in the presence of city mayors, the PHILIPPE, King of Belgium, and Henri GROßHERZOG, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and the Belgian and Luxemburgish prime ministers.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, at the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge: extracts from the ceremony in Bastogne (Belgium)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates in the ceremony for the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. This news item shows extracts from the ceremony at the American Military Cemetery of Hamm (Luxembourg). On 16 December 1944, German units attacked the American front line in the Ardennes, which covered the North of Luxembourg and the East of Belgium. It was the prelude to one of the bloodiest battles of the Second World War: the Battle of the Bulge. Thousands of American and German soldiers lost their lives in the unforgiving combats that took place in one of the harshest winters in known history.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, at the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge: extracts from the ceremony at the American Military Cemetery of Hamm (Luxembourg)

The European elections is held in Belgium on 9 June 2024. Voting is compulsory for Belgian citizens aged 16 or over. Voters in Belgium elect 22 Members of the European Parliament in 2024. Citizens in the EU Member States elect their representatives to the European Parliament during the European elections of 6 to 9 June. The newly elected Members, representing EU citizens until 2029, meet in July to elect their President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors. They decide on the composition of Parliament's standing and sub committees - thereby launching the new legislative term. This news item shows first time voters and citizens vote in polling stations in Brussels (Belgium).

European Elections 2024 - Ambiance shots of polling stations in Anderlecht and Dilbeek (Belgium)

This news item shows extracts from the backstage and preparation of the Election night in the European Parliament in Brussels. It highlights the stage setup, designated areas for journalists, posters, and live media programs. Citizens from 27 EU member states are participating in the European elections from June 6 to 9, selecting their representatives for the European Parliament. In June 2024, a total of 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected, which is 15 more than in the previous elections.

European Elections 2024 - Backstage and preparation of the Election night in the European Parliament in Brussels

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, visits a school in Zaventem for the 'townhall event' with young first time voters in presence of Annelies VERLINDEN, Belgian Minister for the Interior, Institutional Reform and Democratic Renewal. This news item shows extracts from the arrival, discussion with Q&A and family photo during her official visit.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Zaventem (Belgium): extracts from the meeting with young people

Lufthansa Group takes its own initiative related to the European elections 2024 and enlarges the scope of the action taken in 2019 elections campaign involving one plane. The ‘Yes to Europe’ campaign features four aircraft, one each from Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, and Eurowings, branded with the campaign’s name on the side of the fuselage. Roberta METSOLA, EP President, delivers a keynote address at the « Yes to Europe » campaign launch event of the Lufthansa Group, in presence of Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister.

Unveiling of four branded airplanes to support the 2024 European Election campaign: extracts from the event with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

On 8 and 9 May, landmark buildings across the EU will be illuminated to mark Europe Day and “one month to go” to the last day before voting. This new item shows illuminations at the historical site of the Grand Place, the central square of Brussels (Belgium).

European Elections 2024 - "One month to go": Illuminations in Brussels (Belgium)

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

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians, and participates in a reception hosted by Him in the Royal Palace. This news item shows extracts from the bilateral meeting and reception attended by President Metsola.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President attends the New Year's reception hosted by Philippe, King of the Belgians with EP Vice-Presidents and Questors

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. 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

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