Sophie Wilmès returns to the Belgian Federal Parliament
This Thursday 22 September, Sophie Wilmès returns to the Belgian Federal Parlement. Two months ago, she announced that she was leaving her ministerial duties for family reasons. “My family situation requires me to consider my commitment to the people of Belgium in a different way but my desire to continue my work for my country and for its citizens remains perfectly intact. I will therefore have the opportunity to do so from the Parlement.” Sophie Wilmès will be an effective member…
Sophie Wilmès leaves her position in the Belgian governement
On Thursday 14 July, after informing the Prime Minister, Sophie Wilmès presented her resignation as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Federal Cultural Institutions to H.M. King Philippe who accepted it. “My husband’s illness will be a difficult battle that I want to fight at his side and at the side of our children. My current duties within the government could not allow me to do so. My thoughts go to those who are also…
Report of the official mission to Poland
On 7 and 8 March 2022, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmès, accompanied by the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Sammy Mahdi, visited Poland, one of the European countries most exposed to the consequences of the war launched on Ukraine by Russia. This trip was an opportunity to clearly show Belgium’s solidarity with its European partner Poland, which is facing major challenges as it shares a border with Ukraine. The delegation first visited…
Council of EU Foreign Ministers on 11 April: conclusions
Today, Monday 11 April, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmès, was in Luxembourg to attend a Foreign Affairs Council meeting. The discussions were devoted to the current war in Ukraine and the latest developments in that regard. International Criminal Court The day began with a breakfast meeting of European ministers, in the presence of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr Karim Khan. Belgium is a party to the Rome Statute and…
Joint Statement of Female Foreign Ministers on the occasion of the re-opening of schools in Afghanistan
Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Kosovo, Malawi, Mongolia, New Zealand, Sweden, Tonga and the United Kingdom: Every spring, the re-opening of schools in Afghanistan comes along with great hopes and expectations of millions of students: to meet classmates and friends again, to resume learning and training, and to take another step forward in life. As women and as foreign ministers, we are deeply…
Belgium remains committed to the elimination of racial discrimination
21 March marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Its commemoration remains both relevant and necessary, as racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance persist in societies around the world. Today, racism is still entrenched in many societies, transcending generations and perpetuating inequality and marginalisation. Whenever racism occurs, we have the moral obligation to denounce and condemn it. This day is a day of solidarity with the…
Belgium reiterates its commitment to promoting the protection of children's rights in conflicts
On the occasion of the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, Belgium reaffirms its long-term commitment to promoting the protection of the rights of children in conflict. The brutality of armed conflicts affects millions of children worldwide. Armed groups or government armies recruit them as child soldiers. In addition, tens of thousands of children are not only used as combatants, they are often abused by whoever deploys them. Many of them, especially girls, are also victims of…
Foreign Affairs launches a new passport with a unique design featuring comic book heroines and heroes
On January 27, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmès launched the new Belgian passport. A document that is even more secure thanks to new security and personalization techniques. The new Belgian passport will also be recognizable thanks to its original design, which honors one of the jewels of our culture: the heroines and heroes of comic strips. Why a new passport? The passport is a particularly important travel document. Therefore, it is necessary to have the…
Meeting of the Council of Ministers for European Affairs held on 25 January: conclusions
On Tuesday 25 January, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs, Sophie Wilmès, and her counterparts came together for a meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels. COVID-19 With the number of infections in the EU rapidly increasing under the influence of the Omicron variant, the Ministers for European Affairs discussed the epidemiological situation, the progress made with regard to vaccination and the policy relating to travel within the Union. On this last…
Meeting of the Council of Ministers for European Affairs held on 24 January: conclusions
On Monday 24 January, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmès, and her European counterparts came together for a meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels. The security situation in Europe Given the situation on the Ukrainian border, the Council adopted new resolutions concerning the European security situation. These resolutions condemn Russia’s attitude and call for de-escalation, while reiterating the full commitment of the Council…