10 measures to support companies and the self-employed impacted by Covid-19
On Friday 6 March, during the Council of Ministers, the Federal Government approved 10 measures to support businesses and the self-employed impacted by Covid-19.
The two main aims of these measures are to enable companies affected to grant their employees temporary unemployment in order to safeguard jobs, and to provide for arrangements for spreading, postponing and exempting the payment of…
Rule of Law: Hungary Must Be More Severely Sanctioned
On Tuesday, 25 November, the European Parliament adopted a new interim report updating the 2018 report, which found a clear risk of a serious and persistent breach of European values by Hungary. While this report updates the content of the 2018 and 2022 texts, it above all reflects the impatience of Members of the European Parliament with the inaction of the other institutions regarding the…
Proposal to create a European Semester for the Rule of Law gains momentum!
On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the European Commission’s first Rule of Law Report and at the dawn of negotiations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Sophie Wilmès (Renew), Chair of the DRFMG, together with MEPs Alessandro Zan (S&D) and Michał Wawrykiewicz (EPP), are putting forward this Wednesday, 14 October, an integrated vision for monitoring the rule of law…
A European Semester Dedicated to the Rule of Law
On Tuesday, 1 July, Renew Europe adopted a position paper establishing a European Semester on the Rule of Law. This initiative was launched and led by Sophie Wilmès, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the DRFMG (Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group). The strategic document now becomes the official position of the group, reaffirming that the defence of…
European values in Slovakia: MEPs conclude fact-finding mission
Civil Liberties Committee MEPs travelled to Bratislava on 2-3 June to look into the latest as regardsthe situation of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.
The Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG) of the Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE) carried out a mission to Slovakia to assess the state of play regarding respect for the rule of law and…
Sophie Wilmès elected Chair of the DRFMG, the European Parliament working group dedicated to monitoring respect for the rule of law within the EU
On Thursday 21 November, Sophie Wilmès, Vice-President of the European Parliament, was elected Chair of the DRFMG (Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group).
The group was set up in 2018 following the murders of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée. Following these terrible events, it became clear that there was a need to…
89th Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue
Created in 1999, the TLD aims to strengthen cooperation between the European Union and the United States in a range of areas beyond foreign policy.
Sophie Wilmès, Vice-President of the Delegation in charge of relations with the United States (DUS), took part in the 89th edition, held in Fort Worth, Texas.
Here are the official conclusions:
We, the members of the European Parliament and the U.S.…
Sophie Wilmès decorated with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
The Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, has decorated Sophie Wilmès with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for her contribution to strengthening the ties between Belgium and Luxembourg.
While Sophie Wilmès was Prime Minister, the good collaboration between the two countries played a major role in the heart of the covid-19 pandemic, not only in…
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…
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…