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…
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…
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…
Ministerial meeting of the Coalition for the Sahel: intervention
Only the spoken word shall count
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to thank the High Representative of the Coalition, Mr Adoum, for organising this exchange of views on the situation in the Sahel and on the future of our Coalition’s action.
I agree with the High Representative that the context in the Sahel has changed since the roadmap was approved last year.…
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE): statement
Only the spoken word counts
Mr Chair,
Belgium fully aligns itself with the statement of the European Union. Given the gravity of the situation, let me also speak in my national capacity.
Dear colleagues, we are going through one of the darkest hours in the history of Europe.
Let me first reiterate our unequivocal support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its…
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…
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?…
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…
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…
Dorien Nijs represents Belgian citizens’ panel at Strasbourg conference on the future of Europe
This Thursday 21 January, Dorien Nijs will travel to Strasbourg and the European Parliament where she will present Belgium’s citizens’ panel recommendations at the plenary session (21 and 22 January) of the Conference on the future of Europe. Sophie Wilmès, in her capacity as Minister for European Affairs, was present at the Brussels-Midi railway station this morning to express her…