#GAC | 🇧🇪 Deputy Prime Minister @prevotmaxime, in charge of European Affairs, takes part in the 🇪🇺 General Affairs Council in Luxembourg today ⇊ ▪️ EU Budget 2028-2034 #MFF ▪️ Preparation of the June European Council #EUCO ▪️ Values of the EU in Hungary 🇭🇺 – Article 7

🇪🇬 A real pleasure to meet my Egyptian colleague and friend Dr. Badr Abdelatty in Luxembourg today, just a few hours before Belgium and Egypt face each other at the World Cup. ⚽️ On the pitch, our countries may be rivals tonight. Beyond it, Egypt is a crucial partner for Belgium and for the European Union. Today’s EU-Egypt Association Council is an opportunity to further strengthen that partnership. Egypt plays an indispensable role in a region facing profound challenges. Our cooperation matters for regional stability and security, but also for trade, investment, migration, education and the opportunities we create for future generations. The relationship between Belgium and Egypt is also rooted in a remarkable shared history. From Baron Édouard Empain’s role in the creation of Heliopolis to Queen Elisabeth’s passion for Egypt and Egyptology. These historical connections remain a strong foundation for a modern and forward-looking partnership. For ninety minutes tonight, however, our partnership will make way for some friendly rivalry. My Egyptian colleague will understand that there are limits to diplomatic neutrality. 😜 May the best team win! والأحسن يكسب @BelgiumMFA @BelgiumCairo @MFAEgOfficial

#ForeignAffairs | 🇧🇪 Deputy Prime minister @prevotmaxime takes part in the 🇪🇺 Foreign Affairs Council today. ➖ Russian aggression against Ukraine 🇺🇦 ➖ Situation in the Middle-East ➖ EU-China relations 🇨🇳 ➖ Association Council with Egypt 🇪🇬 ➖ Exchange with Armenia 🇦🇲

🇺🇸🇮🇷 Belgium warmly welcomes the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, aimed at ensuring peace, including in Lebanon. We commend the intensive efforts of Pakistan, Qatar and all other mediators to reach that result. We hope for a swift implementation and re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation. We stand ready to help to ensure this. This deal must open a new era for the region. It must also open a new era in Iran. An era without nuclear programme and with authorities hearing the legitimate democratic aspirations of their citizens. @BelgiumMFA @BelgiumISB @BelgiuminQatar @BelgiumintheUSA

Just a step away from the @EUCouncil in Luxembourg, 80 musicians played in perfect harmony tonight at the Philharmonie. A timely metaphor ahead of next week’s Councils and European Summit 🇪🇺🎶 #EUCO

#Eurogroup | 🇧🇪 Deputy Prime minister @vincent_v_p takes part in the meeting of the Eurogroup today in Luxembourg. ➡️ Review of euro area policies by the @IMFNews ➡️ Economic and energy security in the 🇪🇺 ➡️ European technological sovereignty

🇦🇲 Congratulations to the people of Armenia for their strong democratic participation. Despite pressure and interference, they reaffirmed their commitment to democracy, peace and closer ties with Europe. We hope this new mandate will contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. I look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Armenia and working together for a peaceful future. @AraratMirzoyan

🎙️ ❝ Whether we're talking about families, about hate speech or about Ukraine, we are very clear: we must confront hate speech, we must protect rights and also accountability must prevail. ❞ ➖ 🇧🇪 Minister @AnneliesVl ahead of today’s #justice Council

#Justice | 🇧🇪 justice minister @AnneliesVl takes part in the second day of the 🇪🇺 Justice & Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg today #JHA. On the agenda ⇊ ▪️ Recognition of parenthood ▪️ Hate crime and hate speech ▪️ Justice programme 2028-2034

Meaningful exchange with @vbofeb “Belgian Business for Europe” group at the Permanent Representation 🇧🇪🇪🇺 Key EU priorities discussed: competitiveness, single market , simplification, green & digital agendas —alongside today’s geopolitical challenges.

🇮🇷 Today, I spoke with my counterpart @araghchi Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran. This exchange was the occasion to convey a few messages. I insisted upon the obligation to respect the right of transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international law. According to Belgium, there should not be any obstacle, any payment of any sort. I told Minister Araghchi that the talks with the US offer an opportunity that must be seized to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. Every effort must be made on both sides to reach swiftly a peace agreement, including for Lebanon, whose territorial integrity must be respected by Israel. Iran must stop playing any destabilising role in the region, including through the support of proxies. The region and the world have already suffered too much from the hostilities. I reiterated that all prisoners detained in Iran shall be treated with the respect due to the human dignity. Access to medical care must be ensured. I also called once again for the abolition of the death penalty. @BelgiumMFA

Statement by the High Representative @kajakallas on behalf of the EU on the reckless violation of the EU’s airspace by Russia. Read the full statement 👇 link.europa.eu/7RmqDH

🇪🇺 Europe must stop watching and start acting. That was my central message today in Cyprus, where I joined my European colleagues for an informal discussion on our security, the security of all Europeans. Investing in defence is essential. But military strength without diplomatic weight is only half the job. The outcome of the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will inevitably define the future of European security. Europe must therefore be at the table, not taking notes from the sidelines. The US’s pause in the negotiations is an opportunity for Europe to step in, with a clear and concrete mandate. Work will continue to prepare to this end. We also had the chance to discuss the situation in the Middle East with my esteemed colleagues @DrSJaishankar 🇮🇳 and @FaisalbinFarhan 🇸🇦, discussion that allowed me to reiterate our position on the dramatic situations in Lebanon and in Gaza. In the Gulf, the blocage of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is unacceptable. The passage must be free. I’ve asked for further measures to be looked into in order to pressure Iran if they persist in their determination to charge for the passage of ships. Nevertheless, this situation is yet again an another call to diversify our partnerships, notably in the field of energy, and develop new commercial routes, i.a. via rail. I’ve also asked the Commission to come up with a new food security strategy, having in mind the impact of the current crisis on the commerce of fertilisers. @BelgiumMFA @BelgiuminEU

🇧🇪🤝🇳🇱🤝🇱🇺 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘂𝘅 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is like a lifelong friendship: you can always count on it, but it needs energy to thrive. Great to host my 🇳🇱 & 🇱🇺 counterparts, @BeneluxUnion & Coreper I ambassadors to align on EU files. Together, our voice is stronger. 🇪🇺

#Ukraine Facility: @EUCouncil approves seventh payment of nearly €2.8 billion to Kyiv 🇪🇺🤝🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine More 👇 link.europa.eu/cXbCJ4

🇧🇪 PM @Bart_DeWever welcomed his 🇧🇬 colleague @rumradev to Brussels for the first time. Talks included security challenges in Europe, the war in #Ukraine, the EU's forthcoming budget cycle, and how to strengthen bilateral cooperation between #Belgium and #Bulgaria.

I have asked that the Russian Ambassador to Belgium be summoned today. Russia’s announcement calling on diplomatic personnel and foreign citizens to leave Kyiv ahead of planned strikes is unacceptable. Threatening embassies is not diplomacy, it is intimidation. And it is a flagrant violation of international law and the Vienna Convention. Belgium is not going anywhere. We are staying in Kyiv. We are standing with Ukraine. And we will not be intimidated. There is one aggressor in this war, and it is Russia. The solution to end this cycle of escalation is remarkably simple: Russia must stop its aggression and engage in genuine peace talks. @BelgiumMFA

🇧🇪 PM @Bart_DeWever welcomed 🇦🇱 PM @ediramaal in Brussels today. Talks focused on #Albania's European path and the security environment on the European continent. Belgium will open an embassy in Tirana this summer, which will deepen cooperation.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic collision this morning between a train and a school bus in Buggenhout, Belgium. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. Wishing all those injured a swift recovery.