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FMA Visit to Belgium
From 8 to 9 April 2024, the Association of Former Members of the European Parliament (FMA) had a special “Visit to Belgium”, coinciding with the current Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU emphasizing the crucial themes of unity and democracy.
The kick-off dinner on 8 April, graced by guests-speakers Mathieu Grosch, Belgian former MEP, and Manu Desutter, President of the Association of Former Members of Parliament, Former Senators and Former Members of the European Parliament, set the tone for the two days “Visit to Belgium” of insightful discussions and exchanges about the Belgian Presidency. Mr Grosch advocated for greater alignment between Belgian and EU systems, while Desutter underscored the importance of leveraging EU influence to foster unity among member states.
The inaugural high-level debate, featuring H.E. Ambassador W. van de Voorde, delved into multifaceted issues ranging from the rule of law to EU competitiveness. Ambassador van de Voorde reiterated the Belgian Presidency’s commitment to unity and strength, encapsulated in the slogan of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: PROTECT, STRENGTHEN, AND PREPARE.
The FMA Visit to Belgium continued with a presentation of the Belgian Institutional System by Pieter Caboor, Director of the Legal Department of the Chamber, and a guided tour of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate.
Senator Gaëtan Van Goidsenhoven, co-president of the Federal Advisory Committee on European Affairs (FACEA), emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in fostering political dialogue. Meanwhile, André Flahaut, Member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, highlighted the potential for EU strengthening through unity among member states.