Belgium’s Head of State King Filip was a guest at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday. The Belgian Monarch was there at the invitation on the parliament’s president Roberta Metsola. During his visit King Filip became the second Belgian King to make a speech at the parliament.
After being welcomed by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, the Belgian monarch addressed MEPs during the parliament's plenary session. King Filip is only the second Belgian monarch to address the European Parliament. The first was his uncle, King Boudewijn, back in 1987.
In what are times marked by armed conflicts, also here in Europe, King Filip said that he considers hope and solidarity to be important issues. His speech also touched on Belgium's current presidency of the Council of the EU: "We are carrying out our mandate as President of the Council in a spirit of hope. In these times of war, insecurity and social unease, Europe and the world are in dire need of hope. Hope is not a dream. It is based on facts."
“Hope is the conviction that we can achieve something better, something higher, the Belgian monarch told MEPs: "There is often talk of disunity within the European Union. But especially with our support for Ukraine, we are showing that we can take strong, unanimous decisions. The conflict in Ukraine is our fight. It is about the defence of our security and our values. We also feel threatened."
The bond between the EU and Ukraine is a clear sign: "I personally also feel a strong bond with Europe. Not only as a Head of State, but also as a person. My family tree bears witness to cross-pollination between European nations. For all Europeans, the colourful heritage of our ancestors and the experiences we have had over time make us who we are."