It’s the first day in the job for Belgium’s brand-new prime minister, Flemish nationalist Bart De Wever. It’s also a busy day. After taking the oath of office together with his 14 ministers Belgium’s new premier headed for the European council and an informal gathering of EU heads of state where defence is top of the agenda. ‘The new prime minister can focus on getting to know colleagues at the EU summit’ says VRT’s Rob Heirbaut.
It was in at the deep end for prime minister Bart De Wever at the European summit, where he is meeting his new colleagues and NATO chief Mark Rutte. France’s president Macron was eager to offer the hand of friendship to the new Belgian leader.
‘This is a policy level Mr De Wever still has to get to know and that also involves some work for a prime minister,’ explains VRT NEWS's Europe editor Rob Heirbaut.
The advantage for Mr De Wever is that this is an informal summit and he can take time to speak to all European leaders. ‘There are no negotiating texts or decisions to be made, so he can fully focus on getting to know colleagues.’
Mr De Wever has revealed that he already knows Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and has met French President Macron. ‘Mr De Wever is not the only newcomer today. Bulgaria also has a new leader at the table: Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.
Later today, Mr De Wever, who as a student of the classics, has a good relationship with former UK PM Boris Johnson, will also meet the current UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is also attending a European council for the first time. It’s the first time a UK leader is at a council since Brexit.
Mr De Wever's coalition is often called the Arizona coalition for short because the party colours of coalition parters occur on the flag of the US state.