Filip, King of Belgians, has addressed his people of the eve of Christmas. The monarch spoke of the importance of our commonweal or common good, the threats posed by the war in Ukraine and the progress made in Belém on safeguarding the planet. The king also urged negotiators in Brussels to reach agreement on a new regional administration.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are living in an age when we ask ourselves many questions about what is happening in the world.
We are concerned about the future. That is why today I would like to talk to you about our commonweal.
It belongs to all of us. Thanks to this shared commonweal, we can live together with dignity and security in a healthy and just world.
The pursuit of this commonweal must remain the driving force behind our actions, even when it requires difficult choices, especially, because nowadays, it is increasingly being pushed into the background or is even completely being denied in favour of private interests.
At the global level, preserving our commonweal begins with protecting our planet. The recent climate conference in Belém may not have met all expectations, but the international community remains fully committed to the climate. The efforts of the past ten years are beginning to bear fruit.
And a new important step has been taken: tropical rainforests are now recognised as a global commonweal, indispensable in the fight against climate change and for the preservation of biodiversity. The international community has committed itself to taking concrete measures to protect these rainforests, particularly in the Congo Basin.
After the Second World War, Europe was built on the basis of a peace project that has brought us prosperity. This peace, our most precious commonweal, is today threatened by brutal expansionism, as in Ukraine. Belgium continues to support the Ukrainian people resolutely and with strength. Our position on the issue of Russian assets does not alter this in any way. This is a time when we must stand together in solidarity within the European Union. We must not allow ourselves to be divided. Together, our democracies are much stronger than is sometimes thought.
Here, the federal government has concluded difficult budget negotiations. The measures taken should contribute to the consolidation of public finances, while safeguarding our social model and our prosperity. It goes without saying that such a complex exercise, which touches the core of our commonweal, leads to discussions and tensions.
Over the past few weeks, I have met many people in Brussels who work hard every day for our common good: neighbourhood committees, healthcare workers, police officers and council staff. They all take their work to heart, some even with heroic courage. But they also tell me that they feel discouraged and abandoned in the face of the difficulties they encounter.
These difficulties have been exacerbated by the unreasonably long time it is taking to form the Brussels government.
Now that the challenges facing the region are becoming increasingly pressing, I call on the negotiators to finally reach agreement on a programme that serves the common good.
Ladies and gentlemen,
During the end-of-year celebrations, we celebrate with our loved ones the bonds that unite us and let us be aware that in difficult times, caring for our commonweal strengthens our unity.
Together with my wife, the Queen, and our children, I wish you Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Filip, King of Belgians.
King's Christmas address (Dutch version)
