Politics

Luc Frieden represented Rob Jetten and Bart De Wever at the European summit

Before the meeting of the European Political Community in Dublin, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden said he wished his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten good luck. Frieden represented both Jetten and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who were absent because of political budget negotiations in their respective countries.

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Politics

Bart De Wever skips Dublin summits over budget crisis

2 sources

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever will not attend two European summits in Dublin because of the budget crisis in Belgium. The European Political Community is due to meet on Thursday, followed by an informal EU leaders’ summit on Friday that is to include artificial intelligence.

Politics

Belgian government faced threat of collapse

1 source

Belgium’s coalition government was reported to be at risk of collapse. The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), the party of Prime Minister Bart De Wever, wanted to meet the European Union’s budget standard, while the coalition had spent two months unsuccessfully seeking €10 billion in spending cuts.

Politics

Belgian budget crisis and De Wever resignation

11 sources

Prime Minister Bart De Wever offered the resignation of his government to King Filip after the five coalition parties failed to agree on the 2027 budget, including measures intended to close a €10 billion gap. The king initially held the resignation under consideration while consulting the coalition party leaders. King Filip later declined to accept the resignation and asked De Wever and the coalition to resume budget negotiations immediately. The coalition parties have indicated they are willing to continue seeking an agreement, and De Wever is due to report back to the king on 16 November.