Belgium and France aim to strengthen European energy and defence sovereignty

Belgium and France want to strengthen European sovereignty on energy and defence. This became clear on Friday when the fourth joint declaration following the Val Duchesse Security Consultations was signed in Paris.

"In the field of offshore wind energy, we have continued to talk about the commitments that our two countries made last week in Ostend," Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo said. He referred to the Ostend Declaration, signed by nine European countries to jointly produce at least 120 gigawatts of offshore wind energy in the North Sea by 2030 and at least 300 gigawatts by 2050.

"We Belgians dream of only one thing: that our companies and technologies will be used to equip the wind turbines off the French coast," said De Croo.

"The Russian aggression against Ukraine has demonstrated the need to strengthen defence cooperation"

The two countries also pledged to strengthen their defence cooperation. "The Russian aggression against Ukraine has demonstrated the need to strengthen defence cooperation. In this sense, we will work to strengthen their defence industries and promote industrial and commercial synergies to gain competitiveness, innovative capacity and strategic autonomy," De Croo said.

"The increase in drug smuggling leads to arms smuggling and drug-related homicides"

Friday's meeting also had a particular focus on drug trafficking. Both countries said they wanted to strengthen their cooperation, focusing on the risk of organised crime moving from Antwerp to other ports, such as Dunkirk and Le Havre. "The increase in drug smuggling leads to arms smuggling and drug-related homicides," said French prime minister Elisabeth Borne. She stressed the importance of a coordinated response. France, therefore, wants to strengthen judicial cooperation in the northern ports.

The first Val Duchesse consultation took place in Val Duchesse in 2016, following the terrorist attacks in Paris and then Brussels. The meetings are intended to strengthen cooperation in home affairs, justice, defence and foreign affairs.

^{© BELGA PHOTO ELIOT BLONDET}