European Commissioner’s visit to defence firm in Herstal cancelled due to protest
The European Commission was forced to cancel a visit by European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius to the defence firm Thales Belgium in Herstal, Liège province, on Friday because the “local Belgian authorities” were unable to guarantee the Lithuanian’s safety. Pro-Palestinian activists were staging a protest at the site.
Kubilius was due to visit the Belgian defence firm Thales Belgium on Friday in the presence of Walloon minister president Adrien Dolimont, but the visit was cancelled for security reasons due to the presence of pro-Palestinian activists at the site. Human rights organisations and pro-Palestinian activists question the effectiveness of the Walloon ban on the transit of military equipment to Israel.
The office of Frédéric Daerden, mayor of Herstal, described the decision to cancel the visit at the last minute on Friday as “wise” due to the threat to public order. The local authorities were informed of the visit on Wednesday evening and, according to the mayor, it was difficult to arrange the necessary policing within 24 hours, partly because it was suspected that more demonstrators would turn up on Friday.
“We were able to get eight federal police officers as reinforcements, but that was insufficient given the profile of the protesters,” he added. “Thales management therefore indicated that it would be better to cancel the visit.”
A Commission spokesperson confirmed that they had contacted the local authorities, who had indicated that they could not guarantee the Commissioner’s safety. However, a local source on Friday spoke of only a “handful” of demonstrators. The Commission also notes that Kubilius has never had to cancel a visit before, not even due to demonstrations in France and Italy.
Meanwhile, a new meeting with representatives of Thales at the European Commission has already been planned, according to the spokesperson, and a further consultation with FN Herstal is also planned for later.
Belgian Defence minister Theo Francken reacted with dismay on X. “I am outraged and ashamed that this important visit by European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius to the leading company Thales could not take place,” he wrote. “How could this have happened? This must be thoroughly investigated.” Francken added that “the far-left terror must stop”.
EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius © PHOTO Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP