News

EU Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors gathered in Ghent on the 23rd and 24th of February to tackle the EU competitiveness challenge. Dr. Mario Draghi and EIB President Calviño were invited to share their insights. Across three thematic sessions, discussions aimed at identifying possible financing mechanisms to bolster both internal EU competitiveness, as well as the Union’s global competitive position. Ministers stressed the importance of avoiding subsidy…

The Council and European Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional political agreement on the proposed reform of the EU’s economic governance framework. The main objective of the reform is to ensure sound and sustainable public finances, while promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in all member states through reforms and investment. 

Belgian customs seized another record amount of cocaine in the port of Antwerp in 2023, with 116 tonnes. 5 tonnes of cocaine were also seized at the port of Zeebrugge, part of Port of Antwerp-Bruges. This was announced today by Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem at the port of Flushing in the Netherlands, together with his Dutch colleague State Secretary Aukje De Vries. In Flushing, the close cooperation between the two countries in the fight against international drug trafficking was once…

Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem presented today, together with ECB President Christine Lagarde, the new Belgian commemorative 2-euro coin in honour of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union. This took place after the Eurogroup meeting, in the presence of the Eurogroup finance ministers. The coin therefore highlights the importance of the Council of the European Union and also celebrates 25 years of cooperation within the Economic and Monetary Union.

Today, as Chair of the Board of Governors of the EIB, I have informed the EIB Governors of the candidates that have been assessed by the EIB Appointment Advisory Committee (AAC). The AAC has assessed the following candidates (in alphabetical order):

Belgian households and singles found plenty of ways towards subscribing to the one-year state bond last week. That subscription period ran from Thursday 24 August 2023 to Friday 1 September 2023. This is what Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem announces at the instigation of the Belgian Debt Agency.234,310 people subscribed directly through the Ledger of the Belgian Debt Agency, accounting for 7.093 billion euros. The average amount of subscription to a state bond at the Agency thus…

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the ministers of 16 EU countries today signed expressions of intent for the EIB for Ukraine Fund in support of Ukraine’s agenda for recovery and reconstruction. Announced in spring 2023 as a part of a larger EU for Ukraine initiative, the EIB’s EU4U Fund will help rapidly scale up support for Ukraine’s most urgent infrastructure needs and sustain the economy. Belgium pledges €6 million in support of the fund.

Minister Van Peteghem will be appointed as the new chairman of the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The chairmanship is appointed in a rotating system between member states, each for the period of one year. As chairman, Minister Van Peteghem will coordinate the work of the Board of Governors and chair the annual meeting. In doing so, he will focus on the EIB's crucial role in Ukraine's economic challenges and reconstruction.

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem and Dutch State Secretary for Benefits and Customs Aukje de Vries presented the results of drug seizures for the year 2022 in the international ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam at a joint press conference. Both customs services combined seized 160 tonnes of cocaine in 2022.  

We, the EPP, the European People’s Party, we need to stand up for this middle classes. We need to hear their struggles. We need to listen to them. We need to show that we are hearing their concerns as well.