Prime Minister Alexander De Croo endorses the need for strategic autonomy for Europe, but warns that it must not be tailored to the large countries.
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“Belgium is fully behind the“ strategic resilience ”project for Europe. So that our continent will have a critical capacity for energy, defense and vital economic sectors in the future. ‘
During his visit to French President Emmanuel Macron in December last year, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) already endorsed the idea of strategic autonomy that also underpins the new industrial strategy of the European Commission (DS 5 mei). Belgium is a small, open economy, internationally recognized as a promoter of trade, but within government and diplomacy the realization has grown that achieving a level playing field – with China in particular – has failed. The question immediately arises about Europe’s global dependence on a number of crucial raw materials or products. The Belgian government endorses the ambition to be more self-sufficient in this regard.
Pushed away little ones?
But Belgium’s position is twofold. For the philosophy of strategic autonomy threatens at worst to boil down to the development of national industries in large countries such as Germany, France and Italy – countries that, not coincidentally, are more protective of the protectionist card. The fear is that ‘the little ones’ will be pushed away in this way in a new geopolitical bidding process.
De Croo is concerned that this will create new imbalances within Europe, explains his spokesman, Tom Meulenbergs. “So we are close to countries such as the Netherlands, Austria and Denmark that share the same concern.” De Croo’s cabinet is already nuancing the dual interpretation of a clash between large and small countries.
Belgium’s dual attitude reflects our reputation as a bridge builder, but also reflects the composition of the coalition. On the French-speaking side, the PS in particular has shown a more protectionist voice in the past, recently around the Mercosur trade agreement.
Also within the industrial strategy for Europe, the appetite for more direct state aid may differ between government partners. The debate on this has yet to begin within the government.
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