In 1950, amid the rubble of a Europe scarred by two world wars, a bold idea was born: to unite European nations in order to build lasting peace. This ambition, driven by women and men of conviction, gave rise to a political project unprecedented in human history: bringing peoples closer together through economics, culture, exchange and mutual trust.
75 years later, the European Union is not merely a geographical area or a common market. For us liberals, it is a framework of freedom and stability. A place where everyone can aspire to a better life, start a business, make their voice heard and build their future according to their own ambitions. We defend fundamental principles there: democracy, the rule of law, human rights, free enterprise. These are the pillars of a European model that we have a responsibility to protect and strengthen.
Keeping the European ideal alive means investing in our common future. It means rejecting retreat, fatalism or division, in favour of solidarity, freedom and peace. But it also means wanting a Union that reforms itself, that gets closer to its citizens, and that acts efficiently and pragmatically in the face of everyday challenges.
It was indeed in this spirit that MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez took part in the Summit for Democracy and Freedoms in Paris. This international gathering brought together Europe's liberal and progressive forces around a shared ambition: to strengthen freedom, democracy and the well-being of European citizens in a rapidly changing world.
The adoption of the Paris Declaration marks a major political step in this respect. This text sets a clear course: strengthening our defence capabilities, investing in our security, including digital security, and consolidating our strategic autonomy. The aim is to enable Europe to remain a balancing power, capable of defending its values and interests on the world stage.
In an uncertain geopolitical context, where democracies are sometimes under pressure, the unity of Europe's liberal parties is essential. It enables joint, coherent and strong action against authoritarian temptations, populism and external threats.
As Georges-Louis Bouchez pointed out: "A crisis makes it possible to bring about a new society… in a good way too." It is up to liberals to turn challenges into opportunities. Our party embraces its role as a progressive and responsible force, in Belgium as in Europe.