As Europe faces war on its borders, rising global competition and waning global influence, Belgian liberals used a major Brussels symposium to argue that the continent must reclaim its sovereignty.
On 13 March, ALDE Party member Mouvement Réformateur (MR) gathered senior European political, military and business figures for a day of panel debates to discuss Europe’s strategic future.
Organised by the Jean Gol Centre, the theme was highly relevant in today’s increasingly unstable world: Europe’s Reclaiming of Sovereignty. Debates explored every dimension: food, finance, defence, energy, raw materials and geopolitics.
The event opened with a staggering statistic: Europe still accounts for 17% of global wealth, but its GDP now represents only 65% of that of the United States. These figures set the tone for a day of discussions on Europe’s declining weight.
MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez argued that Europe has spent too long acting against its own interests. He warned that the continent has become too dependent on others in key sectors and called for a more assertive European approach:
“Europe is on the sidelines rather than on the field. This is the case in Ukraine, in Gaza, and with Iran. And it is exactly the same in the areas of industry, energy, and defence.
To love Europe is to want to reform it today, to sometimes criticize some of its policies or structures. It is certainly not to be sceptical – on the contrary, it is to ensure that this European Union remains the greatest political innovation in history.”
ALDE Party Vice-President, Rik Daems, also attended in Brussels, supporting the liberal push for European autonomy and global influence.
The message throughout the day was that sovereignty must be understood in practical terms to lessen vulnerabilities. From food production and agricultural resilience to defence capabilities and access to critical raw materials.
Speakers also called for a stronger Europe through greater responsibility within NATO. Participants pointed to the need for a more secure path away from external dependence, calling for diverse global partnerships, especially with Africa.
During one of the panel debates, Sophie Wilmès MEP (MR, BE) commented on this independence: “to have a healthy relationship, you have to be able to stand on your own two feet.”
At a time of growing geopolitical pressure, liberals were clear: Europe has the resources and talent to act as a global power, but it now needs the political courage to match.