Dans cet extrait d'interview, Mark Eyskens, ministre belge des Finances de 1980 à 1981, Premier ministre en 1981, ministre des Affaires économiques de 1981 à 1985 et ministre des Relations extérieures de 1989 à 1992, souligne le rôle d'intermédiaire que les petits États membres de l'Union européenne peuvent jouer lors des grandes négociations communautaires et revient sur quelques initiatives prises par la Belgique, notamment la proposition belge faite dans le cadre des négociations menant à la signature du traité de Maastricht sur l'Union européenne.

In this interview excerpt, Mark Eyskens, Prime Minister of Belgium in 1981 and Minister for External Relations from 1989 to 1992, discusses the European Council’s rejection on Monday 30 September 1991 of a treaty proposal made by the Netherlands Government that pushed the federalisation of the decision-making process to its maximum. This rejection led to what was termed the ‘Black Monday’ of the Dutch Presidency in 1991.

In this interview excerpt, Mark Eyskens, Belgian Minister for Finance from 1980 to 1981, Prime Minister in 1981, Minister for Economic Affairs from 1981 to 1985 and Minister for External Relations from 1989 to 1992, reviews the advantages of European integration for Belgian development. He also discusses the nature of the European model that, in his view, is defined by a pluralist democracy, a socially corrected market economy, the rule of law and a system of social security — a European model that should play an important role on the world stage.

In this interview excerpt, André Flahaut, an activist in the Socialist Party since 1973, Belgian Minister for National Defence from 1999 to 2007, President of the Chamber of Representatives from 2010 to 2014 and Minister for the Budget, the Civil Service and Administrative Simplification in the Government of the French Community since 2014, discusses his first encounter with European issues as a young socialist activist and as Adviser then Director at the Institut Émile Vandervelde from 1979 to 1995. He also emphasises the fact that Belgium is at the centre of Europe and that, as a founder member of the European Communities, it plays a driving role in European integration and in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

In this interview excerpt, André Flahaut, Belgian Minister for National Defence from 1999 to 2007, discusses his role in incorporating European symbolism into the protocol of the Belgian Army, particularly the European flag and anthem. He emphasises the importance of international cooperation in the field of defence and pays tribute to Javier Solana, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) from 1995 to 1999.

In this interview excerpt, André Flahaut, Belgian Minister for National Defence from 1999 to 2007, recalls the security and defence priorities during the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2001, particularly enhanced European cooperation in the military field. He emphasises that he was keen to take public views on security and defence into account. Referring to the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States, André Flahaut explains that these events had a huge impact on the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, driving the EU towards greater integration in the area of intelligence.

In this interview excerpt, André Flahaut, Belgian Minister for National Defence from 1999 to 2007, describes the support that eight European countries and ten candidate countries for accession to the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) offered to the United States as it prepared for the Iraq War in 2003. He notes that Belgium’s refusal to take part in the war in Iraq made it one of the only countries to be in step with the views of the general public.

In this interview excerpt, André Flahaut, Belgian Minister for National Defence from 1999 to 2007, explains his view that the European Union’s security and defence policy in overseas missions differs from the approach taken by other players such as the United States. He believes that the European Union’s approach is more oriented towards civilian and humanitarian activities.

In this interview excerpt, André Flahaut, Belgian Minister for National Defence from 1999 to 2007, gives his views on the dissolution of Western European Union (WEU) in June 2011. He also emphasises his belief that the European Parliament should take the place of WEU as a forum for political discussion on security and defence matters.

In this interview excerpt, André Flahaut, Belgian Minister for National Defence from 1999 to 2007, gives his thoughts on the European Union’s overseas and peace stabilisation missions since the mid-1990s and the expectations of the international community. He believes that the international community expects the European Union to play a greater role in conflicts and crises, whether humanitarian or military. Finally, he calls for greater cooperation on security and defence at European level and for a real European military headquarters.