Belgium's King welcomes EU leaders to the Royal Palace in Brussels

(17 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

AGENCY POOL
Brussels - 17 April 2024
1. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez greeting Belgium's King Philippe, European Council President Charles Michel, and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo
2. Arrival of Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, greeting King Philippe, Michel and De Croo
3. Arrival of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, greeting King Philippe, Michel and De Croo
4. Arrival of Estonian Prime Minster Kaja Kallas, greeting King Philippe, Michel and De Croo
5. Arrival of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, greeting King Philippe, Michel and De Croo
6. Arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron, greeting King Philippe, Michel and De Croo
7. Arrival of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, greeting King Philippe, Michel and De Croo
8. Arrival and zoom in on Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, greeting and speaking with King Philippe, Michel and De Croo
9. Arrival of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, greeting King Philippe, Michel and De Croo
10. Arrival of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, greeting King Philippe, Michel and De Croo
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Belgium's King Philippe:
++QUALITY AS INCOMING++
“I am proud to be European. Even more so in these times of uncertainty. Because in many areas the European Union leads the way. The decisions you have made on our support to Ukraine, strategic autonomy, defence, enlargement and migration will bring security and democracy and prosperity to ever more citizens. And the more united we are, the more strongly our message resonates. Yes of course, our views do not always coincide, but since the foundation of our union we have settled our differences not by confrontation, but by peaceful means embedded in solid democratic institutions.”
12. Applause by European leaders
STORYLINE:
Belgium's King Philippe welcomed European leaders to his palace on Wednesday, before the start of the European Summit in Brussels.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and European Council President Charles Michel were in attendance.

King Philippe told the leaders, "I am proud to be European, even more so in these times of uncertainty. Because in many areas the European Union leads the way."

Discussions at the summit were set to focus on the bloc’s competitiveness in the face of increased competition from the United States and China.

Tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine decided otherwise and the 27 leaders will dedicate Wednesday evening talks to foreign affairs.

As the unprecedented attack by Iran on Israel ratcheted up regional tensions and raised fears of a wider war, EU leaders will urge “all parties to exercise utmost restraint and refrain from any action that may increase tensions in the region,” according to a draft of their summit conclusions.

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