On 11 July at the Errera House, Minister-president Bourgeois gave his annual 11 July speech to the diplomatic corps.
“Flanders is doing well”, said Minister-president Bourgeois. The economy is experiencing a fall in unemployment, rising exports and new foreign investment. Strengthening the logistics assets of Flanders remains one of the main focus areas. With investments in ports and waterways, railways and road infrastructure, the Minister-president wants to strengthen Flanders as a logistical turntable in Europe and the world. He also reiterated his call to the European Union for greater flexibility in the Stabilization and Growth Pact to enable these strategic investments.
In addition to the physical connection, Minister-president Bourgeois pleaded for more European connectivity: "The European Union is the appropriate policy level to protect us against the forces that wish to undermine the foundations of our society. And while some countries search salvation in self-reliance, we can only see that on the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the European Union has brought more prosperity, stability and peace than in the 60 years before. That is why we, in Flanders, are Europeans. "
Read the speech of Minister-president Bourgeois