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Articles by Wouter Beke
Boek | Houvast of houdgreep? - Wouter Beke
Europa zit in een houdgreep. De tijd dat de Europese Unie een economische reus was, is voorbij. Het speelveld waarop onze welvaart is gebouwd wordt fundamenteel hertekend. Het Europese project schuift in ijltempo op van vredesproject naar beschermingsproject. Hoe beschermen we onze welvaart, onze veiligheid en onze waarden? De EU kan zich uit die houdgreep bevrijden en opnieuw houvast bieden. Door de buitengrenzen te versterken om haar veiligheid te vergroten.
Urgent protection of the European citric acid sector against unfair competition and dumping
Question for written answer E-001550/2026 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) The European citric acid sector is in a precarious situation owing to ongoing dumping practices by third countries, particularly China. European producers are facing import prices that are significantly below production costs, which seriously undermines the sector’s viability.
European MRV and ETS frameworks for offshore activities
Question for written answer E-001421/2026 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) The extension of the EU MRV and EU ETS frameworks to offshore activities constitutes a significant step in the implementation of the European Green Deal. At the same time, stakeholders in the offshore sector note that the practical implementation of the MRV system presents challenges.
Urgent call for concrete short-term action to address the crisis in the European chemical sector
Priority question for written answer P-000556/2026/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE), Liesbet Sommen (PPE), Pascal Arimont (PPE) The European chemical industry is facing a rapid and deepening downturn. Since 2022, 160 chemical production facilities have shut down across Europe. This equals a loss of at least 37 million tonnes of capacity, nearly 9 % of the European total. Around 20 000 direct and 90 000 indirect jobs are affected.
Russian proximity operations and EU satellite communications security
Question for written answer E-000481/2026 to the Commission Rule 144 Hélder Sousa Silva (PPE), Lídia Pereira (PPE), Paulo Cunha (PPE), Sebastião Bugalho (PPE), Wouter Beke (PPE), Pekka Toveri (PPE), Alice Teodorescu Måwe (PPE) Reports indicate that Russian ‘Luch’ vehicles have conducted repeated close-proximity manoeuvres near European geostationary satellites and may have intercepted communications, including potentially vulnerable command-and-control links on older systems.
Application of the GBER and access to State aid for energy-intensive undertakings in difficulty
Question for written answer E-000427/2026 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) The General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) stipulates that undertakings must not be in difficulty, within the meaning of Article 2(18) of that regulation, at the time the aid is to be granted. Undertakings to which this applies lose access to various aid measures, including Compensation for Indirect Emission Costs (CIE) and the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF).
Follow-up to written question E-001685/2025 on French EGalim law and HVE3
Question for written answer E-000219/2026 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) In its answer to question for written answer E-001685/2025[1], the European Commission referred to the French EGalim law and HVE3 (High Environmental Value level 3), and reference was made to a potential infringement of EU single market principles linked to the implementation of the French EGalim law in the context of collective catering requirements due to a High Environmental Value (HVE3) and to a...
Towards a European framework for the use of fireworks by private individuals
Priority question for written answer P-000025/2026 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) The use of fireworks by private individuals continues to raise concerns within the European Union in terms of public health, safety, animal welfare and the environment. Every year during the festive season, several Member States report serious injuries and damage to property, as well as considerable pressure placed on emergency services and local authorities.
Europe’s prosperity and competitiveness at risk: Why ReSourceEU must deliver
The European Commission is about to unveil its ReSourceEU strategy. It comes at a critical time. China is increasingly weaponising its dominant position in critical raw material (CRM) value chains, while the United States races to close the gap. Europe needs to take clear and decisive actions if it is to secure its prosperity and competitiveness. The European Commission is preparing to unveil its ReSourceEU strategy. It comes at a moment when Europe can no longer afford hesitation.
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the political situation in Myanmar including the humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya
B10‑0521/2025 European Parliament resolution on the political situation in Myanmar including the humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya (2025/2986(RSP)) The European Parliament, –having regard to its previous resolutions on Myanmar, –having regard to the resolutions of the UN General Assembly on Myanmar, –having regard to the joint statement of 6 January 2025 by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Governments of the United States, Australia,...
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on renewing the EU-Africa partnership: building common priorities ahead of the Angola Summit
European Parliament resolution on renewing the EU-Africa partnership: building common priorities ahead of the Angola Summit (2025/2933(RSP)) The European Parliament, –having regard to Rule 136(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure, A.whereas Africa and Europe are neighbouring continents whose futures are closely interlinked; whereas the EU should aim to be Africa’s leading partner in trade, investment, development aid, humanitarian assistance, peace and security, energy and the digital...
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on renewing the EU-Africa partnership: building common priorities ahead of the Angola Summit
B10‑0473/2025 European Parliament resolution on renewing the EU-Africa partnership: building common priorities ahead of the Angola Summit (2025/2933(RSP)) The European Parliament, –having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the EU and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), of the other part[1], also known as the Samoa Agreement, signed on 15 November 2023 and provisionally applied since 1 January 2024,...
Mutual recognition of vehicle safety standards between the EU and the United States
Question for written answer E-003933/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) The recent EU-US joint statement on a framework agreement for transatlantic trade refers to a ‘mutual recognition’ of automobile standards.
Application of the NIS2 Directive
Question for written answer E-003771/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) Recent concerns from the Belgian education sector highlight practical difficulties in the implementation of the NIS2 Directive[1]. Large school institutions with extensive solar panel installations are formally classified as ‘producers’ of electricity and thus fall within the scope of the directive.
Simplification of high-impact environmental legislation
Question for written answer E-003078/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE), Norbert Lins (PPE) The Commission enjoys broad support in screening the EU acquis for overlaps and inconsistencies. Simplification is essential, especially where EU legislation complicates permitting procedures for businesses and farmers. Initiatives to simplify permitting under the Clean Industrial Deal, the Affordable Energy Action Plan and the Defence Readiness Omnibus are welcome steps.
Need for clear exemptions for military personnel under the Working Time Directive
Question for written answer E-002871/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Alice Teodorescu Måwe (PPE), Rasa Juknevičienė (PPE), Wouter Beke (PPE), Petras Auštrevičius (Renew), Matej Tonin (PPE) Directive 2003/88/EC[1] (Working Time Directive) sets minimum standards for rest and working hours across the EU. While Article 17 allows derogations for specific sectors, including the armed forces, the scope and application of these exemptions remain legally unclear.
Veiligheid is geen luxe, maar een kerntaak van de Europese Unie
Of de nieuwe NAVO-norm nu 5 procent van het bbp bedraagt, binnen welk tijdskader en welke uitgaven meetellen, is op zich minder belangrijk. De kernvraag is: hoe bouwen we aan geloofwaardige Europese afschrikking? De NAVO-top is belangrijk, maar de onderliggende conclusie blijft dat we in staat moeten zijn om zelf op te treden, ook zonder Amerikaanse ruggensteun. Het ontstaan van de NAVO ligt in de idee: keep the Americans in Europe, the Russians out of Europe and keep the Germans down.
Safeguarding European citric acid production against unfair competition from China
Question for written answer E-001942/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D), Wouter Beke (PPE), Johan Van Overtveldt (ECR) Citribel, one of the last citric acid producers in the EU, finds itself in worrying circumstances because of Chinese exporters’ dumping practices. In spite of ongoing innovation and sustainability efforts, the plant risks having to shut down.
French EGalim law and HVE3
Question for written answer E-001685/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) As of 1 January 2027, only the French environmental certification HVE3 (High Environmental Value level 3) will be accepted under the French EGalim law for the supply of agricultural products to the French market. Under EGalim, collective catering in France must use at least 50 % sustainable products, including 20 % organic.
Parliamentary question | Fisheries – a priority at the EU-UK summit on 19 May 2025 | P-001609/2025 | European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-001609/2025/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) Fisheries is a fundamental theme of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The agreement establishes a detailed framework for reciprocal access to maritime resources.
PROPUESTA DE RESOLUCIÓN sobre las industrias de gran consumo de energía
B10‑0209/2025 Resolución del Parlamento Europeo sobre las industrias de gran consumo de energía (2025/2536(RSP)) El Parlamento Europeo, –Visto el informe de Mario Draghi, de septiembre de 2024, titulado «The future of European competitiveness» (El futuro de la competitividad europea), –Visto el informe de Enrico Letta, de abril de 2024, titulado «Much more than a market» (Mucho más que un mercado), –Vista la Comunicación de la Comisión, de 26 de febrero de 2025, titulada «Pacto por una...
EU action to accelerate biotech solutions for autoimmune disease patients
Question for written answer E-001203/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE), Liesbet Sommen (PPE) Over the past decade, autoimmune diseases have surged across Europe, driving social, economic and healthcare costs to over EUR 50 billion[1]. The upcoming EU biotech act is a top political priority, aimed at harnessing European biotech innovation to enable quicker and more effective diagnoses and treatments.
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on energy-intensive industries
24.3.2025 - (2025/2536(RSP)) to wind up the debate on the statement by the Commission pursuant to Rule 136(2) of the Rules of Procedure Giorgio Gori, Wouter Beke, Brigitte van den Berg, Benedetta Scuderi on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy B10‑0209/2025 European Parliament resolution on energy-intensive industries (2025/2536(RSP)) The European Parliament, –having regard to the report of September 2024 by Mario Draghi entitled ‘On the future of European...
Using Renure and applying a derogation to reduce dependence on imported fertilisers
Question for written answer E-001077/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) In its Competitiveness Compass for the EU, the Commission proposes that additional tariffs be introduced on chemical fertilisers from Russia and Belarus. That risks increasing prices for farmers and lowering competitiveness, even though the agricultural and horticultural sector is a strategic partner as a supplier of food, fibre, agricultural commodities and energy.
Energy-intensive industries
Question for oral answer O-000010/2025 to the Commission Rule 142 Giorgio Gori, Wouter Beke, Jana Nagyová, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Brigitte van den Berg, Benedetta Scuderi on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Energy-intensive industries (EIIs) are the backbone of the European economy and play a key role in job creation, especially in areas and regions where they are concentrated.
Industrias de gran consumo de energía
Pregunta con solicitud de respuesta oral O-000010/2025 a la Comisión Artículo 142 del Reglamento interno Giorgio Gori, Wouter Beke, Jana Nagyová, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Brigitte van den Berg, Benedetta Scuderi en nombre de la Comisión de Industria, Investigación y Energía Las industrias de gran consumo de energía son la columna vertebral de la economía europea y desempeñan un papel clave en la creación de empleo, especialmente en las zonas y regiones en las que se concentran.
Ending of the work programme of the Major Accident Hazards Bureau
Question for written answer E-000953/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) The Major Accident Hazards Bureau (MAHB) is part of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and provides scientific and technical support for policy associated with chemical safety and security. It was created in the 1980s to support the Seveso Directive on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances and has become a leading centre for industrial safety expertise in the EU and globally.
Industrial output plan
Question for written answer E-000505/2025 to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) At the Annual Conference of the European Defence Agency on 22 January, an ‘industrial output plan’ was announced by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
B10‑0127/2025 European Parliament resolution on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025/2553(RSP)) The European Parliament, –having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes Region, –having regard to the Council conclusions of 20 February 2023 entitled ‘A renewed EU Great Lakes Strategy: Supporting the transformation of the root causes of instability into shared opportunities’, –having regard...
IRIS²: Starlink and SMEs
Question for written answer E-000073/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) Earlier this year, it emerged that Prime Minister Meloni is involved in far-reaching negotiations with SpaceX regarding the purchase of Starlink satellites with a view to building a secure telecommunications infrastructure in Italy. In recent years, however, there has been a strong focus within the Union on strategic autonomy, which seems to be an even higher priority for the current Commission.
Syrië vraagt: kunnen wij nog dromen?
Syrië en de bredere regio zullen nooit meer hetzelfde zijn. Europa heeft in het verleden al te vaak vanaf de zijlijn toegekeken. Het moet nu, samen met de talloze gevluchte Syriërs, zijn verantwoordelijkheid nemen. Het einde van 54 jaar tirannie in Syrië door de familie Assad is voor de Europese Unie een unieke kans om haar invloed in het Midden-Oosten te herdefiniëren.
EU-NATO high-level task force
Priority question for written answer P-002464/2024/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 144 Hélder Sousa Silva (PPE), Paulo Cunha (PPE), Sérgio Humberto (PPE), Ana Miguel Pedro (PPE), Nicolás Pascual de la Parte (PPE), Rasa Juknevičienė (PPE), Wouter Beke (PPE), Pekka Toveri (PPE) Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently announced the creation of a new high-level task force aimed at reinforcing the existing collaboration between the EU and NATO.
Reactivation of the Iron Rhine
Priority question for written answer P-002187/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Wouter Beke (PPE) The reactivation of the Iron Rhine – the freight railway line between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany – presents an important opportunity for the EU. The Commission stated in 2011 that the Iron Rhine was an intergovernmental issue unless EU interests were at stake.[1] In 2024, those interests are highly topical.
EU heeft Europese strategie voor defensie nodig
Met alle Europese lidstaten samen hebben we het grootste leger ter wereld, maar we kunnen dat nauwelijks inzetten. Europa moet voor zelf voor zijn defensie kunnen instaan, met minder versnippering, een eigen budget en een Europees commissaris voor Defensie, schrijven Wouter Beke en andere christendemocratische lijsttrekkers uit de Benelux. Winston Churchill pleitte in 1950 in de pas opgerichte Raad van Europa voor een Europees leger.
‘Hervorm de regeringsvorming’
‘Niet alleen de politieke versnippering laat vandaag weinig ruimte voor ideologische marges, dat doen ook de uitdagingen waar we voor staan’, schrijft Wouter Beke (CD&V). Hij reageert op recente voorstellingen om de rol van de koning bij de regeringsvorming in te perken. De passage over regeringsvorming in het regeerakkoord leest als volgt. ‘Lang aanslepende regeringsvormingen moeten in de toekomst vermeden worden.
Beke pleit voor afspiegelingsregering en aparte regionale verkiezingen als dam tegen lange formatie
Brussel - Een federale afspiegelingsregering, samengesteld uit Vlaamse en Franstalige meerderheden. En daarnaast deelstaten die los van het federale niveau verkiezingen kunnen organiseren. Het zijn twee voorstellen die CD&V-Kamerlid Wouter Beke in de Commissie Grondwet indient. De voorbije decennia bleek dat een snelle vorming van een volwaardige federale regering steeds moeilijker wordt. Met 541 dagen van regeringsonderhandelingen vestigde ons land in 2010-2011 zelfs een wereldrecord.
Geen uitbreiding zonder verdieping
Geen uitbreiding, zonder verdieping. Zo is het in Europa altijd gegaan. Zo moet het ook nu gebeuren. Donderdag besliste de Europese Raad de uitbreidingsbesprekingen op te starten met Oekraïne en Moldavië. Valse verwachtingen creëren voor een snelle toetreding zal enkel leiden tot teleurstelling. De Europese Unie moet zich eerst grondig voorbereiden op uitbreiding, door in haar bevoegdheden te verdiepen.
Marleen Kauffmann en Wouter Beke in tandem naar de verkiezingen
LEOPOLDSBURG - Twee weken geleden kondigden Wouter Beke en Marleen Kauffmann samen met Danny Bloemen aan dat CD&V Leopoldsburg in kartel met de lokale lijst PRO naar de verkiezingen gaat. Nu heeft het partijbestuur van CD&V beslist dat Marleen Kauffmann deze lijst zal trekken en dit in tandem met Wouter Beke, die op de tweede plaats staat. Het partijbestuur van PRO schuift Danny Bloemen naar voor op plaats vier.
Een Nieuw Globaal Plan
November 1993. Jean-Luc Dehaene was eerste minister en zijn doel was ambitieus: België doen toetreden tot de Europese Economische en Monetaire Unie (EMU), of wat we nu kennen als de Euro. Europa had net de eenmaking van Duitsland geassumeerd en na de val van de Berlijnse muur stonden de voormalige communistische landen zoals Estland, Letland, Litouwen, Hongarije, Polen, Slovenië, Slowakije en Tsjechië aan de deur om te kunnen toetreden. Maar eerst zou Europa zich intern moeten verdiepen.
De drie Limburgse cd&v-lijsttrekkers: “We zullen de zolen uit onze schoenen lopen”
Brussel - Amper 12 uur nadat de partijraad hen tot lijsttrekkers in Limburg bombardeerde, staan Wouter Beke, Nawal Farih en Jo Brouns te trappelen voor hun eerste campagne-interview. “We zullen de zolen uit onze schoenen lopen”, belooft het nieuwe Limburgse cd&v-triumviraat. De nationale partijraad van cd&v heeft voormalig voorzitter en minister Wouter Beke (49) woensdagavond laat als Europees lijsttrekker aangeduid.
Economisch beleid - lees Goossens’ kanjer en u bent klaar voor het debat
In de zomer las ik Paul Goossens' De Ongelijkheidsmachine. Een verborgen Europese geschiedenis. Ik ken geen boek in het Nederlandse taalgebied dat zo breed het economische beleid van de voorbije tweehonderd jaar beschrijft. Mocht hij zijn boek minder overladen hebben met een ideologische saus en vooringenomenheid, zou het verplichte lectuur zijn voor iedereen die menswetenschappen wil studeren.
Werkgelegenheidsgraad van 80 procent is noodzakelijk, maar onvoldoende
Wouter Beke Federaal volksvertegenwoordiger voor CD&V Vandaag om 00:02 Het federale begrotingstekort stijgt 13 miljard euro tegen 2028. Als we de 80 procent werkgelegenheidsgraad realiseren, betekent dat extra inkomsten uit de personenbelasting en voor de sociale zekerheid. Genoeg om de stijgende uitgaven bijna volledig te financieren. ‘De toestand van de overheidsfinanciën is onhoudbaar’ schreven 49 Belgische economen en beleidsexperts in De Tijd.
Haal koekoeksei van gezondheidszorg uit federale mand
Wouter Beke Koen Geens Servais Verherstraeten Vandaag om 13:52 De gezondheidszorg wordt hoe langer hoe meer ouderenzorg en de regionale voorkeuren verschillen sterk. Daarom wordt die bevoegdheid beter homogeen naar de deelstaten overgedragen. Haal dat koekoeksei uit de federale mand. Bij de zesde staatshervorming in 2010 legde CD&V naast de splitsing van Brussel-Halle-Vilvoorde en de overdracht van bevoegdheden ook de nieuwe bijzondere financieringswet (BFW) op tafel.
Joachim Coens en Wouter Beke: ‘Leg het gezins- en gezondheidsbeleid volledig bij de deelstaten’
Joachim Coens en Wouter Beke pleiten voor een gezins- en gezondheidsbeleid dat volledig bij de deelstaten ligt.
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