Latest news with #Prévot
Barnama
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Nine EU Countries Urge European Commission To Review Legality Of Trade Linked To Israeli Settlements
BRUSSELS, June 20 (Bernama-WAFA) -- Nine European Union member states have called on the European Commission to examine whether trade involving goods and services produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is consistent with international law. According to Palestine News and Info Agency (WAFA) the joint appeal was announced by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot in a post on X. The countries backing the initiative are Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. Prévot stated that the request aligns with the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 19, 2024. The ICJ opinion emphasised that international actors must avoid engagement in trade that contributes to the perpetuation of the unlawful situation created by Israel's settlement activities in occupied Palestinian land.
Days of Palestine
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Belgium: 17 European Countries Considering Sanctions Against Israel
DaysofPal – Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has revealed that 17 European countries are actively considering imposing sanctions on Israel, with a majority reportedly supporting punitive measures in response to its actions in Gaza. In an interview with Al Jazeera today, Prévot declared: 'It is unacceptable to see women and children dying of hunger and thirst in Gaza,' calling for urgent international action 'at any cost' to lift the Israeli siege. He also confirmed that Belgium is studying the feasibility of establishing an airlift to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate rapidly. Aid Blockade: Israel Halts Humanitarian Deliveries for Third Consecutive Day The Gaza Government Media Office announced today that the Israeli occupation continues to block the entry of humanitarian aid trucks into the Gaza Strip for the third straight day, in clear violation of previous commitments. In a statement sent to Sand News Agency, the media office asserted: 'The occupation has stopped the entry of aid it had previously committed to allow since Monday, without any legal or humanitarian justification.' The office warned of a dramatic collapse in health and living conditions, as food, water, medicine, and fuel supplies run dangerously low, intensifying the risk of a full-scale humanitarian disaster. Israeli Gunfire Targets Diplomatic Delegation in Jenin Addressing the attack on a diplomatic delegation in Jenin earlier today, Prévot stated: 'We were deeply shocked to learn that Israel opened fire on diplomats.' The delegation, which included diplomats from 22 Arab and foreign nations, was visiting the Jenin refugee camp to observe the situation on the ground when Israeli forces opened fire, reportedly without provocation. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from Palestinian, Arab, and international officials, who view the attack as a dangerous escalation and violation of diplomatic norms. Shortlink for this post:
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Belgium pushes for coalition of nations to keep Russian assets frozen
Maxime Prévot, Belgium's new Foreign Minister, has said his country is ready to help establish an international coalition to keep Russian assets frozen, despite having no guarantees that EU sanctions will be extended this summer. Source: Prévot in an interview with Euractiv, an EU-focused news and analysis website, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Belgium-based clearing house Euroclear holds the bulk of Russian assets under sanctions in Europe, estimated at over €180 billion in public and private funds that were frozen by the EU following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the sanctions are set to expire by the end of July. EU diplomats say they expect Hungary to attempt to undermine the decision by abstaining, thereby blocking the unanimity required among all 27 EU member states. "In this case, we absolutely need to have alternatives for keeping the assets frozen," Prévot noted. "We could have a new international framework initiative, which will force those assets to stay in Euroclear, or another alternative would be a national initiative of the Belgian parliament." He added that Belgium cannot act alone. "We absolutely need to pool the risks," Prévot said. "We absolutely need to have a mutual approach. Seeing the risk both legally and financially, it's absolutely important to have a 'coalition of the willing' – this time related to the Russian assets." "The time is running, so it is really important to have a clear process identified in the coming weeks, before the moment when we have to decide on the 17th sanction package," he said. Prévot noted that Belgian experts are working to analyse the various possibilities and find a lasting solution. "Belgium will absolutely avoid being alone and taking all the risk of being pursued by Russia in different courts with only sentimental support from EU member states," he added. "No, we need to have strong, written commitments from the other countries – maybe not only the EU ones, but perhaps also supported by the UK, Canada, and others." Background: Reports indicate that Euroclear plans to confiscate and redistribute around €3 billion in frozen Russian assets after Moscow seized funds held by foreign investors in Russia. The EU has long debated the confiscation of Russian assets and their transfer to Ukraine. However, key countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Spain oppose the move, fearing it could deter international investors and deprive the EU of a major bargaining tool in future peace negotiations. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Euronews
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Have Belgian troops been deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
ADVERTISEMENT News reports and social media posts have been circulating online claiming that Belgium has deployed troops to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to fight against rebels in the region. They allege that between 300 and 400 Belgian commandos are expected to engage the M23 rebels alongside the Congolese army and militia groups and that Belgium and the EU in general are supporting the DRC to the detriment of Rwanda. Belgium however strongly denies the claims and has accused Rwanda of mounting a disinformation campaign, amid rising tensions between Brussels and Kigali that have led to the severing of diplomatic ties . Rwanda has pointed the finger at Belgium for allegedly taking sides against it in the ongoing conflict in the DRC's east, which has seen violence for more than three decades since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot said the online claims were "grotesque fake news." "A Belgian contingent of 6 (!) soldiers is indeed present in Kindu for the implementation of European support in non-lethal equipment to the Congolese army," he said in a 26 March post on X . "There is therefore NO deployment to take part in any operations whatsoever, and Belgium has no intention of doing so!" "As for the rest, everything about this tweet rings hollow, as it clearly seeks to stir up trouble and escalate tensions," Prévot added. His post came on the same day that he told Belgium's parliament that the claims were made as part of a disinformation campaign brought by Rwanda and "actors sympathetic to the Rwandan cause." He said the campaign was designed to "undermine Belgium's image, exacerbate tensions and legitimise a certain interventionism." Counterclaims later emerged online, alleging that eight Belgian troops had died fighting and that numerous military flights between Belgian and Congolese cities had taken place. But Belgium has issued its own counterclaims: when approached by EuroVerify, the defence ministry referred back to a press release that it published in late March. It said that around 10 Belgian soldiers are in Kindu as part of the EU's European Peace Facility project. "This initiative aims to strengthen the EU's capacity to prevent conflict, consolidate and preserve peace, and enhance international security and stability," the press release said. "The beneficiary partner of this project is the DRC, with funding of €20 million from the EU." "Belgium is committed to this EPF project in Kindu until December 2027 at the latest," it continued. Related Rwanda cuts diplomatic ties with Belgium over DRC conflict M23 rebels withdraw from DR Congo peace talks as EU imposes sanctions Specifically, Belgium's role in the initiative is comprised of two parts, according to the Ministry of Defence: the purchase of equipment, including engineering equipment for the 31st Brigade of Rapid Reaction Units, and infrastructure work at Camp Lwama in Kindu, which houses the same brigade. ADVERTISEMENT It added that Falcon 7X aircraft have flown between Belgium and the DRC, but in the context of separate missions that have nothing to do with a new military deployment. "It is also important to point out that a Falcon 7X has a maximum capacity of 14 people, and that any deployment of Belgian military personnel as part of an operation must be approved in advance by the government," the defence ministry said. This is not the first time that the Rwandan government has been accused of launching a widespread disinformation campaign to achieve its aims. South Carolina's Clemson University Media Forensics Hub released a study in June 2024 in which it found that President Paul Kagame's government was using artificial intelligence to generate and spread political propaganda during the presidential campaign. ADVERTISEMENT It said that hundreds of X accounts shared hundreds of thousands of posts using AI to push different propaganda narratives, most of which centred on the DRC conflict. Rwanda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn't respond to our request for comment, while the DRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs couldn't be reached. Belgium and Rwanda's crumbling relations Rwanda cut diplomatic ties with Belgium in mid-March over the conflict in the DRC, ordering all Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours. It said that doing so would protect its national interests because Belgium had "clearly taken sides in a regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilise against Rwanda in different forums." ADVERTISEMENT Kigali accused Brussels of "pitiful attempts to sustain its neo-colonial delusions", pointing at Belgium's "deep and violent historical role" in the violence in the DRC. Belgium responded, cancelling all governmental cooperation agreements between the two countries. It said that it refuted the statements made by Rwanda to justify its decision. "Belgium is not seeking to punish or weaken Rwanda, still less on the basis of a colonial past from which it distanced itself a long time ago," the foreign affairs ministry said . "This is a complete distortion of the facts." ADVERTISEMENT Kigali has been criticised by countries including Belgium for backing the M23 rebels, who in recent months have seized Goma and Bukavu, the two largest cities in eastern DRC. M23 is one of about 100 armed groups grappling for control in the mineral-rich region close to the Rwandan border. The group's fighters claim they are protecting the rights of the region's ethnic Tutsis, but the DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels in a bid to control land in the area, while Belgium has accused it of undermining the DRC's territorial integrity. The severing of the countries' diplomatic ties came as the EU slapped sanctions on five Rwandans linked to violence in the DRC. ADVERTISEMENT
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Belgian PM and heads of Belgian Defence and Foreign Ministries arrive in Kyiv
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot and Defence Minister Theo Francken have arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday 8 April. Source: European Pravda; VRT, Belgian national public service broadcasters Details: The Belgian ministers will hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. The Belgian foreign minister noted that this visit is not just a symbolic gesture. Quote from Prévot: "It is a mission of solidarity, of hope, and of unwavering support for a generation of Ukrainians fighting for their freedom and their future." More details: The Belgian foreign minister also posted a photo from Bucha in Kyiv Oblast, which the Belgian ministers visited to pay tribute to the victims of Russian aggression. Quote from Prévot: "Today, we honour the victims. We stand with the survivors. And we reaffirm this: Belgium stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. Justice must prevail." Background: Earlier, the Belgian defence minister posted a photo of himself and De Wever with the caption: "We are going to Ukraine together with our prime minister, we support the bravest of Europeans in every way." Representatives of the new Belgian government, which took office in February 2025, have not yet visited Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov met with his Belgian counterpart Theo Francken in mid-February to discuss further implementation of the F-16 programme. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
