Belgium
Strength in Diversity
Yves Leterme, Belgium’s Prime Minister, is the leader of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party (CD&V) who previously served as the country’s Prime Minister from March 2008 to December 2008.
He has also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget, Institutional Reforms, Transport and the North Sea in the Belgian federal government, and is former Minister-President of Flanders and Flemish Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Yves leterme - Prime minister
The Prime Minister resigned his post in December 2008 following the crisis resulting from the sale of Fortis to BNP Paribas, but was reinstated in November 2009. During his tenure as Minister-President of Flanders, Leterme developed a reputation for budget reforms and for the promotion of regional investments. As Prime Minister, he continues to support increased regional autonomy.
In a speech delivered in January 2010, the Prime Minister outlined his goals for the EU, which is now led by the new European Council headed by former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy. Leterme said, “In spite of all declared policy on a free European market, there is still a large dose of economic nationalism around. The answer, in my opinion, has to be the enactment of clear, strong and enforceable European rules for fair and open markets. I think the Lisbon Treaty gives us more instruments to tackle those known as the ‘big boys’. It will be a priority of the Belgian EU presidency to contribute to further European integration and consolidation.”
