Green dogmatism straining the relationship with the UK

Diplomatic relations with the UK are under great tension. Federal Minister of Energy Van der Straeten (Groen party) refuses to give the green light to the export of an isostatic press, which the British army needs to maintain its nuclear arsenal. “Green dogmatism not only needlessly damages relations with an important neighbour and NATO partner, but the economic impact is also significant now that the British are threatening to blow up a contract worth EUR 600 million,” says MP Anneleen Van Bossuyt. She has a bill to defuse the situation.

The file is technically complex but politically simple. MP Van Bossuyt explains: “There is currently a list of goods that cannot simply be exported because they possibly have nuclear applications, such as the isostatic press at issue here. This list really should have been amended by law after Brexit and certainly after Russia invaded Ukraine. But the green parties have always blocked this, so now we cannot supply our British or Ukrainian allies. An embarrassing situation.”

A EUR 600 million contract 

The stubborn refusal to supply crucial equipment to allies is now bitterly breaking us down. Not only is our international credibility plunging, but our economic interests are also being damaged now that the United Kingdom is threatening to cancel a EUR 600 million contract with FN Herstal. Van Bossuyt elaborates: “Our international credibility is being eroded by the Ecolo and Groen parties, and the Prime Minister stands by and does nothing. He did not come up with solutions today either during question time in the Chamber.”

The bill was already on the table this summer 

To unblock the situation, the N-VA is submitting a bill that was on the government table this summer that would allow deliveries to continue anyway, but it was scuttled by Ecolo and Groen. “This should not have come this far, and it is even more mind-boggling that it is still going on. We are submitting an amending bill in the Chamber today that will allow Belgium to still fulfil its obligations to our NATO ally, the United Kingdom, to keep its nuclear deterrent credible on the one hand, and to besieged Ukraine so that it can continue to produce munitions to oppose its Russian aggressor on the other,” Van Bossuyt says. 

Dogmatism has consequences

“We know there are parties within the De Croo government that cannot bear to watch Belgium’s decline in the international arena. That is why they signed this proposal during the summer, and why we are resubmitting it word for word. This is in line with the government’s commitment to be a reliable partner and loyal NATO ally. Dogmatism has consequences; we don’t live in a vacuum. It is high time that certain government partners realise this. This is not the only case where we see the consequences of this dogmatism; take, for example, the issue of the nuclear power phase-out. Stop this affront that damages our British-Belgian friendship, and stop denying the Ukrainian people the means to defend themselves. Approve this proposal with us,” Anneleen Van Bossuyt concludes.