Originally recorded in: French, Dutch, German.Ladies and gentlemen,
Two months ago [refering to Belgium's election], you put your trust in the men and women you expect to find answers to your concerns. You have chosen differently, but ultimately all of you are concerned with the same important issues: employment, climate, poverty, immigration. These concerns are shared with people from many countries around the world.
It is now a matter of coming together and agreeing on solutions. I realize the constraints in which our political leaders have to work. But the challenges are such that they must be addressed without delay, and with courage and determination. And they are so intertwined that they require intense collaboration at all levels.
Our country is full of talent and energy. There is no lack of goodwill and ideas. Many of us are already committed to their immediate environment with conviction. Many also show solidarity in their community or during major solidarity campaigns. Many long for hopeful and ambitious projects. It is a matter of mobilizing all that goodwill.
Major mobilizing projects are born in the dialogue and are realized in cooperation.
Let us use the immense potential of open and true dialogue. Open dialogue means to be ready to understand others with their beliefs and choices, even if they are not shared. It is to make others feel that they are indispensable in the search for solutions, without reservation. In an open dialogue, there is no room for lies and hurtful words.
A real dialogue faces complexity, likes nuance and strives for complementarity. In areas such as climate and employment, but also in mobility, energy, education and training, we can only be efficient through coordinated action and in open and honest conversation.
Combining our strengths to achieve a common goal, there are many beautiful examples of this. See the new cultures of cooperation within our companies. See our scientists, who cooperate closely in many areas of cutting-edge research. From Hollywood to the award-winning Belgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, the result of a beautiful collaboration between all communities in our country.
Combining our strengths to achieve a common goal, there are many beautiful examples of this. in our companies, where new forms of cooperation emerge. Among our scientists, who cooperate closely in many areas of cutting-edge research. With our directors and the many artists who carry the soul of our country out into the world. From Hollywood to the award-winning Belgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, the result of a beautiful collaboration between all communities in our country.
It is also this ability to foster dialogue and to bring together that we are successfully serving the European project.
Our gift for dialogue and our talent to bring people together are also successfully used in the European project.
Our diversity and complementarity are our strength. That's how the world knows us and that's where we are expected. Maybe we are not sufficiently aware of this. And that's exactly what distinguishes us. And we can rightly be proud of that.
From all of this can be born a new ambition for our country. It is also the best remedy against fear, helplessness, and resignation. Our democracy can only benefit from it.
This is my wish today: that we encourage responsible dialogue, that we continue to strengthen our willingness to work together and that we are proud of what makes our country so unique.
The Queen and I wish you a beautiful National Holiday.
Long live Belgium.
