Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx) header
Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx) profile picture

🇧🇪🇪🇺 Belgian diplomat • Deputy Director-General for European Affairs @BelgiumDGE @BelgiumMFA

Brussels, Belgium, Europe
Joined April 2010
Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)Photo by Alexandre Brecx (@AlexBrecx)
Alexandre Brecx retweeted
Respect to the DAS team from @BelgiumDefence in Jerusalem. Our military personnel, specialised in supporting and safely evacuating diplomats in high-risk situations, brought a diplomatic delegation on the West Bank to safety following a threatening incident. Thank you for your professionalism and commitment in these difficult circumstances! 💪🏼
A delegation of European diplomats came under attack by masked 'Israeli' settlers on Saturday while visiting the village of Taibe in the occupied West Bank to observe the local olive harvest, according to 'Israeli' Army Radio. Read more: en.royanews.tv/news/75007
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26 hours of summit #EUCO. 3 hours of sleep. Several extra summits ahead of us. The EU is busy writing its history, and this new job of mine won’t be boring 😅
Wrapping up two intense days at #EUCO with @Bart_DeWever. More convergence. More urgency. On competitiveness, Ukraine, migration, enlargement and internal reforms, Europe increasingly knows where it wants to go. The direction is clear. We need to keep up the pace. 🇪🇺🇧🇪
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
🇵🇸 I condemn in the strongest terms the attack by masked settlers in Taybeh, in the occupied West Bank, against Palestinians, our Consul General, French and Polish diplomats as well as catholic representatives. A French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle damaged. Our team is safe. Palestinians face this violence every day. Settlers also target journalists reporting on it and diplomats. Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack. As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice. Impunity for violent settlers must end. Belgium will continue to press for EU sanctions against those responsible for this violence and those who support them. This violence cannot be separated from Israel’s illegal settlement policy. Belgium condemns settlement expansion and attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land. The occupation of the Palestinian territory must end. @BelgiumMFA @BelgiumJRS
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During my audience with King Philippe of the Belgians, I thanked His Majesty, the government, and all the Belgian people for their support of Ukraine. We are now living under constant Russian missile and drone attacks on our cities and communities. And our top priority is strengthening air defense. We count on Belgium’s support in this area, particularly with the delivery of F-16 fighter jets and ammunition for them, which help us defend against Russian jet-powered “shaheds.” And, of course, it is equally important that frozen Russian assets remain immobilized. As long as the war continues, Russia must not receive anything it could invest in further killings and destabilization in Europe. Thank you! @MonarchieBe
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I discussed with Prime Minister of Belgium @Bart_DeWever the consequences of round-the-clock Russian attacks on residential buildings, energy, and other critical infrastructure in Ukraine. This evening alone, the Russians struck energy facilities in two regions. Almost 15,000 people in Volyn have been left without power. Some districts in Kyiv and the region are partially without electricity supply. In some communities, repair crews cannot even begin restoration work because of the threat of Russian double-tap strikes. I briefed the Prime Minister in detail on Russian terror and our needs. Right now, F-16s are helping significantly in repelling attacks by jet-powered “shaheds.” We are working with Belgium to receive additional fighter jets as soon as possible. We also discussed the possibility of additional supplies of munitions for them. Every decision on defense support saves lives. I thank the Prime Minister and Belgium for their assistance and readiness to continue supporting our efforts to protect lives.
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
#EUCO | First day of the European Council today with Belgian Prime Minister @Bart_DeWever 🇧🇪 The 27 🇪🇺 leaders are discussing competitiveness, global economic challenges, the EU's long-term budget (MFF), and enlargement & internal reforms.
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1569 (!!) additional sanctions taken today by the European Union to support Ukraine 🇺🇦 and to increase pressure on Russia 🇷🇺
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
🇧🇪 Belgium strongly condemns the new US sanctions against the @IntlCrimCourt. The #ICC must be able to work independently. Belgium calls for the activation of the EU Blocking Statute to protect the Court. 🔗Read more: diplomatie.belgium.be/en/new…
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
⚖️ I strongly condemn the new US sanctions against the International Criminal Court. Seeking to cripple the Court’s work denies victims a path to justice and puts those responsible for the gravest crimes beyond its reach. At Belgium’s initiative, support for the ICC will be discussed with my EU foreign affairs colleagues on Monday and at the forthcoming European Council. We will press for concrete protection. The Court’s independence cannot depend on whom it investigates. Europe must act. Belgium is calling for the activation of the EU Blocking Statute to protect the Court and those who support its work. We must also defend our right to uphold international law without foreign sanctions dictating our choices. @BelgiumMFA @IntlCrimCourt
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
🇮🇱 (EN/FR/NL) Three years after the Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023, I pay tribute to the victims and stand in solidarity with their loved ones, the survivors and the Israeli people. Families were murdered in their homes. Young people were killed while enjoying music together. Children, women and men were taken hostage. Nothing can justify these crimes. The passage of time does not lessen their gravity or our duty to remember. Those responsible must be held accountable. For former hostages and bereaved families, this day is also a reminder of loved ones who will never return and wounds that remain. We owe it to them to keep listening to their stories and acknowledging their suffering. My thoughts are also with Belgium’s Jewish community. Everyone must be able to live openly in their faith and identity, without fear. Fighting antisemitism is a responsibility we bear every day. Today, we pause to remember. We will not forget. ———- Trois ans après les attaques terroristes du Hamas du 7 octobre 2023, je rends hommage aux victimes et adresse toute ma solidarité à leurs proches, aux survivants et au peuple israélien. Des familles ont été assassinées chez elles. Des jeunes ont été tués alors qu’ils partageaient un moment de musique et de fête. Des enfants, des femmes et des hommes ont été emmenés en captivité. Rien ne peut justifier ces crimes. Le temps qui passe ne diminue ni leur gravité, ni notre devoir de mémoire. Les responsables doivent répondre de leurs actes. Pour les anciens otages et les familles endeuillées, cette journée rappelle aussi des absences et des blessures qui demeurent. Nous leur devons de continuer à entendre leur souffrance. Je pense également à la communauté juive de Belgique. Chacun doit pouvoir vivre sa foi et son identité librement, sans peur. Combattre l’antisémitisme est une responsabilité de chaque jour. Aujourd’hui, nous nous recueillons. Nous n’oublions pas. ———- Drie jaar na de terroristische aanslagen van Hamas op 7 oktober 2023 herdenk ik de slachtoffers en betuig ik mijn volle solidariteit met hun naasten, de overlevenden en de Israëlische bevolking. Gezinnen werden in hun eigen huis vermoord. Jongeren werden gedood terwijl ze samen van muziek genoten. Kinderen, vrouwen en mannen werden gegijzeld. Niets kan die misdaden rechtvaardigen. Het verstrijken van de tijd vermindert hun ernst niet, noch onze plicht om te herdenken. De verantwoordelijken moeten ter verantwoording worden geroepen. Voor voormalige gijzelaars en nabestaanden herinnert deze dag ook aan geliefden die nooit meer terugkomen en aan wonden die blijven. We zijn het hun verschuldigd om naar hun verhalen te blijven luisteren en hun leed te erkennen. Mijn gedachten gaan ook uit naar de Joodse gemeenschap in België. Iedereen moet zijn geloof en identiteit vrij kunnen beleven, zonder angst. Antisemitisme bestrijden is een verantwoordelijkheid die we elke dag dragen. Vandaag staan we stil en herdenken we. We vergeten niet. @BelgiumMFA @BelgiumJRS @BelgiuminIsrael
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
🇧🇪 Warm congratulations to Belgian physicist Francis Halzen on receiving the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking work on neutrinos and the IceCube Observatory. Deep beneath the Antarctic ice, IceCube brings together scientists from across the world. It is a remarkable scientific achievement and a powerful reminder of what international cooperation can accomplish. As one of the original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty, Belgium has long stood for Antarctica as a place of peace, science and international cooperation. Today, we can be especially proud to see a fellow Belgian honoured at the very highest level of science. @BelgiumMFA
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
EU enlargement is not a theoretical desk exercise. Last week in North Macedonia, I met government representatives and civil society to discuss the ongoing reforms and the European path ahead. The sunrise run in Skopje helped to keep the pace. 🇲🇰🇪🇺
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❝In the face of wars, humanitarian crises, climate change, pandemics and technological upheavals, the question is ultimately quite simple: do we still have a shared compass? For Belgium, the answer is yes. That compass is the United Nations Charter. It is international law.❞
(EN/FR/NL) 🇺🇳 Last night, I had the honour of speaking on behalf of Belgium at the United Nations General Assembly. I began with The Blind by Maurice Maeterlinck. A Belgian work, but also a striking image of our time: people standing close to one another, facing the same dangers, yet struggling to find their way forward together. That is also what diplomacy is about: continuing to talk when we disagree, listening, seeking to understand and building bridges, without giving up on our principles. And we do have a compass: the United Nations Charter and international law. They cannot be applied selectively. Borders cannot be redrawn by force. Civilians must be protected. Humanitarian aid must reach those who need it. And human rights cannot depend on a passport, a territory or the balance of power at a given moment. These rules apply on land as well as at sea. I also wanted to speak about the climate and the ocean, and our responsibility to preserve them for future generations. And believing in the United Nations also means having the courage to change it. It must better reflect the world of today and regain its full capacity to act. 🔗 My full speech: gadebate.un.org/en/81/belgiu… __________ 🇺🇳 Cette nuit, j’ai eu l’honneur de porter la voix de la Belgique à l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies. J’ai commencé par Les Aveugles de Maurice Maeterlinck. Une œuvre belge, mais aussi une image saisissante de notre époque : des êtres humains proches les uns des autres, confrontés aux mêmes dangers, mais qui peinent à trouver leur chemin ensemble. C’est aussi tout le sens de la diplomatie : continuer à se parler lorsqu’on n’est pas d’accord, écouter, chercher à comprendre et construire des ponts, sans renoncer à ses principes. Et nous avons une boussole : la Charte des Nations Unies et le droit international. Ils ne peuvent pas s’appliquer à géométrie variable. Les frontières ne peuvent être redessinées par la force. Les civils doivent être protégés. L’aide humanitaire doit parvenir à ceux qui en ont besoin. Et les droits humains ne peuvent dépendre d’un passeport, d’un territoire ou du rapport de force du moment. Ces règles valent sur terre comme en mer. J’ai aussi voulu parler du climat et de l’océan, et notre responsabilité de les préserver pour les générations futures. Et croire dans les Nations Unies, c’est aussi avoir le courage de les changer. Elles doivent mieux refléter le monde d’aujourd’hui et retrouver toute leur capacité à agir. 🔗 Mon discours complet : prevot.belgium.be/fr/actuali… __________ 🇺🇳 Vannacht had ik de eer om namens België het woord te nemen op de Algemene Vergadering van de Verenigde Naties. Ik begon met De blinden van Maurice Maeterlinck. Een Belgisch werk, maar ook een treffend beeld voor onze tijd: mensen die dicht bij elkaar staan en met dezelfde gevaren worden geconfronteerd, maar moeite hebben om samen hun weg te vinden. Daar ligt ook de essentie van diplomatie: met elkaar blijven spreken wanneer we het oneens zijn, luisteren, proberen te begrijpen en bruggen bouwen, zonder onze principes los te laten. En we hebben een kompas: het Handvest van de Verenigde Naties en het internationaal recht. Die mogen niet à la carte worden toegepast. Grenzen mogen niet met geweld worden hertekend. Burgers moeten worden beschermd. Humanitaire hulp moet mensen in nood kunnen bereiken. En mensenrechten mogen nooit afhangen van een paspoort, een grondgebied of de machtsverhoudingen van het moment. Die regels gelden op het land én op zee. Ik heb ook willen spreken over het klimaat en de oceaan, en over onze verantwoordelijkheid om die te beschermen voor de generaties na ons. En wie in de Verenigde Naties gelooft, moet ze ook durven veranderen. Ze moeten de wereld van vandaag beter weerspiegelen en opnieuw ten volle in staat zijn om te handelen. 🔗 Mijn volledige toespraak: prevot.belgium.be/nl/nieuws/… @BelgiumMFA @BelgiumUN
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
🇧🇪🇷🇼 (EN/FR/NL) Pleased to announce today the resumption of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Rwanda. In a world marked by growing tensions, this is an important signal here in New York, the UN's host city, which embodies multilateralism and dialogue beyond our differences. This is the culmination of a process of frank discussions with my counterpart and the result of a shared, respectful effort. I am convinced that we can set a positive agenda, mutually beneficial to our citizens, and grounded in the richness of our interpersonal relations. We agreed on the importance of systematic dialogue, including on the points of disagreement that remain, such as the conflict in eastern DRC. Restoring diplomatic relations between states does not mean abandoning our position, but having structured channels for dialogue, and I will continue to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the DRC. We want to put our expertise in the region to work in support of mediation efforts as best we can, and we will continue to urge strict respect for the commitments made by all parties within the Doha and Washington processes. ——— Ravi d’annoncer ce jour la reprise des relations diplomatiques entre la Belgique et le Rwanda. Dans un monde marqué par des tensions grandissantes, c’est un signal important ici à New-York, ville siège de l’ONU qui symbolise par excellence le multilatéralisme et le dialogue au-delà des différences. C’est l’aboutissement d’un processus de franches discussions mené avec mon homologue et le fruit d’un effort respectueux commun. Je suis convaincu que nous pouvons définir un agenda positif, mutuellement bénéfique pour nos ressortissants, et fondé sur la richesse de nos relations interpersonnelles. Nous avons convenu de l’importance de dialoguer systématiquement y compris sur nos points de divergences qui persistent, comme sur le conflit dans l’Est de la RDC. Rétablir des relations diplomatiques entre États ne signifie pas renier nos positions mais disposer de canaux structurés de dialogue, et je continuerai à défendre l’intégrité territoriale et la souveraineté de la RDC. Nous voulons utiliser notre expertise dans la région pour soutenir au mieux les efforts de méditation et nous continuerons d’exhorter au respect strict des engagements pris par toutes les parties dans le cadre des processus de Doha et de Washington. —— Verheugd om vandaag de hervatting van de diplomatieke betrekkingen tussen België en Rwanda aan te kondigen. In een wereld gekenmerkt door toenemende spanningen is dit een belangrijk signaal, hier in New York, de zetelstad van de VN die bij uitstek het multilateralisme en de dialoog voorbij verschillen symboliseert. Dit is het resultaat van een proces van openhartige gesprekken met mijn ambtgenoot en de vrucht van een gezamenlijke, respectvolle inspanning. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat we een positieve agenda kunnen uitstippelen, wederzijds voordelig voor onze burgers, en gestoeld op de rijkdom van onze interpersoonlijke relaties. We zijn overeengekomen systematisch met elkaar in dialoog te blijven, ook over de blijvende meningsverschillen, zoals over het conflict in Oost-Congo. Het herstel van diplomatieke betrekkingen tussen staten betekent niet dat we onze standpunten opgeven, maar wel dat we over gestructureerde dialoogkanalen beschikken, en ik zal de territoriale integriteit en soevereiniteit van de DRC blijven verdedigen. We willen onze expertise in de regio naar best vermogen inzetten ter ondersteuning van de bemiddelingsinspanningen, en we zullen blijven aandringen op de strikte naleving van de door alle partijen aangegane verbintenissen in het kader van de Doha- en Washington-processen. @BelgiumMFA
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Back to the EU Council, in a different role: from explaining Belgian positions to helping shape them. After 5 years at the Belgian PermRep to the EU, I'm honoured to now serve as 🇧🇪 Deputy Director-General for European Affairs alongside @BelgiumDGE. Ready for a new 🇪🇺 chapter !
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A true champion. Unbelievable performances, thanks merci dank Remco 🖤💛❤️
FOUR IN A ROW 🌈🔥 Remco Evenepoel 🇧🇪 has made history at #Montréal2026, becoming the Men Elite ITT World Champion for the fourth consecutive time🤯 What an incredible achievement 👏
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
Inédit et historique ! 🇧🇪 Toutes nos félicitations, Remco, pour ce quatrième titre mondial consécutif dans le contre-la-montre. Un exploit qui fait une nouvelle fois la fierté de notre pays. 🏆🚴‍♂️
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
Historisch en ongezien! 🇧🇪 Van harte proficiat, Remco, met deze vierde opeenvolgende wereldtitel in het tijdrijden. Een prestatie die ons land opnieuw trots maakt. 🏆🚴‍♂️
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Alexandre Brecx retweeted
Chaque mot compte. “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to become the first associate member of the EU” .
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Sounds very familiar but also very different to me. First #SOTEU from the angle of the @BelgiumMFA / @BelgiumDGE, with Justin and the colleagues 🤟🤩
#SOTEU is serious business. At DG EUR, we came prepared with bingo cards and our own Canadian guest 🇨🇦🎤 Behind the fun, a full room focused on a more important question: what are #Belgium ´s interests within the Commission's priorities, and how we keeping shaping the 🇪🇺 agenda.
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