Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

This weekend there were various events to mark the start of the Belgian Presidency. On Friday I joined 3000 other invited guests to enjoy a performance by "José Van Dam & Friends" in the beautiful setting of Laken Castle. The Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel Moratinos congratulated me warmly on the successful start. He had just passed on the baton of the presidency to Belgium.

On Saturday there was "I ♥ EU", a complete spectacle at the Place du Luxembourg in the heart of Brussels. Many Belgian artists ensured all those present had an unforgettable evening. The world famous Brussels artist Toots Thielemans provided a particularly moving moment with a beautiful interpretation of "What a Wonderful World".

Steven Vanackere