After 236 days of negotiations, Belgium has finally formed a new government led by Bart De Wever, the leader of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). This marks a historic moment as it’s the first time a Flemish nationalist party has held the position of Prime Minister in Belgium. The news has sparked various reactions across Europe, with some international media quickly labeling the N-VA as “Eurosceptic.”
This characterization was further amplified by Marion Maréchal’s congratulatory tweet, which emphasized the growing influence of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in European governance. However, the reality of N-VA’s position on European integration is far more nuanced than these simple labels suggest.
Understanding Political Positions on European Integration #
To properly analyze N-VA’s stance, it’s crucial to understand the spectrum of political positions regarding European integration. These positions can be broadly categorized into several distinct approaches:
Pro-Europeanism (Euro-federalism) #
This position advocates for deeper European integration, supporting further transfer of national powers to EU institutions, common fiscal and social policies, and stronger EU-level democracy. Euro-federalists envision a more unified Europe with robust common institutions and policies.
Eurorealism #
Eurorealists take a pragmatic approach to European integration. They accept the fundamental value of European cooperation while maintaining a critical eye on the pace and extent of integration. They typically support reform of EU institutions while maintaining their basic structure and favor evidence-based evaluation of which competencies should be at the EU level.
Soft Euroscepticism #
This position accepts EU membership but opposes further integration. Soft Eurosceptics typically support economic cooperation but question political integration and advocate for repatriating certain powers to national governments.
Hard Euroscepticism #
Hard Eurosceptics fundamentally oppose EU membership and advocate for leaving the European Union, viewing the project as fundamentally flawed or threatening to national sovereignty.
N-VA’s Position: Beyond the Eurosceptic Label #
When we examine N-VA’s stance on European integration, we find a position that’s far more nuanced than the “Eurosceptic” label suggests. The party describes itself as “without any doubt” pro-European, while also maintaining a reform-minded approach to EU governance.
Their vision combines strong support for European integration in key areas like defense and migration with a critical eye on how the EU functions. As a regional nationalist party, they see European integration as complementary to their goals of greater regional autonomy - envisioning an independent Flanders as a member state of the European Union.
This positions N-VA firmly in the Eurorealist camp: supportive of the European project while advocating for reforms and a clearer division of responsibilities between European and regional levels.
The Belgian Political Context #
Understanding N-VA’s position becomes even more interesting when considering Belgium’s unique political landscape. The country operates under a proportional representation system, which consistently results in coalition governments. No single party can govern alone, requiring complex negotiations and compromises across ideological lines.
The previous government, known as the “Vivaldi” coalition, exemplified this dynamic by bringing together seemingly disparate political forces: liberals, socialists, christian democrats, and greens. This broad coalition, spanning from center-right to left, maintained a strongly pro-European orientation throughout its tenure.
The new coalition under N-VA leadership continues this tradition of ideological diversity, albeit with a different composition. It includes:
- The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) - conservative and regionalist
- The Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) - centrist and traditionally pro-European
- Vooruit (Flemish socialists) - center-left and pro-European
- The Reformist Movement (MR) - center-right liberals and strongly pro-European
- Les Engagés - centrist humanists with strong European convictions
Coalition Reality vs. Party Position #
The composition of the new Belgian government adds an interesting dimension to N-VA’s European stance. While N-VA maintains its Eurorealist position, they must now govern in coalition with parties that are traditionally more pro-European. This means that the government’s European policy will likely reflect a balance between N-VA’s reformist approach and their coalition partners’ more integrationist positions.
This arrangement is typical of Belgian politics, where coalition dynamics often lead to moderated positions. The presence of strongly pro-European parties in the coalition suggests that while N-VA may push for reforms in EU governance, any dramatic shifts in Belgium’s European policy are unlikely.
The formation of the new Belgian government under N-VA leadership provides an opportunity to move beyond simplistic labels and understand the complexity of political positions on European integration. As N-VA takes the helm of a founding EU member state, their Eurorealist approach will be tested not only in practice but also through the filter of coalition politics, offering new insights into how regional nationalist parties can engage with European integration while pursuing their domestic agenda within the constraints of coalition governance.