United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ first overseas trip since being re-appointed to a second term will be to Brussels, where he will meet with European leaders, as well as Belgian authorities from 23 to 25 June
In his meetings with the European Commission, and in a session with the Heads of State and Governments of the European Council, the Secretary-General will have exchanges on a broad range of issues, including collaboration between the European Union and the UN, the promotion of a sustainable and inclusive pandemic recovery based on the Sustainable Development Goals, global access to COVID-19 vaccines, climate and multilateralism.
On Thursday, the Secretary-General will deliver a solemn address to the European Parliament in which he will reiterate the importance of the partnership between the UN and the European Union to address the challenges we collectively face.
In Brussels, he is scheduled to have a private audience with the King and Queen of the Belgians, who is also an SDG Advocate. The Secretary-General will also meet with Belgium’s Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmès and Meryame Kitir, Minister of Development Cooperation.