King of Belgium calls for rallying against threat of energy crisis

King Philippe of the Belgians expressed concern that the energy crisis will affect the lives of the poor and called for unity and prevent this.

He touched on this topic in his annual address to the nation on the occasion of King's oath-taking day on July 21, his speech was broadcast on television, Interfax reports.

"Rising energy prices will make difficult decisions inevitable," the monarch said.

“We must absolutely avoid that gaps between different segments of the population continue to widen, that new pockets of poverty form or widen. Our model of society based on inclusiveness and solidarity can cope with these new shocks,” the king said.

He noted that the pandemic had put this social model to the test, but it was social cohesion that had helped Belgians get through the previous two years. Now the country faces many challenges and the Belgians need to remain united to secure their future, Philippe said.

The king is counting on pan-European approaches in the fight against the economic crisis. "After all, it was the unity in the European Union that allowed us to formulate common responses in the areas of health, defence, energy and the reception of refugees," he summed up.