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The 24th High Level Meeting of the EU-CELAC Coordination and Cooperation Mechanism on Drugs was held on 22 February 2024 in La Paz, Bolivia. The meeting was co-chaired by Annelies Verlinden, the Belgian minister of Home Affairs, in the capacity of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Co-Presidency of the Mechanism, and on the side of CELAC - by Carlos Eduardo Del Castillo Del Carpio, Minister of Government of the Plurinational State Bolivia, in the capacity of the…

The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the negotiators for the European Parliament have reached an agreement today that further allows Internet providers to voluntarily share data with law enforcement authorities to prevent and fight child sexual abuse on the Internet.Annelies Verlinden, Belgian Minister of Home Affairs: "Allowing Internet providers to voluntarily report cases of child abuse on the Internet without breaking European privacy law while doing so is…

The Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU and European Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional deal on amending the EU law that sets out the rules for the functioning of the Schengen area both at external and internal borders. The agreed changes, which will require approval and formal adoption by both institutions, will boost EU coordination and improve the toolbox available to Member States for challenges faced by the Schengen area.Annelies Verlinden, Belgian Minister of Home…

Ministers from EU Member States, Schengen associated countries, European partners and institutions met on Thursday the 25th of January for the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council, which focused on Home Affairs and Migration.Fight against illegal drug trafficking and abuse of artificial intelligenceHome Affairs Minister, Annelies Verlinden, put the efforts on tackling organized crime and the malicious use of artificial intelligence (AI) on the agenda.The fight against international…

Dear Mr. President of the General Assembly,  Dear Ms. Deputy Secretary-General,  Distinguished colleagues, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Belgium is honored to participate in this High-Level meeting of the General Assembly on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework. Let me start by stating that Belgium aligns itself with the statement of the European Union as expressed by Commissioner Lenar Lenarčič. Please allow me to add a few considerations from a Belgian…