Elio Di Rupo's conference

On March 27, 2025, the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France was honored to welcome Elio Di Rupo for a conference entitled "What future for Europe?", organized as part of the "Dialogue between cultures" cycle carried by the Université des Savoirs Partagés.

The event took place on the Mont Houy campus in Valenciennes. In front of an attentive audience, the former Belgian Prime Minister and current member of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee shared his vision on the current challenges facing the European Union.

In his talk, Di Rupo stressed that the EU, while unique for its shared governance model and achievements such as the single currency and the free movement of people, faces complex internal challenges. These include economic disparities between member states, such as those observed between France and Bulgaria, where wage and tax differentials encourage relocation. He also spoke of the need for the EU to strengthen its defense and strategic autonomy in the face of growing external threats, while stressing the importance of investment in strategic sectors such as energy and defense technologies.

One of the main focuses of the conference was the crucial issue of European defense.

Elio Di Rupo stressed the importance for the EU of strengthening its strategic autonomy in the face of growing geopolitical threats. Although the EU is a major economic player, with a single market worth 18,000 billion euros, its budget remains limited to 1% of member states' GDP, which hampers its ability to take action in key areas such as defense, security and innovation.
He is in favor of the EU's strategic autonomy in the face of growing geopolitical threats. He is in favor of the EU investing in its defense capabilities, particularly in the face of threats such as cyber attacks and hybrid warfare. The war in Ukraine has shown the need to strengthen European defense, given the growing threats.

Mr. Di Rupo also stressed the importance of a strong industrial policy, particularly in the renewable energy and semiconductor sectors, to guarantee strategic autonomy.

Finally, our exceptional speaker lent himself enthusiastically to the Q&A game, answering questions from the audience. The audience greatly appreciated this meeting, which was marked by enriching exchanges.

> Discover or relive the entire conference on video

Born on July 18, 1951 in Morlanwelz-Mariemont, Elio Di Rupo is a major figure in Belgian politics.
Born into a modest family of Italian origin, he obtained a doctorate in chemistry in Mons, where he became an administrative advisor.

A Committed and Visionary Statesman

His political involvement began in the 1980s with the PS.
Elected Mons municipal councilor in 1982, he became an alderman in 1986, then elected to the House of Representatives in 1987.
He became a member of the European Parliament in 1989, a senator in 1991, then Minister of Education in 1992.
In 1994, he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications and Public Enterprises.
In 1999, he became Minister-President of Wallonia, where he initiated reforms to revitalize the economy and society.
That year, he became President of the Walloon Region. That same year, he became president of the PS, a position he held until 2019. Burgomaster of Mons in 2000, he transformed the city and prepared it to become European Capital of Culture in 2015.
He launched ambitious cultural projects, such as the International Love Film Festival.
In 2005, he set up the Marshall Plan to support the regional economy.

Belgium and Europe at the heart of mandates

After the 2010 elections, he becomes Prime Minister in 2011, ending the longest government crisis in the country's history.
Leading a six-party coalition through a period of austerity, he agreed with the six parties on the most important reform of the state since 1989, considerably expanding the competences of the Regions and Communities, while respecting national solidarity.
In 2014, he left office, but remained an influential player.
He returned in 2019 to head the Walloon government and, in 2024, was elected deputy to the Walloon Parliament.

Elio Di Rupo is known for his sense of compromise, his reformist vision and his commitment to social progress, making him a respected and influential figure on the Belgian political landscape, appreciated for his constant work in the service of his country.