On January 9, 2025, Roland Gillet was the speaker at the economic kickoff of the Belgian business circle B19. During the discussion, moderated by John-Alexandre Bogearts, Roland Gillet addressed the essential economic issues at the local, national, and European levels.

Bruxelles, ma belle

Professor Gillet began the conference by focusing on the situation in Brussels, which he described as the "poor cousin" of Belgium. He highlighted the alarming increase in the region's debt and pointed out that the investments made resemble more social expenditures than genuine investment projects.

Economic Context in Belgium and France

Roland Gillet then expanded his analysis to the overall Belgian economy, incorporating a comparison with France. He noted the ongoing economic stagnation, which raises concerns about how to finance state debts. The discussion also indicated the need to adopt more dynamic policies to stimulate growth in these countries.

Comparison between the European Union and the United States

An essential part of the exchange focused on comparing economic performance in terms of growth and productivity between the European Union and the United States. The professor emphasized that Europe is experiencing a significant competitive decline compared to the American economy. The lack of attractiveness for productive investments and the absence of binding structural measures create major obstacles to European competitiveness on the global stage.

Call to Action

In conclusion, Roland Gillet stressed the importance of restoring the convergence of the stability pact to ensure the stabilization of public debts, a revival of growth, and a strengthening of Europe's competitiveness.