Brussels Forum Session: Priorities for European Foreign Policy
Hadja Lahbib is the Belgian minister of foreign affairs, European affairs, foreign trade, and federal cultural institutions since July 2022.
Lahbib has a degree in journalism and communication from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). As a journalist for more than 25 years, she combined presenting the news for the French-language public broadcaster RTBF with field journalism as an international reporter. As a special envoy, she regularly travelled to conflict zones, particularly in the Middle East. She has also worked for ARTE and TV5 Monde. As a producer and director, Lahbib created social and cultural documentaries. She participates regularly in cultural events, for example presenting at the Queen Elizabeth International Music Competition. In 2021, Lahbib was appointed to prepare Brussels' candidature to become the European Capital of Culture in 2030.
Lahbib speaks French, Dutch, and English and has some knowledge of Arabic and Farsi.