Ankara: Europe is falling behind the US and China in innovation and productivity and is struggling to provide for its own defense, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Monday.

According to Anadolu Agency, De Wever highlighted the challenges Europe faces during an interview with broadcaster Bel RTL. "All of Europe is in difficulty, the world is changing very quickly, and Europe has become an old continent. The Chinese and Americans are surpassing us; we are no longer at the forefront in innovation and productivity, so we are taking hits from all sides," he stated. He further expressed concerns about Europe's defense capabilities, adding, "We are not capable of taking care of our own defense; we are humiliated all the time."

De Wever stressed that Europeans are aware of the continent's challenges and suggested that the public is prepared for difficult measures. "So people know very well that we need to get moving, and certainly in Belgium, we are in serious trouble," he remarked.

These comments come as Belgium's federal government prepares for significant budget savings, aiming to find approximately £10 billion ($11.7 billion) by 2029. De Wever acknowledged the widespread impact these measures would have on the population. "I am not sleeping well, and I think about it a lot," he shared, reflecting on the upcoming budget decisions. "We are in a situation where everyone will feel the consequences of what we do, no matter how we do it," he added.

De Wever also warned against the assumption that efforts to increase government revenue would be limited to a small group of wealthy taxpayers. "If we seek revenue, it will be from the rich. And someone who is rich is always richer than you. You are never rich; it's someone else, richer than you, who has to pay the bills," he explained. "Everyone thinks: if we make savings, it will be at my neighbour's expense, not mine," he concluded.