On December 5, 2023, Belgium was among 11 EU member states to endorse the European Declaration on Quantum Technologies, introduced under the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The other initial signatories were France, Croatia, Greece, Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Malta, Estonia, and Spain.
According to the European Commission, the signatory member states recognized the strategic importance of quantum technologies for the EU’s scientific and industrial competitiveness. They committed to collaborating on the development of a world-class quantum technology ecosystem across Europe, with the stated aim of making Europe “the quantum valley of the world.”
Additional member states signed the declaration in subsequent months. By March 2024, the total had reached 21 signatories, and eventually 26 of 27 EU member states joined. The declaration called for alignment of European, national, and regional research and development programs and for acceleration of the transition from laboratory research to commercial quantum applications.