At a press conference, on 30 June, Bruno Valkeniers, member of the Belgian Federal Parliament and president of the separatist Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest), stated that the Belgian EU Presidency was highly problematic and that his party would be monitoring it carefully. He argued that the Presidency could be faced with many crises or unexpected problems during its six-month term and that the current caretaker government “has no legitimacy” to make important decisions on such issues. Valkeniers also stated that the EU is often considered to be a ‘magic’ solution for problems that cannot be solved within Belgium and that other member states should be warned about a Belgium that wants to export its own problems to Europe. He argued that, compared to Belgium, Flanders would mean stability and called for a fully independent Flemish state as a full member of the EU. Member of the Flemish Parliament Karim Van Overmeire added that the Flemish Interest was in favour of further European integration in certain areas, such as foreign policy, and that an independent Flemish state would contribute to stability in the EU.