Thousands march in Brussels against 'irresponsible militarisation' ahead of EU summit

Turnout and route

Several thousand people gathered in central Brussels on the afternoon of 14 June 2026, with organisers claiming 12,000 participants and police putting the figure at approximately 3,000. The march set off from Brussels‑North station, moved along the inner ring road and rue Joseph II, and ended at Place Jean Rey in the European quarter.

Police estimate3,000

Organiser claim12,000

Police estimate

3000 people

Organiser claim

12000 people

Data from the article text

Core grievances

The rally, organised under the slogan "Welfare not warfare" by dozens of Belgian and European civil‑society groups, targeted what organisers called the "irresponsible militarisation of our society." They condemned the European Union’s plan to channel 800 billion euros into armaments and NATO’s push to nearly double its military budget.

“That money is being taken away from social services, healthcare, education, employment, peacebuilding, international cooperation, sustainable energy transition and climate justice.”

The coalition included trade unions FGTB and CSC, the Belgian‑Palestinian Association, 11.11.11, the PTB party, Greenpeace and Oxfam Belgium.

Domestic angle

Protesters argued that the same dynamic is playing out inside Belgium. One organisers’ statement noted that Belgian defence spending jumped by 59 percent between 2024 and 2025 while deep social cuts were presented as unavoidable.

“We observe this European trend also in Belgium, where massive social savings are presented as necessary, while additional military spending is approved without debate.”

Calls for a different security policy

The platforms "Stop militarisation" and "Stop rearm Europe" urged governments to prioritise human needs. One sign held by the march read "Finance social aid, not war". Another message from the coalition stressed that sustainable development is the best guarantee of a safe and stable society and, therefore, of conflict prevention.

Voices from the crowd

A protester named Chris, interviewed before the column moved, said: "Everywhere you hear the sound of boots and we want to avoid war." He linked domestic hardship to preparations for conflict, arguing that soon young people would have no jobs and no access to affordable education, making them targets for recruitment.

Timing before the summit

The demonstration was deliberately scheduled to send a signal before the European Council meeting set for 18–19 June in Brussels. Organisers said they wanted to unite and express opposition to the EU’s rearmament agenda while highlighting the social trade‑offs they believe it entails.