Special report by Camille-Cerise Gessant
The Belgian Presidency: Continuity and change
Despite political problems on the home front, the country of Belgium will be taking over the rotating presidency of the European Union on 1 July 2010. The change of government during the Belgian Presidency (following the general elections of 13 June) is not expected to lead to any changes in its programme. Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme explains that preparing for the Belgian Presidency is done with the cooperation of Belgium's regional governments and more than 85% of the new parliament is made up of parties and individuals who have been involved in preparing the Belgian Presidency's programme. The programme was in fact drawn up in collaboration with the country's various regions and language-communities.
The Belgian Presidency will be a continuation and yet also make a break from the past, different from Belgium's 11 previous presidencies because 'there will be closer cooperation with the European institutions, and fellow citizens' expectations of us have changed. They want effective, tangible measures', explained Belgian foreign minister Steven Vanackere. And yet the presidency will also follow on from before, explained Yves Leterme, 'taking account of current events around the world and in Europe'.
The presidency's slogan is moderation. Belgian European affairs minister Olivier Chastel is anxious to press home that the Belgian Presidency will take a moderate line: 'Brash triumphalism has no place in these times of crisis and threats to the most fundamental aspects of the European Union.' Moderation is not the same as lack of ambition, however. 'Faced with the raft of current challenges, we aim to provide tangible responses to the demands of European citizens by means of collective action with the Member States on the Council and in the other EU institutions,' adds Olivier Chastel. Yves Leterme, however, explains that Belgium is prepared to restrict its 'own role as rotating presidency, preferring to take a modest role in order to leave enough room for Catherine Ashton and Herman Van Rompuy to be able to do their new jobs. The role of Belgium's prime minister and foreign minister will not be as important as in the past, and yet we are delighted - not that we did not want to carry out our duties, but because it is important for the European institutions and citizens.'
'An effective, but moderate Presidency'
Interview with Olivier Chastel, Belgium's European affairs minister
(Interviewed on 16 June 2010)
AGENCE EUROPE: On July the first, Belgium will take up the rotating Presidency of the European Union. You say it will be a 'moderate' presidency. What do you mean by that?
Olivier Chastel: We wanted a moderate presidency simply because the European momentum of the current period and the threats hanging over Europe's fundamental achievements - it is clear that Europe is going through a crisis - leave no place for triumphalism. I really believe that we should work at the European presidency in moderation, which will not stop us from being imaginative, having ambition or putting things into action. Moderation too because finances have to be accounted for and it makes no sense, like other countries before us, to spend vast sums on the lavish hospitality surrounding a presidency.
A.E.: Given the current political situation in Belgium, perhaps it will help you be more effective than other presidencies?
O.C.: Moderate is not the same as submissive. I believe that Belgium will play its full role. The Lisbon Treaty with its new posts like President of the European Council and High Representative for Foreign Affairs does not automatically mean that the rotating presidency will be effective. We have shown with the adoption of our programme that we have a lot of ambition and a lot of work ahead of us, particularly in terms of legislation in codecision with the European Parliament.
A.E.: Some political commentators say this will allow Herman Van Rompuy to play a more important role. Do you share that view?
O.C.: I would not be surprised if commentators were to comment at the end of our presidency that Herman Van Rompuy had finally taken full ownership of his role as President of the European Council. Simply because Belgium decided a long time ago on its position vis-a-vis the Lisbon Treaty and these two new jobs. We are totally in favour of the Lisbon Treaty coming fully into force, and that is not related in any way to the situation of the Belgian government, rather to Belgium's desire to apply the Lisbon Treaty to the letter. The Belgian Presidency has to be the presidency that signs off this period of transition between the two treaties, following on from the Spanish Presidency which, it is true, had been prepare largely under the influence of the Nice Treaty, although we simply went ahead and prepared our presidency trio (Spain, Belgium and Hungary) in the spirit of the Lisbon Treaty.
A.E.: What are the Belgian Presidency's main priorities?
O.C.: There are clearly some major approaches. Our programme obviously deals with the general concerns of our fellow citizens, particularly on the economic front - getting out of the economic crisis, financial supervision and developing the internal market. There is also everything connected with employment, with plenty of legislative work, like closely monitoring the Commission's flagship initiatives for the EUROPE 2020 Strategy in the sense that under the Belgian Presidency, there will be a Research, Development and Innovation Council in September, which are important topics for European in terms of economic redeployment. Economic redeployment will be the priority during our presidency.
What is specifically Belgian is probably connected with the second priority, which is the genuine social vocation that we want to emphasise in our presidency, with a raft of events to examine how Europe is involved in social aspects, like tackling poverty, social inclusion and social cohesion.
The third priority is everything connected with energy, the climate and the environment, with important events during our presidency dealing with biodiversity, combatting global warming and preparing new legislation (EU directives on soil pollution, dealing with electrical and electronic waste, industrial emissions and carbon emission rules for cars, Ed.) which should be concluded, and we certainly have the desire to conclude them, under the Belgian Presidency.
The fourth priority is further and deeper introduction of all issues related to the Stockholm Programme on justice, security and also asylum and immigration. Here there are some very targeted objectives, like recognition of judicial decisions (…).
Our final priority is of course foreign affairs, without encroaching on Catherine Ashton. Belgium will do its work on enlargement, kicking off the EU accession talks with Iceland, continuing the negotiations with Turkey and possibly concluding accession talks with Croatia.
Also, although this is not really a full priority as such (…), we will have a number of new measures to introduce connected with the Lisbon Treaty, like the Citizen's Initiative, on which the Commission and Council reached political agreement on Monday 14 June 2010 and which will need to be turned with the European Parliament into an EU regulation before the end of the year. This could be an apt way of showing our fellow citizens that things are being put into practice because all the preparations for the Belgian Presidency have involved consultation with civil society (…).
A.E.: Why such concern to get citizens involved? It is very innovative compared with previous presidencies.
O.C.: Our fellow citizens' apathy about European affairs stands out from one European election to the next. The European Union looks like the political authority that is the furthest removed from fellow citizens although it's also the most important. The European Union fashions 75% of all national legislation and the European Parliament is probably the world's most democratic supranational institution. We must show our fellow citizens how Europe affects them, how Europe looks after them and how they can influence it. For these reasons, we wanted to make our programme for Europe and our programme for the Belgian Presidency practical and tangible in the eyes of our fellow citizens.
A.E.: To return to the crisis, there is a lot of talk about economic governance. How does the Belgian Presidency plan to reinforce economic governance?
O.C.: Quite simply around Herman Van Rompuy, ensuring that the chair of the ECOFIN Council plays a full role in the various finance ministries involved in the task force to ensure that people become aware in every country of the importance of economic governance.
A.E.: The EUROPE 2020 Strategy proposes to reduce the number of poor people in Europe by 20 million. Isn't this a bit unrealistic given the economic crisis?
O.C.: I don't know about unrealistic, but it's certainly ambitious. What is important for the 2020 Strategy is to come forward with tangible means because as a has parliamentarian explained, the failure of the Lisbon Strategy was due to leaving Member States free to manage it as they saw fit, without any European coordination or European resources. I believe this is where action must be taken if we want to avoid repeating the Lisbon Strategy failure.
A.E.: How do you plan to develop social issues when the Member States are reining in spending in this domain?
O.C.: All we know is that we can put the focus on a number of items of draft legislation that are ripe for decision-making under the Belgian Presidency. In the field of labour law, for example, it is possible to make significant progress and take important decisions on the protection and health of pregnant workers. This is just one example but there will be many other legislative achievements to add to the Belgian Presidency's success list.
A.E.: How do you view the climate talks after the failed Copenhagen Summit? What are your objectives?
O.C.: Europe has set the objectives and specific targets. What was lacking in Copenhagen was a negotiating strategy and vision and I think that is what we must try to solve. The way Europe presents itself in Cancun and the strategy it adopts in the six months ahead of Cancun will probably overcome the problems of what happened in Copenhagen. But we have not yet solved all the issues. How the EU is be represented at the highest level in negotiations has not yet been decided. The Belgian Presidency prefers single, united representation because we like the idea that the EU should be represented by a single voice, a single seat. (Under the Lisbon Treaty, this would be the President of the Commission, Ed..)
A.E.: Some people want to increase the greenhouse gas emission reduction target by 30%, but others categorically oppose this. How do you plan to reconcile both points of view?
O.C.: By discussing with them and debunking the issue. By coming up with facts and figures, by doing impact studies. But opinions are very hard to shift here. We have been seeing all our counterparts for the past fortnight to three weeks, and we see very big differences of opinion on this issue.
A.E.: What about international partners?
O.C.: No doubt there are things we can do, and things we can do a little better than during the preparations for Copenhagen. I believe we arrived in Copenhagen without much prior discussion with the big players or, for that matter, with all the developing countries that will be the most affected at the end of the day. These two areas of negotiation must be carried out in the six months from now until Cancun.
A.E.: Croatia's EU accession talks are expected to be concluded under your presidency. Yves Leterme talks about Croatia joining the EU in 2011, but Jean De Ruyt is far more pessimistic and says that won't be possible. The two contradict each other. What is the real situation?
O.C.: I am not going to get involved in contradictions between the prime minister and the Permanent Representative. I can tell you, however, that we do our utmost to ensure the matter is concluded as soon as possible. The deadlock over Slovenia is gone, the deadlock over Chapter 23 (the judicial chapter) is gone in relation to a whole range of criteria, particularly collaboration with the International Criminal Tribunal, and therefore if Croatia speedily implements the measure to meet the closing benchmarks for the various chapters, then we are prepared to help them progress as fast as possible (…).
A.E.: You said you were going to start with Iceland. When are you going to open accession talks with Macedonia?
O.C.: When Greece lets us.
A.E.: Not long ago, Macedonia said it was prepared to make a move in terms of the name of the country…
O.C.: This is the final obstacle to opening accession talks, and if Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are able to find a solution, to reach agreement, and if Greece lifts its veto to the opening of talks, then we can start as soon as tomorrow morning.
A.E.: What about Turkey? Are you going to open new negotiating chapters?
O.C.: Under the presidency trio, we identified 3 or 4 chapters that it would be possible to open over an eighteen-month period. There is the employment chapter, but there is the problem here of recognition of the work of trade unions. There is the food safety chapter, probably the easiest one to open and we genuinely hope to open it under our presidency (the chapter was opened on Wednesday 30 June 2010, Ed.). The problem is that to open these chapters, Turkey has to be close to the opening benchmark - but it isn't. Some legislation has not yet been introduced and everyone knows that Turkey is more involved in solving constitutional issues than the EU benchmark problems. Turkey is even going to postpone its MPs' holidays for a month to get down to work and bring some legislation on stream so that a chapter can be opened under the Belgian Presidency. We will know soon, at the end of July, whether or not Turkey has managed to introduce legislation to enable us to open any further negotiating chapters.
A.E.: Will any chapters be closed?
O.C.: I don't know of any. They have only opened one chapter so far and nothing is expected in that connection.
A.E.: In the presidency trio, Spain wants progress with UfM and Hungary is looking east to the Eastern Partnership. What does Belgium's geography allow you to do?
O.C.: It allows us to take an overview without being obsessed with single issues. It enables us to have an open mind, to summarise and perhaps be able to find compromises in the priorities and guidelines. This is excellent, because the Spanish and Hungarians have opened our minds about their own priorities, the Eastern Partnership and the Mediterranean, and I believe we can stand back and take a longer view of all these issues. This means we can be pragmatic.
Implementing the Lisbon Treaty “to the letter” as the backdrop
to Belgium's rotating presidency
Belgium lays great stake on ensuring the Lisbon Treaty provisions are introduced before it hands over the presidency to Hungary at the end of the year. 'This presidency ends a long transition period after approval of the Laeken Declaration, followed by nine years of struggle over what ended up as the Lisbon Treaty. Belgium is a keen supporters of applying the new treaty to the letter in the spirit of the treaty,' explained the Belgian prime minister, Yves Leterme. He warned that success for the presidency here would mean ensuring the proper functioning of the institutions and facilitating decisions in favour of citizens. 'It is important to properly apply the Treaty to ensure best practice in the future.' Leterme defended the development of 'positive, constructive and harmonious cooperation' between the European Parliament, the European Council and its president, the Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs in order to work on 'the Treaty's key objective - to increase coherence and efficiency in the enlarged European Union'. The Belgian prime minister and the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, will meet each month to ensure timings are being respected.
Belgium is planning to get involved in reflection ahead of introducing the 'solidarity clause' to enable the European Union and Member States to act 'jointly and in a spirit of solidarity' if any Member State falls victim to a terrorist attack or human or natural disaster.
The Belgian Presidency wants to get the regulation on the European citizens' initiative introduced. Belgium's European minister, Olivier Chastel, pointed out that one of the Laeken Convention's aims had been to bring the EU closer to Europeans. Discussions will be held with the European Parliament early in July 2010 to work towards getting the regulation adopted that lays down procedures and criteria for proper implementation of the new right.
The adoption of the EU's budget for 2011 will also take place under the Belgian Presidency. The procedure changes under the Lisbon Treaty because the European Parliament and Council now have equal decision-making powers on EU spending after a single reading of the draft budget. 'Many tripartite meetings and permanent liaison will be required to do this properly,' explained Chastel, adding that it was in the interest of both the Council and the EP for the first unfurling of the new procedure to work smoothly. He said that the drafting of the 2011 budget should not be affected by discussions on other financial issues, like the EU's future Financial Perspectives.
Finally, the Belgian Presidency will continue the work started by Spain on legislation known as 'delegated acts' and 'implementing acts'. The Lisbon Treaty stipulates that rules governing Member States' scrutiny of the exercise of European Commission powers should be laid down in an EU regulation. 'We hope to see the rapid adoption of a draft regulation by the Council and the Parliament. This is urgent to avert delays in implementing European legislation,' explained Chastel.
Getting out of the economic crisis and back to 'sustained
and sustainable growth'
The Belgian Presidency's prime objective is to get out of the economic crisis and back to sustainable economic growth. As far as the Belgian European minister, Olivier Chastel, is concerned: 'Our work will cover legislation to boost supervision of the financial industry' at microeconomic and macroeconomic level. This will involve scrutiny by the European Systemic Risk Committee and the European financial surveillance system that will use three new authorities to supervise the workings of the banks, insurance companies and the financial markets. 'A matter of urgency,' commented Chastel. The Belgian Presidency also wants to focus on the draft directive on hedge funds and other specialised investment funds.
Olivier Chastel hopes that cooperation among the European Parliament and the Council will allow rapid adoption of these initiatives to ensure 'the new financial supervision architecture is operational on 1 January 2011.' Following the Commission's communication, the Belgian Presidency 'will be at pains to encourage agreement at the Council on the suggested roadmap for root-and-branch reform of the financial services regulation.'
Belgium is taking part in work of the task force chaired by Herman Van Rompuy in the aim of strengthening economic governance in the European Union, pointing out that agreement was reached in principle at the first two task force meetings on the need to strengthen the Stability and Growth Pact, reduce economic disparities and come up with effective crisis solutions. Olivier Chastel hopes that further progress can be made and would like to see progress on scrutiny of Member States' budget plans by the European Commission and the Council before they are put to national parliaments, and the issuing of sanctions against Member States failing to meet their budget viability targets. He said 'every country has to understand the importance of economic governance'.
'Progress in these areas will strengthen the European Union's position at the G20,' explained Chastel, adding that it was important for the European Union to fulfil its role in international financial summits and bodies such as the G20 and the IMF.
The Belgian Presidency will begin examining new draft legislation unveiled by the Commission on strengthening the Stability Pact and improving the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalance in the eurozone 'to consolidate or even save the European currency.'
In addition to getting out of the economic crisis, the Belgian Presidency will be focussing on encouraging economic growth. In this connection, the Belgian Presidency wants to highlight R&D and innovation , both of which will be key topics at the October European Council. Belgium will concentrate on defining indicators to assess progress towards the target of spending 3% of GDP on research, and progress in introducing a European area of research. Another initiative will cover 'industrial policy in the epoch of globalisation' and examine 'how to ensure the European economy is green, innovative and globally competitive.'
Finally, as far as the Belgian Presidency is concerned, encouraging economic growth will require a properly functioning internal market. Belgium wants to improve the performance of the internal market by implementing the Monti Report on 'a new strategy for the single market on behalf of the European economy and European society'. The Monti Report recommends better individual mobility and the creation of a single European digital market. Olivier Chastel wants to deal with 'bottlenecks' and the problems of setting up a single EU patent. 'We will work flat-out to overcome this symbolic blockage that has been compromising growth, innovation and therefore the competitiveness of European industry in the world for years now,' he added. Respect of intellectual property rights will be another priority.
Encouraging social progress and tackling poverty
Belgium's unique contribution in terms of priorities is the focus on social affairs. The Belgian Presidency wants to concentrate on encouraging social progress and tackling poverty. 'Traditionally, Belgium has attached great importance to social progress and tackling poverty and social exclusion,' explained Chastel. 2010 is the European year of fighting poverty and social exclusion, and several conferences will be held on the issue over the next six months.
The Belgian Presidency will be the first to implement the European Growth Strategy taking account of the targets set out in the EUROPE 2020 Strategy for Growth and Jobs. To avoid the EUROPE 2020 Strategy ending in failure (like the Lisbon Strategy), the Belgian Presidency wants it to be given binding targets 'controlled by the Commission' and a hefty EU budget. Moreover, following on from the Spanish Presidency's work, the Council will adopt employment guidelines under the Belgian Presidency but the European Parliament has not yet given its opinion on them. The Council will need to agree on the 'jobs and skills' aspects, with priority action to encourage 'green jobs,' identify employment niches for older people, tackle all forms of job discrimination, develop flexicurity and ensure that workers can benefit from time out of employment.
The Belgian Presidency will continue with work already started in the domain of labour law, particularly the directive on promoting the health and safety of pregnant women, new mothers and breast-feeding women at work, the directive on seafarers' working conditions and the directive on exposure to electromagnetic waves at work. It also wants to launch new debates about youth unemployment, socially responsible company restructuring, disability, introducing the UN convention on the rights of the disabled and ensuring the continuation, portability and suitability of pensions systems for the ageing European population. Belgium would like to launch a debate on retirement pensions and will be devoting one of the three days of the meeting of EU employment, social policy, health and consumer ministers to pensions. The Belgian Presidency will also launch a debate on strengthening social protection.
Services of general interest will be the subject of detailed debate at the third forum on services of general interest. Chastel said: 'There will also be reflection on the difference between business services and social services of general interest, and how a number of services for European citizens should be added.'
On health, the Belgian Presidency wants to see the adoption of the package of EU pharmaceutical legislation (on pharmacological vigilance and counterfeit medicine) and continue negotiations on the directive on healthcare for cross-border workers.
The Belgian government hopes that collaboration between the Commission and EP will make it possible to reach agreement on foodstuffs, particularly novel foodstuffs and their marketing, and information for consumers about foodstuffs.
New talks on climate and environment issues
Two big events on the climate and environment front will take place during the Belgian Presidency. In preparation for the sixteenth conference of the parties to the UN climate change convention in Cancun at the end of November and start of December 2010, the Belgian Presidency will prioritise following up on the Copenhagen Agreement and implementing the EU's climate-energy package. It wants to avoid making the same mistakes as in Copenhagen and to this end will be developing 'a negotiating strategy and vision'. Moreover, the Belgian Presidency 'favours single representation of the EU so that the EU is represented by a single voice and a single seat' in the person of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. The Belgian European affairs minister knows it will not be easy to get all 27 Member States to agree and is carrying out impact assessments to help in the negotiations. 'It is also important to develop better cooperation with key global players, and also with developing countries, which will be the most affected by global warming,' said Chastel.
The Belgian Presidency will be working on biodiversity in preparing for the European Union's attendance of the 10th conference of the parties to the UN biodiversity convention in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010.
Work will continue on environment legislation, including revision of the directive on small vans' carbon emissions, the 'Eurovignette' directive that will enable Member States to claw back the external costs of road traffic from users, and draft legislation on industrial emissions, biocides, soil pollution and disposing of hazardous waste from electrical and electromagnetic devices.
Reflection on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2013 will continue in the light of a public consultation exercise organised by the European Commission. A policy debate at the Council will be held towards the end of the Belgian Presidency. Simplification of CAP rules and legislation on rural development policy will be pursued. The Belgian Presidency wants to finalise work on the EU regulation setting out the duties of operators selling wood or wood products.
Extending the European area of freedom, security and justice
The Belgian Presidency wants to see an extension of the European area of justice, freedom and security, following on from the Spanish Presidency's work on implementing the Stockholm Programme, on which Belgium says it is close to the European Parliament's position, in other words 'the need to provide citizens with sufficient guarantees of non-discrimination, respect of privacy and protection of personal information.' The Belgian Presidency is planning to examine recognition of judicial decisions taken by the Member States in the field of judicial cooperation in criminal cases and the collection of evidence in court cases. Creation of an EU system for obtaining evidence is another priority, based on an initiative implemented by a number of Member States. The Council will continue working on the directive on the European protection decision and the directive tackling human trafficking. Belgium recommends increased cross-border police cooperation. Children's rights, particularly the rights of unaccompanied child migrants, will be dealt with by the Belgian Presidency.
On counter-terrorism, the Belgian Presidency wants agreement to be reached on an international SWIFT agreement on the transfer of Europeans' bank details to the United States for use in the US homeland security surveillance of the funding of terrorism. Chastel said that agreement on SWIFT would require proper cooperation with the European Parliament, which could endorse a deal at its plenary in July 2010 (5-8 July). Another priority is developing a policy on preventing Muslims turning to extremism. Belgium wants to introduce an EU domestic security strategy covering all security issues.
On immigration, the Belgian Presidency will prioritise 'anything encouraging the introduction of a genuine EU immigration policy as part of a wider approach, including a vision of the future of legal immigration.' The Belgian Presidency would like to see a common EU asylum policy by 2012 with harmonisation, and Yves Leterme talked about European solidarity. 'This is a really important area and some Member States have asked us to ensure progress in this field,' explained Chastel. The Belgian Presidency wants to focus on the Council's work on the draft directive on an EU permit that would allow non-EU nationals to live and work in a Member State, and amendments to the directive on the rights of non-EU nationals living for a long time in the EU. On asylum, Belgium wants progress to be made on harmonising asylum legislation as part of the review of the Dublin II regulation setting out criteria and mechanisms for deciding which Member State should examine a request for asylum in one of the EU Member States. The Belgian Presidency will also be concentrating on strengthening FRONTEX, the EU agency on operational cooperation at borders.
'A good challenge for the Belgian Presidency' will be trying to reach agreement on the victim protection order, which currently covers only 12 countries and has been criticised by the European Commission. 'We have two challenges - extending it to other countries and winning over the Commission,' commented Chastel.
On civil liberties, the Belgian Presidency will be encouraging a 'cautious and gradual' scrapping of the enforcement procedure, and proper implementation of judicial decisions.
Strengthening the EU's role on the global stage 'to boost its power
of attraction and work on peace and security'
The Belgian Presidency wants to increase the effectiveness of 'EU foreign policy governance.'. 'The Lisbon Treaty makes a real break with the past in terms of how EU foreign relations are organised,' explained Chastel. He announced that the President of the European Council and the High Representative would now be representing the EU on the global stage for the CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policy). Similarly, Chastel pointed out that Belgian diplomatic staff would be at Catherine Ashton's disposal 'starting with Belgium's Permanent Representative.' 'We will play a full role aiming, at the end of this transition period, to ensure that Catherine Ashton can really have her own resources to get all areas of diplomacy into operation. Our diplomatic services can be provided on a temporary or occasional basis for the High Representative and work under her authority for the time required for her to be able to recruit the staff needed to run the European External Action Service,' the new EU diplomatic corps that Belgium hopes will come into operation on 1 December 2010. Olivier Chastel wonders 'what message we would be sending Europeans and the rest of the world if, on the anniversary of the Lisbon Treaty coming into force (1st December), the European External Action Service is still not in operation.' Getting the diplomatic corps up and running will be the Belgian Presidency's great challenge. 'I should point out that this is urgent. Extending the transition period and not enabling the High ~Representative to have an operational public service would damage her credibility and authority.' Chastel pointed out that the EEAS was set up by the Commission, the Member States and the European Parliament 'to give new impetus to EU foreign policy.'
In areas not related to the CFSP, the Belgian Presidency wants to encourage united representation of the European Union: 'As the rotating presidency, Belgium will ensure transparency and coordination in these domains in negotiations over the adoption of negotiating mandates.'
The Belgian Presidency describes EU enlargement as 'a priority area to be dealt with,' pointing out that the European Union must meet its promises. Vanackere wants to set up and bring on stream a European agenda. Belgium will continue the current accession negotiations 'in line with progress and the merits of each of the candidate countries,' in conformity with the consensus reached at the December 2006 European Council. 'We will be the best possible partner of countries that want to make progress and put resources into it,' explained Chastel. The negotiations with Croatia may be completed before the Hungarian Presidency takes up the baton on 1 January 2011, because the final three negotiating chapters, one of which covers judicial issues, have been opened (Ed. 30 June). Belgium 'will work to reach an agreement on opening the accession talks' with Iceland and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The negotiations with Turkey 'will continue and will make progress,' with the opening of new chapters. 'There is also the field of employment, but there is a problem here with recognising the work of trade unions,' admitted Belgium's European affairs minister. For the Western Balkans, the Belgian Presidency wants to actively ensure a rapprochement 'which will require domestic reforms in these countries.'
During the Belgian Presidency, EU heads of state will meet their Asian and African counterparts at two summits chaired by Herman Van Rompuy. Belgium would like to 'strengthen cooperation and partnership with these two continents to confront global challenges together.' One of these global challenges is to conclude the Doha trade talks and bilateral trade agreements, along with deciding on the future of the Generalised Preferences System and signing Economic Partnership Agreements with ACP states.
Calendar of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU
July
1 and 2: European Education Committee meeting (Ostend)
5 and 6: Informal EPSCO Council - Health
05 to 08: European Parliament plenary session (Strasbourg)
06 and 08: Informal climate workshop
07 to 09: Informal meeting of European Union employment and social affairs ministers (EPSCO)
11 to 13: Informal Environment Council on sustainable resource management
12: Agriculture and Fisheries Council Eurogroup
13: Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN)
14 to 16: Informal Competitiveness, Research and Industry Council
15: Economic and Financial Affairs Council
15 and 16: Informal Council of European Research and Industry Ministers - Informal Justice and Home Affairs Council
26: General Affairs Council - Foreign Affairs Council
August
24 and 25: Meeting of the Bologna Follow-Up Group (Alden Biesen)
September
03 and 04: Informal Foreign Affairs Council
06 and 07: Informal Energy Council
06 to 09: European Parliament plenary session (Strasbourg)
13: General Affairs Council - Foreign Affairs Council
15 and 16: Informal sitting of Transport Council
16: European Council
20 and 21: Informal sitting of Agriculture Council
20 to 23: European Parliament plenary session (Strasbourg)
23 and 24: Informal Defence Council - Informal defence meeting (Ghent) - Ministerial conference on 'Innovation and Solidarity'
27: Agriculture and Fisheries Council
30: Informal sitting of Internal Market Council
30 and 01/10: Informal Economic and Financial Affairs Council
October
04 and 05: ASEM 8 Summit (Asia-Europe Meeting)
06 and 07: Sitting of the European Parliament (Brussels)
07 and 08: Justice and Home Affairs Council (Luxembourg) - Informal Culture Council
11 and 12: Competitiveness Council (Luxembourg)
14: Environment Council (Luxembourg)
15: Transport, Telecoms and Energy Council (Luxembourg)
18: Eurogroup
18 to 21: European Parliament plenary session (Strasbourg)
18 to 29: International Biodiversity Conference (Nagoya - Japan)
19: Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Luxembourg) - Informal meeting of ministers responsible for poverty-reduction
21: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers Council (Luxembourg)
21 and 22: Informal meeting of sports ministers - Informal sitting of Development Council
25: Foreign Affairs Council - General Affairs Council (Luxembourg)
25 and 26: Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Luxembourg)
28 and 29: European Council
November
08 and 09: Justice and Home Affairs Council
10 and 11: Sitting of the European Parliament (Brussels)
11: Economic and Financial Affairs Council
11 and 12: G20 Summit (Seoul, South Korea)
16: Eurogroup
17: Economic and Financial Affairs Council
18 and 19: Education, Youth and Culture Council
22: General Affairs Council Foreign Affairs Council
22 and 23: Informal regional policy council
22 to 25: European Parliament plenary session (Strasbourg)
25 and 26: Competitiveness Council
29 and 30: Agriculture and Fisheries Council
29 to 10/12: Sixteenth meeting of the parties to the UN climate convention (Cancún, Mexico)
December
29/11 to 10: Sixteenth meeting of the parties to the UN climate convention (Cancún, Mexico)
02 and 03: Justice and Home Affairs Council Transport, Telecoms and Energy Council
06: Eurogroup
06 and 07: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers Council
07: Economic and Financial Affairs Council Informal sitting of Education Council
10: Competitiveness Council
13: Foreign Affairs Council - General Affairs Council
13 and 14: Agriculture and Fisheries Council
13 to 16: European Parliament plenary session (Strasbourg)
16 and 17: European Council
20: Environment Council
The Belgian government and useful contacts
Permanent Representation of Belgium
- Tel.: +32(0)2 233 21 28, e-mail: jean.deruyt@diplobel.fed.be
- Tel.: +32(0)2 233 21 25, e-mail: didier.seeuws@diplobel.fed.be
Rue de la Loi 61-63 - 1040 Bruxelles
Tél: +32(0)2 233 21 11, fax: (02) 231 10 75, e-mail: dispatch.belgoeurop@diplobel.fed.be
Internet website: http: //http://www.diplomatie.be/belgoeuropen
Spokesperson of the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the EU
- Internet website of the Belgian presidency: http://www.eutrio.be
The Belgian government
- Dominique Dehaene, Tel.: +32 (0)2 501 02 06, e-mail: dominique.dehaene@premier.fed.be
- Jérôme Hardy, Tel.: +32 (0)2 501 02 36, e-mail: jerome.hardy@premier.fed.be
- Christine Faes, Tel.: +32 (0)2 552 60 49, e-mail: christine.faes@vlaanderen.be
- Loes Lysens, Tel: +32 (0)2 553 20 41, e-mail: loes.lysens@lv.vlaanderen.be
- Sarah Vandecruys, Tel.: +32(0)81 331 386, e-mail: sarah.vandecruys@gov.wallonie.be
- Christophe Barzal, Tel.: +32(0)81 331 386, e-mail: christophe.barzal@gov.wallonie.be
- France Marage, Tel.: +32(0)2 506 32 83, e-mail: fmarage@picque.irisnet.be
- Christine Léonard, Tel.: +32(0)2 506 32 14, e-mail: cleonard@picque.irisnet.be
- Daniel Niessen, tél.: +32(0)87 596 430, e-mail: daniel.niessen@dgov.be
General Affairs
- Petra Vankeirsbilck, Tel.: +32(0)2 501 38 45, GSM: +32(0)497 599 920, e-mail: petra.vankeirsbilck@diplobel.fed.be
- Aurélie Czekalski, Tel.: +32(0)2 501 41 06, e-mail: aurelie.czekalski@diplobel.fed.be
Economic and Financial Affairs
- David Maréchal, Tel.: +32(0)2 233 87 17, e-mail: david.marechal@ckfi n.minfi n.be
- Bernard Ligot, Tel.: +32(0)2 233 83 23, e-mail: bernard.ligot@ckfi n.minfi n.be
- Ludwig De Vocht, Tel.: +32(0)2 790 57 32, e-mail: ludwig.devocht@wathelet.fed.be
Justice and Home Affairs
- Lieselot Bleyenberg, Tel.: +32(0)2 542 80 11, e-mail: lieselot.bleyenberg@just.fgov.be
- Emilie Rossion, Tel.: +32(0)2 220 20 45, e-mail: emilie.rossion@milquet.belgium.be
- Benoît Lannoo, Tel.: +32(0)2 220 20 11, e-mail: benoit.lannoo@milquet.belgium.be
- Margaux Donckier, Tel.: +32(0)2 504 85 58, e-mail: margaux.donckier@ibz.fgov.be
Employment, Social policy, Health and Consumer Affairs
- Emilie Rossion, Tel.: +32(0)2 220 20 45, e-mail: emilie.rossion@milquet.belgium.be
- Benoît Lannoo, Tel.: +32(0)2 220 20 11, e-mail: benoit.lannoo@milquet.belgium.be
- Saar Vanderplaetsen, Tel.: +32(0)2 233 50 06, e-mail: s.vanderplaetsen@lo.fgov.be
- Annaïk de Voghel, Tel.: +32(0)2 233 51 21, e-mail: a.devoghel@lo.fgov.be
- Marie-Isabelle Gomez, Tel.: +32(0)2 213 09 03, e-mail: marie-isabelle.gomez@magnette.fgov.be
Competitiveness
- Timothy Verhoest, Tel.: +32(0)2 792 99 12, e-mail: timothy.verhoest@quickonomie.be
- Sophie Van Malleghem, Tel.: +32(0)2 541 63 92, e-mail: sophie.vanmalleghem@laruelle.fgov.be
- Nathalie Lafontaine, Tel.: +32(0)81 234 151, e-mail: nathalie.lafontaine@wallonie.be
- Vincent Henderick, Tel.: +32(0)2 508 79 06, e-mail: vhenderick@cerexhe.irisnet.be
- Guido Thomé, Tel.: +32(0)87 596 428, e-mail: guido.thome@dgov.be
Transport, telecommunications and energy
- Timothy Verhoest, Tel.: +32(0)2 792 99 12, e-mail: timothy.verhoest@quickonomie.be
- Marie-Isabelle Gomez, Tel.: +32(0)2 213 09 03, e-mail: marie-isabelle.gomez@magnette.fgov.be
- Jan Pauwels, Tel.: +32(0)2 209 33 15, e-mail: jan.pauwels@schouppe.fed.be
Agriculture and Fisheries
- Sophie Van Malleghem, Tel.: +32(0)2 541 63 92, e-mail: sophie.vanmalleghem@laruelle.fgov.be
- Christine Faes, Tel.: +32 (0)2 552 60 49, e-mail: christine.faes@vlaanderen.be
- Loes Lysens, Tel: +32 (0)2 553 20 41, e-mail: loes.lysens@lv.vlaanderen.be
Environnement
- Patrick Verstuyft, Tel.: +32(0)2 552 63 69, e-mail: patrick.verstuyft@vlaanderen.be
Education, Youth and Culture
- Jeroen Janssens, Tel.: +32(0)2 552 68 00, e-mail: jeroen.janssens@vlaanderen.be
- Sarah Tak, tél.: +32(0)2 552 70 36, e-mail: sarah.tak@vlaanderen.be
- Piet De Bruyn, Tel.: +32(0)2 562 67 07, e-mail: piet.debruyn@vlaanderen.be
- Pascal Sac, Tel.: +32(0)2 801 70 11, e-mail: pascal.sac@gov.cfwb.be