Brussels, 18/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - A country's internal political difficulties do not necessarily mean it will not conduct a good term of presidency for the Council of the EU, and the Belgian Presidency is proof of this (see “A Look Behind the News” in EUROPE 10283). Yves Leterme, the acting prime minister for current affairs, heard, in person, the European Parliament's praises ring out for his efficient co-workers who, during the second half of 2010, were quick to see that Europe should take pride of place in their government's agenda.
Over the past six months, Yves Leterme affirmed, “we have done our utmost to ensure that the institutions can work as well as possible in the post-Lisbon period”. While speaking of the achievements over the past six months (which include nearly 40 agreements of a legislative kind between Parliament and Council), Leterme delivered an address turned more towards the future than the past. He indentified the main challenges: - economic governance. The eurozone crisis has been avoided but more is needed: more “economic unity”, greater economic, fiscal and social coherence, and “controllable” budgetary discipline. Healthy finances are an “absolute necessity”, as well as the effective implementation of control instruments established; - financial perspectives. These must be discussed without avoiding the debate over the longer term. Leterme pointed out this was a promise that Belgium had made to the Parliament; - and the role of the Union in the world. Impetus must be maintained but also consolidated on the basis of decisions taken, especially regarding the EEAS. However, Yves Leterme concluded, Europe must above all believe in itself. “Europe needs a soul”, he pounded out, addressing the young who have not known the war but who, on a daily basis, see that peace does not reign in the world, and calling for a Europe where each and everyone can “live upright”. Jean Monnet said that “nothing can be done without citizens but nothing can last without institutions”, institutions that, as Leterme affirms, must be supported by “people with convictions”.
Effectiveness, concentration, pragmatism and the Community spirit - these are the characteristics that have ensured a successful “great and good presidency”. With these words, the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, paid tribute to the Belgian Presidency's work of “setting out the beacons” for implementation of reforms that “are not an option but an imperative”. If economic governance is not strengthened, warned Barroso, then everyone will lose out. For the Union, he stressed the importance that the Eurovignette holds for citizens. It is now up to Hungary to follow along these lines, without hesitation.
Jean-Luc Dehaene, a former Belgian prime minister who opened the flow of praises for his country's presidency on behalf of the EPP, said the Presidency had met the challenges, above all thanks to the choice that it had made not to make European priorities subject to national priorities. The vice-chairman of the S&D Group, Hannes Swoboda of Austria, underlined the clear leaning of the Belgian Presidency, expressing the wish that Orban might follow the example set by his predecessor. Another former Belgian president, ALDE Group leader Guy Verhofstadt, welcomed the effort put in by all those who had worked towards the “unexpected success” of a presidency which was, in some ways, “for the first time, a truly European government”. Verhofstadt above all welcomed the “breakthrough” on the European patent, hoping the Parliament would finally give its go-ahead to the patent. “Belgian political engineers are better working away from home than at home”, said Isabelle Durant of Belgium on behalf of the Greens/EFA, calling for the momentum to be kept up on seeking an agreement concerning own resources and the setting in place of a “European constituency”, which could contribute to the extra “soul” that Yves Leterme would like to see. The Belgian Presidency “works in a perfectly European way”, said Niki Tzavela of Greece speaking on behalf of the EFD Group.
Belgium is “Europe in miniature” but this is not a compliment on the part of Dirk Eppink (ECR, Belgium) who, unlike all those who took the floor before him, chose to deliver a Belgo-Belgian speech, calling for the question of the “end of the Belgian system” to be raised. Criticism voiced on the side of the GUE/NGL is of a more concrete kind. Patrick Le Hyaric of France deplored the lack of action when it comes to the defence of services of general interest and the fight against poverty and regrets that a debate had been refused on the creation of a social and environmental development fund fuelled by taxation on capital. His Socialist compatriot, Pervenche Berès, does not take the same view. As chair of the social affairs committee, she believes the role of the public services at the heart of the European social model was strengthened during the Belgian half-year of presidency. (L.G./transl.jl)