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Priorities of the Belgian presidency
13.07.2010, 15:50
Priorities of the Belgian presidency
After Spain, now is the time for Belgium to chair the EU in order to continue working on economic recovery and the fight against climate change.
From 1st July to 31st December 2010, it is Belgium's turn to preside over the Council of the European Union (EU).
This is a real challenge, especially as the EU now needs to take into account many changes set in place by the Lisbon Treaty since it came into force on 1st December 2009.
Accordingly, the Chair will support the Strategy 2020, whose objectives are socio-economic priorities of the Belgian program. It will seek to strengthen social protection in Europe and make progress in the fight against discrimination. The promotion of human rights and their full integration into all areas of EU action will remain a priority for Europe's external relations.
Moreover, these are the
five main priorities:
1. EU
economic recovery
2. EU Social Dimension
3. Combating climate change
4. Implementation of the Stockholm programme
5. Launch
of new European Diplomatic Service
The protection of intellectual property and negotiations for a European patent will be other priorities.
The Belgian Presidency will also seek to lend momentum to a sustainable industrial policy, with the main aim of developing a green European economy, competitive at the global level.
The creation of an open and safe Union, which is there to serve its citizens, guarantee their fundamental freedoms and protect them, represents a major challenge. The fight against terrorism, organized crime, illegal immigration and human trafficking, in particular, will be priorities in the field of internal affairs. Legal migration will also be a priority for the Presidency.
The Union is ready to continue its enlargement process. The rate at which new members are integrated will depend on each candidate's own merits. The Belgian Presidency will accompany and support the Croats in order to finalise its accession negotiations as soon as the conditions have been met and the negotiations with Turkey are progressing.
The citizens' initiative is one of the major innovations of the Treaty of Lisbon. The Belgian Presidency will continue the work initiated under the Spanish Presidency for adoption, by the European Council and Parliament, of rules establishing the procedures and conditions for effective and efficient implementation of this initiative.