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The Belgian regions – co-leaders of the Belgian presidency of the EU
26.07.2010, 10:54
On 1 July, Belgium, one of the
founding states of the European Union, assumed the presidency of the Council of
the European Union for the twelfth time, taking over the reins from Spain.
Pending the formation of a new national government following elections in June
and in accordance with the country's federal structure, it will be the three
regions of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels-Capital and the Flemish, French and
German-speaking communities which will primarily be responsible for addressing
the numerous challenges of the next six months.
One of the priorities of the Belgian presidency will be the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, whose entry into force has strengthened the role of local and regional authorities. A meeting on this subject was held at the end of June between Karl-Heinz Lambertz, member of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and Minister-President of the German-speaking Community of Belgium, Mercedes Bresso, President of the Committee of the Regions, and José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.
Regional policy and the structural funds, the instrument used for promoting the development of infrastructure and sustainable growth at regional level, will be managed mainly by the Wallonia region. The programme of the Belgian presidency also mentions Belgium's desire to expand "the role of cohesion policy and the structural funds [...] with a view to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth at regional [...] level."
With this in mind, the Wallonia region asked the CoR to set out the position of European cities and regions on the role which cohesion policy can play in the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy. This work will serve as background for the discussions of the informal meeting of European regional policy ministers in Liège on 22 and 23 November.
The CoR also will lead several initiatives linked to the Belgian presidency of the EU. Thus, the CoR will hold a meeting of its decision-making body - the Bureau - in Antwerp on 9 and 10 September and a meeting of its COTER commission in Tournai on 30 September, in conjunction with the high-level conference on European territorial cooperation organised by the Belgian presidency. In October, the Belgian regions will be particularly active during the Open Days event (European Week of Cities and Regions), jointly organised in Brussels by the CoR and the European Commission. In addition, the Belgian presidency and the CoR will jointly hold the first European conference on public communication, in Brussels from 12 to 14 October. Throughout the six-month period, the Committee of the Regions will host various events organised by Belgian local and regional authorities, further underlining its role as the "European home of regions and cities."
Source: www.cor.europa.eu