Tag: Belgian EU presidency

The Belgian EU Presidency has been a success and is an example for the incoming Hungarians, while the Lisbon Treaty has brought the rotating presidency back to basics, write Steven Van Hecke and Peter Bursens from the Research Group on European and International Politics at the University of Antwerp in an exclusive commentary for EurActiv.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso yesterday (4 October) told regional and local leaders that they need to get more involved in the debate on the future of EU regional policy.

As a founding member of the European Union and the host of its institutions, the Belgian EU Presidency is in a good position to help solve inter-institutional tensions linked to the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, Olivier Chastel, state secretary for European affairs, told the European Parliament yesterday (13 July).

King Albert II has appointed the leader of the French-speaking socialist party, Elio Di Rupo, to lead talks on forming a new government in Belgium after his Dutch-speaking rival Bart De Wever ended an exploratory mission yesterday (8 July).

Belgium takes on the EU's rotating presidency on Thursday (1 July) with no less than its national unity at stake, as ongoing government coalition talks seek to secure make-or-break internal reform. But unsolved internal problems are by no means preventing Belgian politicians from "thinking big" about the European Union, EurActiv has learned.

Belgium wants to lead by example during its upcoming EU presidency and has pledged to minimise the environmental impact of the numerous meetings and summits planned over the next six months.

Bart De Wever, the Flemish nationalist who claimed victory in Belgium's recent national elections, assured European Commission President José Manuel Barroso yesterday (23 June) that the Belgian EU Presidency would be unaffected by ongoing government coalition talks and that a new administration would be in place "by the time real work begins".