Belgium held the presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2024.[1][2][3][4] The presidency was the second of three presidencies making up a presidency trio, which began with the presidency of Spain, and was scheduled to be followed by that of Hungary.[5][6] It was the 13th time Belgium had held the presidency.[1][7] The motto that was chosen for the presidency was "Protect, Strengthen, Prepare".[8][1]
Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union | |
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Council of the European Union | |
Website | belgium24 |
Presidency trio | |
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Overview
editThe Belgian presidency plans to focus on six main areas of interest: (1) bolstering the union's work on society and its health, (2) following a proper green transition, (3) improving the union's economic competitiveness, (4) protecting democracy and the rule of law, (5) securing the union's people and its borders, and (6) strengthening the union's place in the world.[9][8]
Both the 2024 Belgian federal election and the 2024 European Parliament election are scheduled for early June, during the final month of Belgium's presidency.[10][4] As the last plenary session of the European Parliament is planned to occur in April, the presidency will only have a few months to resolve more than 100 open issues before the elections dominate the agenda.[10][7]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Belgian EU Presidency starts with optimism despite crises". The Brussels Times. 25 December 2023. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "List of presidencies of the Council of the European Union". Council of the European Union. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Pugnet, Aurélie (8 December 2023). "Belgium aims to close negotiations on EU open files, focus on bloc's future". Euractiv. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b Moens, Barbara; Gijs, Camille; Haeck, Pieter (29 December 2023). "Make-or-break national election looms over Belgian EU presidency". Politico. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Homel, Lisa; Jourdain, Marie (17 July 2023). "Five things to expect from Spain's EU presidency". Atlantic Council. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Abou-Chleih, Sarah (22 December 2023). "Belgian Presidency: time is ticking for EU green agenda". European Environmental Bureau. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b Lory, Gregoire (19 December 2023). "Crunch time for Belgian EU presidency as race to close crucial legislative files begins". Euronews. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council". European Organisation of Military Associations and Trade Unions. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Realfonzo, Ugo (8 December 2023). "Belgium sets course for EU presidency in 2024 amid period of crisis". The Brussels Times. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b Riegert, Bernd (30 December 2023). "Belgium's ambitious goals for the EU Council Presidency". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
External links
edit- Official website
- Programme on Belgian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu