Transcript Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Belgian Presidency of the Council of
the European Union
Progress/Results
General presentation
20 December, 2010
Outline
1. The Council Presidency
2. Belgian priorities: progress/results
3. Conclusion
1. The Council presidency
1.1. Main Characteristics
• Represents and is responsible for the
functioning of the Council
• Influences the direction of EU policy
Main Tasks:
 Programming
 Organizing and chairing meetings of all Council
bodies
 Guardian of the respect of the rules of
Procedure
 Formulating compromises
 Negotiating agreements with the European
Parliament
1.2. Logistical challenges
• 29 Council +16 Informal Council sessions
• More than 500 meetings and conferences in
different EU areas
• ASEM 8 : 4-5 Oct. 2010 (Most important
political summit with third countries (48 Heads
of State / Government))
• EU-Africa Summit: 29-30 Nov. 2010, Libya
• European Development Days: December 6-7
2010
• Budget 74 million € + 16 million € for security
2.Belgian Priorities
2.1. Five clusters of major importance
2.2. A transversal theme: implementation of the
Lisbon treaty
2.Belgian Priorities
2.1. Five clusters of major importance
2.1.1. Combating the economic & financial crisis
2.1.2. Reinforcing the social dimension of the
EU
2.1.3. Implementing the Stockholm Program
Action Plan in matters of Justice & Home
Affairs
2.1.4. Environment and Climate
2.1.5. External dimension: enlargement and
common trade
2.1.1. Combating the economic
& financial crisis
i. Short term measures
ii. Medium term measures
=>financial measures and economic governance
iii. Long term structural
measures
=> Europe 2020
Governance: Progress/Results
- September: Follow-up of the task force on
strengthening budgetary discipline,
increase of European economic
coordination and governance (European
Semester)
- October/December: final report Task force
and decision on further follow-up
(permanent mechanism for financial
stability) + decision to change the Lisbon
treaty
Budget + structural reform plans
Finance: Progress/Results
- Adoption of legislation on financial
regulation and supervision (September:
agreement PRES-EP – by 1.1.11 financial
control structures for banks, insurance
companies and financial markets)
- Directive on hedge funds and on private
equity
- Coordination of EU-views on Global
Governance (G-20, IMF, WB)
Other points: Progress/Results
- European patent – language regime
=> reinforced cooperation
- Directive on untimely payments by public
sector to companies (publication early
2011)
=> SME’s, 30-60 days, 8%
Europe 2020: Progress/Results
- Discussion on flagship initiatives of COM
- National objectives: discussions with
Commission first week of October
- Governance: in December stock-taking
exercise
- growth and jobs aimed at a knowledge economy
- five objectives
- 75% of labour participation 20-64 y
- 3% GDP to R&D
- 20-20-20 norm environment
- education -drop out prevention to less than10%; 3rd level education to 40%
-social inclusion/poverty reduction (206)
Flagships: digitalisation, jouth mobility, innovation, industrial policy, reinforcement
of internal market and commercial strategies
2.1.2. Reinforcing the social
dimension of the EU
- 2010 = European year for the struggle
against poverty
Progress/Results (EPSCO)
- Employment strategy in the context of EU
2020 : adoption of the targets of a new
employment strategy
- Governance of EU Employment strategy
- Evaluation of national reform programmes
on employment (European semester)
- Directive on fake parmaceutical products
- Directive on transborder health care
2.1.3. Implementing the Stockholm
Action Plan (April 2010) on Justice &
Home Affairs
- more and better cooperation in:
-
-
police and customs
civil and penal law
international terrorism and organized crime
migration and asylum
recognition of judicial decisions
Progress/Results
- Asylum package: good progress to get by end
2012 a common EU asylum system (directive on
LT Residents)
- Criminal matters: dir. human trafficking (based on
Convention Co of E)
- Home affairs/terrorism: agreement EU/US on
financial information; start negotiations exchange
passenger information
- Justice: proposal on cooperation in field of divorce
legislation,proposal on right of information in
penal procedures
2.1.4. Environment and
Climate
- October 2010 (Nagoya) – biodiversity
=>1/4,1/8,1/3
- December 2010 (Cancun) – CO² reduction
- Coherence with other fields:
•
•
•
Green transportation
Energy
Fiscal policies
Progress/Results
- Nagoya: action programme
=> 20 measures (protected areas, …)
- Presentation of the EU at Cancun
- Development of a balanced package for
Cancun
=> compromise package adopted
- Legislation on green transportation and
energy in preparation (Eurovignette, use
of dangerous substances in electric
utensils)
2 degrees max
Climate fund 75 bil
De-forestification: money
Techno transfert
2.1.5.External dimension:
Enlargement and common trade policy
Enlargement
- Many countries at different stages
- Process with different phases
- Conditionality
Enlargement:Progress/Results
- Iceland 27/7: start of negotiations
- Croatia: work in progress (temporary closure of 5
chapters – food security and financial control);
further progress on 22/12
- Turkey: pave the way for the opening of a new
chapter
- Montenegro: candidate status (14/12)
- Serbia: decision to ask an opinion to Commission
on candidate status (25/10)
- …
Common trade policy:
Progress/Results
- Free trade agreement EU-South-Korea 1.6 billion
custom duties less and less non-tariff obstacles
(pharmacy, food, cars, …)
- Start negotiations with Malaysia (free trade)
- Start negotiations with China (geographical
indications)
- Agreement within Council on measures to
increase trade with Pakistan
- Progress on Accession Russia to WTO
2.2.
A ‘transversal’ theme: implementation of the
Lisbon Treaty
Belgium will have to implement the Treaty of
Lisbon and make it work
 European External Action Service.
 New rules concerning the budget.
 European Citizens’ initiative
 Help new institutions to work.
EEAS: Progress/Results
- decision on organization and functioning
- financial regulation
- staff regulation
- budget 2010 + 2011
1 December 2010 : formal start of EEAS
28 HOM’s appointed
European Citizens’ initiative:
Progress/Results
- Agreement reached on outstanding
questions
Minimum age = age to vote
EP
No uniform form
Budget: Progress/Result
- Budgetary re-examination of expenses and
revenues to plan the financial frame 20142020.
- No agreement in November on budget
2011 – Supplementary questions of EP on
« own means » and its role in future
discussions
- December: agreement
Other points: Progress/Results
- Comitology directive (agreement in
Council on control by member states on
executive competencies of Commission)
Advice and investigation
3. Conclusion
 Mission accomplished
 Thanks to
- serving EU interests
- acting as a honest broker
- Good cooperation within the EU-27
- Good relations with EP and Commission