Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Progress/Results

General presentation20 December, 2010

Outline

1. The Council Presidency2. Belgian priorities: progress/results3. Conclusion

1. The Council presidency 1.1. Main Characteristics

• Represents and is responsible for the functioning of the Council

• Influences the direction of EU policyMain Tasks:

ProgrammingOrganizing and chairing meetings of all Council

bodiesGuardian of the respect of the rules of

ProcedureFormulating compromisesNegotiating 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 importance2.2. 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 measuresii. 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 maxClimate fund 75 bilDe-forestification: moneyTechno 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

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.

2.2. A ‘transversal’ theme: implementation of the Lisbon Treaty

EEAS: Progress/Results

- decision on organization and functioning- financial regulation- staff regulation- budget 2010 + 2011

1 December 2010 : formal start of EEAS28 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 2014-2020.

- 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