Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo (left) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the unveiling of the Belgian presidential logo on January 5, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. Xinhua News Agency/Zhao Dingzhe)
Belgium’s top priorities are finalizing an EU migration deal, promoting a green economic transition and reaching an agreement on a new EU aid package for Ukraine.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Belgium has assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) for a difficult six-month term in 2024. The European Parliament is in its closing session and the road ahead will not be easy. There is growing urgency for the president to finalize numerous legislative documents ahead of the June election period.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo revealed in December that around 150 legislative instruments were under consideration, a point he reiterated in the official announcement of Belgium’s EU Council Presidency Program.
In its 13th rotation in this important role, the country has outlined six key priorities. Finalizing the EU migration deal, promoting a green economic transition and reaching an agreement on a new EU aid package for Ukraine are top priorities.
But Belgium faces a rocky start, overshadowed by European Council President Charles Michel’s sudden announcement that he will resign early to run in the European Parliament elections.
This poses a further hurdle, with negotiations for a new EU Council president required by July. Otherwise, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could take over temporarily after Belgium’s term.
This file photo taken on December 15, 2023 shows European Council President Charles Michel speaking at a press conference during the European Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Another key challenge for Belgium is to hold consultations with the 27 member states to define new rules governing budgetary discipline. Also on the agenda is a mid-term review of the EU’s multiannual budget for 2021-2027, as well as the EU’s support project for Ukraine, which includes a 50 billion euro (US$54.73 billion) facility for 2024-2027.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the inauguration ceremony of the Belgian president that “the project to support Ukraine is a priority for the EU.” However, there was controversy among EU leaders over including the project in the mid-term review of the EU’s multiannual budget, with Viktor Orbán opposed.
To address this issue, Ms. von der Leyen called on Belgium to translate its position on this issue into a political decision as soon as possible, with an eye on the extraordinary European summit on February 1.
Another major challenge for the Belgian EU Presidency is finalizing the EU’s asylum and migration treaty and ensuring that it applies to all member states.
This photo taken on November 21, 2023 shows migrants at a reception center on Lampedusa, Italy’s southernmost island. (Xinhua/He Fei)
Hungary abstained from voting on the deal at a European summit in December, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán saying his country would not accept refugees.
Central to the Belgian president’s agenda will be clean industry regulation and new budgetary rules for EU member states to stimulate investment.
Preparations for future EU enlargement are also on Belgium’s agenda, with accession negotiations starting with Ukraine and Moldova and Georgia expected to be granted candidacy status in December 2023. Belgium aims to make progress on these issues, recognizing that the process will be long.
“Forecasting and strategic planning will be Belgium’s pillars in all areas of EU action,” Decroo said of his political actions at the Belgian presidential inauguration. This also refers to the need for internal reforms in the European Union to maintain its capacity for future action, he added. (1 euro = $1.09)
This photo taken on November 15, 2023 shows the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)■