This Monday, January 1, 2024, Belgium will take over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Spain. The small country will face the challenge of organizing its own national elections to coincide with June’s European elections.
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With over 150 files to process and the European elections in early June, not to mention the Belgian federal elections on the same day, Brussels will have a busy day ahead. .
RFI spoke to Sébastien Meillard, who led the Jacques Delors Institute from 2017 to 2023 and is now special advisor on expansion at the institute’s Greater Europe Center.
Information provided: What are the challenges and goals that Belgium has set for the next six months as European Council Presidency?
Sebastian Meillard: The Belgian President’s task is to bring the European Parliament to a successful conclusion. That’s because the election is scheduled for June 9, during this six-month presidential term. Therefore, we also need to guide the strategic discussion to prepare for what lies ahead, the next European cycle, the next five years.
In order to finish the mission on a high note, he would have to inherit the achievements of the Spanish president, but in the end, the Spanish president was not defeated either. [Spain’s] After taking office, he was able to reach conclusions on several major issues.I’m thinking about the stability pact [the budgetary rules] and immigration agreements.
financial framework
One of the big issues that still needs to be addressed is the review of the so-called multiannual financial framework, the European budget for the coming years, and ensuring that aid to Ukraine does not decline.
Belgium will therefore have to deal with both domestic and geopolitical issues, but will also need to navigate the debate ahead of the European elections. We must already prepare a roadmap for the next European Commission and lead this discussion to really decide where we want Europe to go.
And Belgium doesn’t have much time. Considering that the European Parliament will no longer be able to co-legislate from April 25, there is only three months left to take a decision on the legislative file.
👋 Welcome 🇧🇪 Belgium @eu2024BE, has just taken over the position of Council President. It looks like it’s going to be an exciting 6 months!#EU2024BE
— EU Council (@EUCouncil) January 1, 2024
Information provided: You mentioned this “shortened presidency.” Can we expect a slowdown in the pace of European institutions’ operations due to the elections scheduled in six months’ time, or, on the contrary, an acceleration of work on the current file?
SM: The best argument to make when you want to get your documents together is to say, “Careful, I don’t have much time.” If Belgium manage their time well, they can make the most of this time and move forward.
Personally, I would like to see the Presidency divided into two phases. The first quarter is a very fast-paced presidency, and then it slows down even more, with a more preparatory mode and strategic thinking about the future, and less emphasis on the operational side. mode.
However, at the end of the mission, the fact that elections are approaching will, on the contrary, be a pressure that must be used to complete the projects started.
Looking five years into the future can be very beneficial for the Presidency, as it can be less productive. But in the end, the Spanish president’s role was more effective than we expected.
involved in the construction of Europe
Information provided: Isn’t it the fact that, like in Spain, federal elections in Belgium will be held during this presidential term and will have an impact on Brussels’ mandate? Shouldn’t Europe pay more attention to election dates and avoid such situations?
SM: It is true that the president leaves office and a national deadline is set. We had them stay in France for the duration of his six-month presidential term. Although it was not planned in Spain, it is true that early elections tainted Spain’s start. [Spain’s] Somewhat presidential. Pedro Sánchez, the president of the Spanish government, had other things on his mind. And now we’re seeing it in Belgium. This was also the case in Sweden. It’s not easy to get noticed when you’re under a national deadline.
However, this is nothing new; Belgium is characterized as a very pro-European founding country. At the same time, this country is a politically divided country, with a heterogeneous coalition of almost seven political parties, with great differences and different points of view… But I believe that beyond this political diversity, So we can say that all these parties have at least one political party. What they have in common is a desire for Europe and European integration.
Belgium is deeply attached to the building of Europe and has every interest in showing that it is beneficial to Europe. Because it is Europe that holds Europe together. He could also use the presidency to promote national unity, which the president lacks.
Compromise as added value
The Belgian election will be held on June 9, at the same time as the European elections, and will be held in the second half of the presidential term.
We hope that these national deadlines do not distract too much from Belgium’s responsibilities as the European Presidency.
We must not forget that Belgium has a savoir-faire, or the art of compromise, that is highly valued in Europe.
We know that Belgium itself lives and breathes compromise, between French-speaking and Flemish-speaking peoples, between socialists, liberals and conservatives.
Perhaps this legendary know-how could be put to use in Europe. That is also one of Belgium’s added values.
(Original article published in French by RFI’s Romain Lemaresquier)