NEWS & PUBLICATIONS

Belgium Today
July 2010

BELGIUM ASSUMES ROTATING PRESIDENCY OF
THE EUROPEAN UNION

From July 1 through December 31, 2010, it is Belgium's turn to take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). Taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union is a real challenge, especially as we now need to take into account the many changes resulting from the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon on December 1, 2009.

As President of the Council of the EU, Belgium chairs all of the meetings of the Council of the European Union through its competent ministers. Belgium will ensure that the Council of the EU runs smoothly, and try to reconcile divergent points of view and formulate proposals for compromises so that decisions can be taken. The Presidency also plays an important role in negotiations with the other institutions of the Union, especially the European Parliament which, like the Council, has to give its assent to most European legislation. The Foreign Affairs Council is the exception. Since the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force, it has been presided by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Lady Catherine Ashton.

The Council of the European Union is the principal decision-making institution of the European Union. It is one of the two legislative bodies in the EU, the other being the European Parliament. The Council of the EU is composed of twenty-seven national ministers (one per state). The exact membership depends upon the topic; for example, when discussing agricultural policy the Council is formed by the twenty-seven national ministers whose portfolio includes this policy area (with the related European Commissioner contributing but not voting).

This institution is often confused with the European Council. Since the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty, the European Council is a separate EU institution responsible for defining the general political direction and priorities of the Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of EU member states, along with its President and the President of the Commission. The High Representative takes part in its meetings which are chaired by its President Herman Van Rompuy. Before the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force, the six-month Presidency also presided over the European Council. That is no longer the case. The President of the European Council has a representative role “at his level and in that capacity” in the CFSP.

The role of the rotating presidency is therefore strictly limited, especially in non-EU countries like the United States, and for international institutions, where it will now be performed by the Embassy of the EU, officially called Delegation of the European Union.

Belgium’s program for the presidency focuses on five themes. The main priority will, of course, be to address the economic and financial crisis. Besides that, but equally important, are the challenges surrounding climate change and the necessary transition to a green economy. Belgium also strives to enhance the social dimension of the EU, with a particular emphasis on the struggle against poverty. The fourth focus of attention is justice and internal affairs. Belgium will work on the basis of progress already achieved to improve the fight against crime, and to enhance cooperation on immigration issues. Finally, Belgium seeks to strengthen the role of the Union as an actor for peace and security in the world. One of the elements will be the establishment of a full-fledged European diplomatic service.

For more information on the Belgian Presidency: www.eutrio.be
For more information on the Belgian presidency themes: click here.

ELECTION RESULTS

On June 13, over 7 million Belgians went to the polls to elect a new Federal Parliament - 150 members of the House of Representatives and 40 directly-elected members of the Senate. Belgian citizens registered abroad could vote by mail, by power of attorney or in person at the Embassy or Consulates. 152 Belgians decided to vote in person at the Embassy in Washington.

The elections have brought major changes to the political landscape: in Flanders, the Flemish Nationalist Party (NVA) became the largest party at the expense of the governing Christian Democrat Party (CD&V) of outgoing Prime Minister Yves Leterme and its Liberal coalition partner (Open VLD). In Wallonia, the Social Democrats (PS) won the most parliamentary seats, at the expense of the Liberal Reformist Party (MR). In Brussels, the Liberals remained the largest party.

As is always the case after a federal election, the King held consultations with the different political parties, after which he appointed Bart De Wever, leader of the Flemish Nationalist Party, as "informateur." His task is to hold broad consultations with all stakeholders (political party leaders, business groups, unions, etc), in order to find out which coalition will have the most chance of success. This consultation will most likely last two to three weeks, after which a "formateur" will be appointed. The latter will effectively build a new coalition government -- and most likely become the new Prime Minister. Politicians have expressed hope that a new government may be ready to start its work by the end of the summer.

DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL LEAK:
BELGIAN PROPOSALS FOR ASSISTANCE

In a recent letter to the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command, Belgium’s Ambassador to the United States expressed his deepest sympathy for the tragic loss of life and the continuing environmental damage to the Gulf of Mexico. Wishing National Incident Commander Admiral (ret.) Thad Allen success in the current endeavors to protect a precious ecosystem and the livelihoods of so many, Ambassador Matthysen also vowed to help identify and mobilize Belgian technologies that may help alleviate the ecological and social impact of the disaster.

As a first step, the relevant officials in Belgium could allow, if so required, the state-of-the-art surface oil spill skimming DN 31 ship to be temporarily deployed in the Gulf area. This vessel is normally obligated to remain on standby in the North Sea under charter by the Belgian and Dutch Governments.

The Belgian company operating the DN 31, Jan De Nul, has also recently presented to the Louisiana and Plaquemines Parish authorities a concept based on bringing sand from offshore borrow areas to construct barrier islands to stop the oil entering into the wetlands, as well as an oil-leak recovery plan using the 39 inch riser of Jan De Nul’s vessel Simon Stevin. Another vessel of the company, the 60,000 cubic yard hopper tank-equipped Cristobal Colon, could be deployed within 11 days to support the increasingly urgent recovery of underwater oil plumes.

A mission by another Belgian leading infrastructure company, the marine and waterway contractor Dredging International, is currently in the Gulf of Mexico area to present the contribution its unique technological edge could provide in the construction of a sand-berm barrier along the coast of Louisiana to protect it against the oil spill. Dredging International’s subsidiary, DEME Group, estimates that its groundbreaking dredging, environmental and marine engineering processes could significantly reduce the environmental cleansing and decontamination period in the Gulf area.

Particularly relevant for tourist-beach cleaning, Tubize-based Deep Green company, has a patented “Thermophile in-situ” technology allowing for the decontamination of soil containing hydrocarbons without having to displace the soil itself. This technology, based on the circulation of hot gasses in tubes, ensures complete removal of pollution, contrary to other “in situ” techniques.

According to Ambassador Matthysen: “every large-scale pollution of the ocean is by definition a global disaster as it affects a shared legacy. In this context, I sincerely hope that Belgian engineering and technology will be able to contribute to containing and mitigating the disaster.”

AMBASSADOR MATTHYSEN VISITS DENVER

Like many of the other 181 accredited ambassadors in Washington, Belgian Ambassador Jan Matthysen welcomes an occasional trip beyond the Beltway to an American city where foreign ambassadors are more of a rarity. When he was invited by the Colorado European Union Center of Excellence (CEUCE) to speak on Belgium, the EU and transatlantic affairs, he accepted with pleasure.

His talk, followed by a lively Q&A, took place at a May 27 “Transatlantic Affairs Speakers Series” breakfast for CEOs and state officials, including Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. On the following day, at a conference on the economic crisis hosted by the University of Denver, the Ambassador delivered the keynote address entitled “The Transatlantic Relation: A Sure Bet in Times of Uncertainty.”

Frank Schuchat, Belgium’s Honorary Consul in Denver, very capably organized the two-day program that gave many in Denver an opportunity to greet Belgium’s top diplomat to the United States and afforded the Ambassador a chance to get to know the Mile High City.

One highlight on the program was a visit to the U.S. branch of BEST (Belgian Electronic Sorting Technology), an innovative world leader in the engineering, manufacturing, selling and installing of sorter machines for the food and non-food industry. CEO Paul Bergmans gave the Ambassador an overview of the company’s assembly facility and used the occasion of his visit to announce BEST’s expansion plans in the U.S. BEST would like to produce its entire line of machines for the North American market in its Colorado facilities, and in doing so achieve its plans to double sales to $130 million over the next five years.
www.bestsorting.com/news/VisitAmbassadorBESTUSA

At the Fitzsimons Life Science District, in Aurora, an incubator for high-tech enterprises, many of which are spin-offs of the University of Colorado, the Ambassador heard much praise for Baron Paul Janssen, founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica (now part of Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research).

Ambassador Matthysen also enjoyed a visit to a “Smart House” which has specific features enabling the handicapped to live autonomously. A specialized Belgian nurse, who lives in Denver, hopes to link this technology with similar initiatives in Belgium.

His visit was rounded out by attending a fundraising dinner for a local charity where he had a chance to meet civic leaders; a breakfast with members of the local Belgian community; and a stop at the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art which was featuring an exhibition of films, paintings and drawings by Belgian artist Michaël Borremans.

The Ambassador found the people of Denver well disposed toward Belgium. While he credits some of this goodwill to the Belgian entrepreneurs and scientists who have settled in the area, he also muses about the positive contribution of Belgian beer and gastronomic specialties, which seem to be equally well established in the Colorado capital.

Search | Site Map | Downloadable Forms | Legal Disclaimer | Comments

Copyright © Embassy of Belgium in Washington
FPS Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Coop. Belgium
Belgian Federal Government