2023-12-23 06:39:00
Hanging on the wall of a small round room on the fourth floor: a stylized relief map of the world, perhaps the work of a Belgian artist. It was there that the King spoke with members of Foreign Affairs who collaborate on a daily basis with the Royal Palace. “I would like to thank you for the work you do, especially during state visits,” he told them. It’s a much appreciated job.”
Here is the program of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union
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I hope that the Belgian presidency of the EU will make a difference. I am convinced that we will be talked regarding in a positive way.
Philippe has rarely made such a short trip. Less than 250 meters traveled on foot between the back of the Brussels Palace and Foreign Affairs. As part of his ten years of reign, he wanted to salute the services which work closely with his teams. But he also took the opportunity to inquire regarding preparations for the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union.
How the EU works ©IPM Graphics
Start of preparations in September 2021
”I am very happy that Belgium has the presidency of the European Union. I hope this will make a difference. I am convinced that people will talk regarding us in a positive way,” he said, addressing people seconded specifically for the event.
How to talk regarding the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union over a Christmas meal
“This is the thirteenth time that we have the presidency, and with a certain success, if I believe the high expectations linked to the reputation of our country, introduced Hadja Lahbib (MR), Minister of Foreign Affairs, a few moments earlier, when welcoming the head of state. This presidency will be intense and busy, particularly because of the European elections (in June, Editor’s note). We will actually have three months to complete most of the files and complete as much legislative work as possible.” The second quarter will be mainly dedicated to preparing for the next legislature.
The King was greeted by Foreign Affairs staff during his visit to the Belgian diplomatic headquarters on Thursday, December 14.
The organization of a rotating presidency takes at least two years. It is in September 2021 that an “EU2024 Task Force” was set up to Foreign Affairs to begin preparations. “At the beginning, there were three diplomats in the Task Force. Today, there are twenty of us,” says its coordinator, Ambassador Hendrik Van de Velde.
Belgium will focus its European presidency on three objectives: protect, strengthen, prepare for the future
A postcard of the country
In total, no less than 360 people were hired for all federal administrations, 110 of whom went to strengthen the permanent representation of Belgium to the Union, the real heart of the reactor of the policies which will be carried out during the six months of the Belgian presidency.
Twenty-three informal councils of ministers are on the program. While member states generally take advantage of these meetings to offer a postcard of the country, Belgium has chosen to hold fourteen councils in Brussels, under the gold of the Egmont Palace. The other nine will be scattered across the territory.
The Minister of Finance, Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V), will for example chair a council in Ghent, very close to his home. The Minister of Labor, Pierre-Yves Dermagne, (PS), will lead one in Namur, in his province. And the Walloon Minister-President, Elio Di Rupo (PS), another in his city of Mons. While a dinner for foreign ministers will be held at the Central Africa Museum in Tervuren.
A budget of 100 million euros
Beyond these high masses, dozens of meetings, workshops and expert meetings will take place. “This is all that had to be organised: launching public contracts, providing liaison officers with other countries for major events, planning the reception of delegations, security, catering, ICT, communication, the press, first aid, the conformity of the premises for firefighters…”, lists Hendrik Van de Velde. A budget of 100 million euros has been released by the federal government for this mega organization, almost a third of which is devoted to personnel costs.
“Such an organization is a great challenge,” says the ambassador. This only happens once every thirteen years. It’s historic. Next time, I’ll probably be retired… During my career, I’ve been in the field a lot. In Jordan, Canada, Israel, Denmark. I had toured previous presidencies. This time, I had the opportunity to see one from the inside. I saw everything, all the files, all the functioning of Belgian institutions, of which I became an expert, he jokes. This presidency will have been a beautiful part of my life.”
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