Belgian plan for summit sponsorship under fire

Date: 01/08/01

By David Cronin

Left-wing activists have condemned Belgium's EU presidency for seeking corporate sponsorship to help finance the forthcoming summits at Ghent and Laeken.

The Brussels government is holding talks with several companies to see what assistance they can provide towards hosting the delegations of diplomats and journalists due to attend the two events. Car, fax and photocopier manufacturers have been consulted about the possible use of their wares free of charge, while several food and drinks companies are likely to provide free products.

Serge Dickschen, a spokesman for Belgium's EU embassy, said that the sponsorship will not be intrusive. "We certainly will not be doing a Coca-Cola kind of thing; it won't be like the Olympic Games. There is nothing peculiar about this. Other presidencies have done it in the past."

He also insisted that no political favours will be offered to sponsors. But anti-capitalist group Globalise Resistance is arguing the decision to seek corporate backing for the gatherings of Union leaders proves the presidency is more in touch with big business' concerns than those of ordinary citizens. "It goes to show that while the leaders are paying lip service to democracy, they much prefer to serve the interests of corporations," said Depsina Mavrou of Globalise Resistance. "Corporations are not doing this out of goodwill. They are doing it because they expect something in return. "The fact that the leaders turned around at the Göteborg summit and told the Irish population to keep voting [on the Nice Treaty] till they get it right shows where their real interests lie," she added. "Getting corporate sponsorship is like laughing in people's faces."

Although Belgium plans to involve fewer officials than the Swedes during their stint at the EU helm, costs earmarked for the presidency have already soared from €22 million to almost €42 million.

And they are likely to continue to escalate due to the extra security that will be needed at the summits in Ghent (19 October) and Laeken (14-15 December) in the wake of the rioting at Göteborg and Genoa.

Left-wing activists have condemned Belgium's EU presidency for seeking corporate sponsorship to help finance the forthcoming summits at Ghent and Laeken.