Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, January to June 2024

Summary:

Information Guide providing a collection of information resources as regards Belgium's presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), which runs from 1 January to 30 June 2024.

Further information:

During the first half of 2024, Belgium holds the presidency of the Council of the EU. It is the thirteenth time Belgium has held the presidency, since the country was one of the founding Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC) established in 1957. This is the second of a Presidency Trio which also includes Spain and Hungary.

The main priorities of the Belgium Presidency are as follows:

• Defending rule of law, democracy, and unity;
• Strengthening the EU's competitiveness;
• Pursuing a green and just transition;
• Reinforcing the EU's social and health agenda;
• Protecting people and borders;
• Promoting a global Europe.

Under the motto “Protect, Strengthen, Prepare", Belgian Council Presidency vowed to focus on ensuring the security and well-being of EU citizens, strengthening the economy, and preparing the European Union for the future. The 2024 European Parliament elections are also held in June 2024 under the Belgian Council Presidency. The programme and priorities of this Council Presidency were presented by the Belgian government on 8 December 2023.

Official

Official Website of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://belgian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/

Belgian Federal Public Service: Foreign Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/policy/coordination-european-affairs/belgian-presidency-council-european-union

European Parliament: Multimedia: Topics: Belgian Presidency https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/topic/belgian-presidency_27301

Belgian Federal Public Service: Foreign Affairs: Podcasts: Episode 13, 22/12/2023: Belgian Presidency 2024 of the Council of the European Union https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/podcasts/episode-13-belgian-presidency-2024-council-european-union

EU: Eurojust: News, 03/01/2024: Tackling major organised drug crime top priority for Belgian EU Presidency https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/news/tackling-major-organised-drug-crime-top-priority-belgian-eu-presidency

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Prime Minister De Croo on the occasion of the College visit to the Belgian Presidency (5 January 2024) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_24_41

European Commission: News, 08/01/2024: The College of Commissioners meets the Belgian Government at the start of Council Presidency to move Europe forward https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/AC_24_84

EU: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA): News, 16/01/2024: Belgium takes over the EU presidency with the motto 'Protect, strengthen, prepare' https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/news/2024/belgium-takes-over-eu-presidency-motto-protect-strengthen-prepare_en

European Parliament: Press Release, 25/01/2024: Belgium Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240122IPR17038/

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News

Politico: Special Reports: Belgian Presidency of the EU https://www.politico.eu/special-report/belgian-council-presidency/

EurActiv, 06/10/2023: Deputy PM: Belgian EU Council presidency to protect Green Deal, LGBTIQ+ https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/deputy-pm-belgian-eu-council-presidency-to-protect-green-deal-lgbtiq/

Politico, 29/10/2023: Belgium’s terror attack blunders tarnish its upcoming EU presidency https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-terror-attack-eu-council-presidency-alexander-de-croo/

Science Business, 21/11/2023: Belgium to focus on a public sector European blockchain during its EU presidency https://sciencebusiness.net/news/ict/belgium-focus-public-sector-european-blockchain-during-its-eu-presidency

Euronews, 08/12/2023: Belgian PM downplays talk of environment policy pause https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/12/08/belgian-pm-downplays-talk-of-environment-policy-pause

EurActiv, 08/12/2023: Belgium aims to close negotiations on EU open files, focus on bloc’s future https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-council-presidency/news/belgium-aims-to-close-negotiations-on-eu-open-files-focus-on-blocs-future/

Science Business, 12/12/2023: Belgium sets out priorities for last EU presidency of this term https://sciencebusiness.net/news/sovereignty/belgium-sets-out-priorities-last-eu-presidency-term

The Parliament Magazine, 15/12/2023: Migration top of the agenda as Belgium outlines priorities for its Council of the EU presidency https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/belgium-outlines-priorities-for-its-council-of-the-eu-presidency

Euronews, 19/12/2023: Crunch time for Belgian EU presidency as race to close crucial legislative files begins https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/12/19/crunch-time-for-belgian-eu-presidency-as-race-to-close-crucial-legislative-files-begins

EurActiv, 20/12/2023: Skills shortages, closing divisive files: The Belgian EU presidency’s health agenda https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/skills-shortages-closing-divisive-files-the-belgian-eu-presidencys-health-agenda/

The Brussels Times, 25/12/2023: Belgian EU Presidency starts with optimism despite crises https://www.brusselstimes.com/852586/belgium-to-preside-over-the-council-of-the-european-union-for-six-months

Deutsche Welle, 01/01/2024: Belgium's bold EU Council agenda https://p.dw.com/p/4aig7

RFI News, 01/01/2024: Belgium faces election juggling act as it takes over rotating EU presidency https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20240101-belgium-faces-election-juggling-act-as-it-takes-over-rotating-eu-presidency

Politico, 02/01/2024: Europe needs more cash, Belgian PM says https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-de-croo-interview-pm-europe-needs-more-cash/

EUObserver, 04/01/2024: Belgian EU presidency eyes more Africa-based migrant deals https://euobserver.com/migration/157875

Euronews, 05/01/2024: Alexander De Croo sets out priorities for Belgium's EU Council presidency https://www.euronews.com/2024/01/05/alexander-de-croo-sets-out-priorities-for-belgiums-eu-council-presidency

The Brussels Times, 08/12/2023: Belgium sets course for EU presidency in 2024 amid period of crisis https://www.brusselstimes.com/830271/belgium-sets-course-for-eu-presidency-in-2024-amid-period-of-crisis

EurActiv, 09/01/2024: Expertise in complex national politics will save EU Council agenda, Belgium claims https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-council-presidency/news/expertise-in-complex-national-politics-will-save-eu-council-agenda-belgium-claims/

EUObserver, 16/01/2024: De Croo: 'If 2024 brings 'America First' again, Europe on its own' https://euobserver.com/eu-elections/157926

Science Business, 16/01/2024: EU needs more capital to scale up innovations, Belgian prime minister tells MEPs https://sciencebusiness.net/news/international-news/eu-needs-more-capital-scale-innovations-belgian-prime-minister-tells-meps

EurActiv, 23/01/2024: Belgian presidency reinforces call to regulate influencers at EU level https://www.euractiv.com/section/platforms/news/belgian-presidency-reinforces-call-to-regulate-influencers-at-eu-level/

EUObserver, 25/01/2024: EU presidency to enact asylum reforms despite abuse claims https://euobserver.com/migration/157978

The Brussels Times, 26/01/2024: Organised crime, sex work, small-scale detention: Belgium's EU Presidency Justice priorities https://www.brusselstimes.com/895052/organised-crime-sex-work-small-scale-detention-belgiums-eu-presidency-priorities

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Commentary and Analysis

Trans-European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA): Press Release, 24/11/2023: Recommendations to the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://tepsa.eu/press-releases/recommendations-to-the-belgian-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-european-union/

Wilson Center: Insight & Analysis, 08/01/2024: Belgian Presidency to the EU Council: Three Issues to Watch https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/belgian-presidency-eu-council-three-issues-watch

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 08/01/2024: Priority dossiers under the Belgian EU Council Presidency https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2024)757593

Scottish Parliament: SPICe Spotlight, 09/02/2024: Belgium’s presidency of the Council of the European Union – bringing an end to the EU’s five year cycle https://spice-spotlight.scot/2024/02/09/belgiums-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-european-union-bringing-an-end-to-the-eus-five-year-cycle/

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