{"id":288880,"date":"2024-01-02T10:16:11","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T09:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/2024\/01\/02\/belgio-presidenza-ue-futuro-unione\/"},"modified":"2024-01-09T15:22:47","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T14:22:47","slug":"protecting-citizens-and-strengthening-the-economy-belgium-at-the-helm-of-the-eu-prepares-for-the-future-of-the-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/en\/2024\/01\/02\/protecting-citizens-and-strengthening-the-economy-belgium-at-the-helm-of-the-eu-prepares-for-the-future-of-the-union\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting citizens and strengthening the economy, Belgium at the helm of the EU prepares for the future of the Union"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussels – Protect<\/strong> citizens, strengthen<\/strong> the economy, <\/span>and prepare<\/strong> for the future: three goals and six key priorities to accomplish them. From yesterday (Jan. 1)\u00a0until June 30, Belgium will lead the EU’s political agenda<\/a>, guiding European institutions toward the end of the legislative term<\/strong> and the elections to the new European Parliament on June 6-9 in all 27 EU member states<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

It will guarantee continuity – bringing as many files as possible to the finish line (150\u00a0‘pending’ ones remaining) – while, at the same time, starting to think about the strategic agenda for the coming years and the future legislature (2024-2029). Belgium picks up Spain’s political legacy<\/a> and will lead the political agenda for the 13th time since the European project was born. It will then pass the baton to Hungary’s controversial presidency in July. <\/span><\/p>\n

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo<\/strong> explained at the traditional press conference at the start of the presidency that the six-month term will focus on six thematic areas<\/strong> and will pay particular attention to maintaining “our firm support for Ukraine.” The six priorities will be defending the rule of law, democracy, and unity; strengthening competitiveness; pursuing a green and just transition; strengthening the social and health agenda; protecting people and borders; and promoting a global Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The EU presidency between budget and reforms<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib present the priorities of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union at a press conference at the Residence Palace in Brussels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With elections just around the corner next June and over 150 dossiers still open\u00a0(such as the packaging regulation<\/a> and the new European legislation against violence against women and to introduce a harmonized definition of the crime of rape), Belgium has promised that it will try to finalize as many of them as possible even though it will be hard work. <\/span><\/p>\n

The first part of the year will likely be devoted to finding a political agreement on the mid-term review of the 2021-2027 multi-year budget<\/a>,<\/strong> on which the heads of state and government failed in their attempt at the last summit in December and for which an extraordinary European summit has been convened on February 1. But that is not all.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a post on X Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni<\/strong> wished Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo ‘good work’, assuring that ‘Italy will continue to play its part in the many European and international dossiers that will see us working together in 2024’.<\/p>\n

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Buon lavoro a @alexanderdecroo<\/a> e alla Presidenza di turno belga @EU2024BE<\/a> del Consiglio dell'Unione europea.
L'Italia continuer\u00e0 a fare la sua parte nei tanti dossier europei e internazionali che ci vedranno lavorare insieme anche nel 2024.<\/p>\n

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) January 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n