The Belgian EU Presidency
[01 July - 31 December 2010]

@ From 1 July  to 31 December 2010, Belgium will hold the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union. 

@ The Belgian Presidency is part of a Trio Presidency, in which three countries – Spain (January-June 2010), Belgium and Hungary (January-June 2011) – are coordinating their activities in this role.
 

@ To provide a certain continuity in the work of the EU, Belgium set up a common work programme with the previous Presidency (Spain) and the following Presidency (Hungary), in accordance with the legislative provisions of the EU Treaties. This programme therefore covers a period of eighteen months, between January 2010 and June 2011.

These are the main objectives set up as part of this common work programme:

• review the Lisbon Strategy so that the EU is better prepared to overcome the economic crisis, restore sustainable growth, a higher rate of employment and better competitiveness

• better monitoring of the financial markets

• broaden the social agenda and focus it on young people, on combating gender discrimination and fighting poverty

• press forward on energy and climate change

• make the EU a space for ever greater freedom, safety and justice (Stockholm programme)

• set up a global European policy for immigration and asylum

• set up a more consistent, effective external EU representation

• place the emphasis on the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms

Find out more about the common work programme (PDF)