Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) is responsible for reviewing applications from persons or companies seeking ‘orphan medicinal product designation’ for products they intend to develop for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of life-threatening or very serious conditions that affect not more than 5 in 10.000 persons in the European Union.

The Paediatric Committee (PDCO) is responsible for providing scientific opinions on the development of medicines for use in children, in accordance with the Reguation (EC) 1901/2006. The main responsibility of the PDCO is to assess the content of paediatric investigation plans and adopt opinions on them. This includes the assessment of applications for a full or partial waiver and assessment of applications for deferrals.

The Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) organise an academic session at the occasion of the 5 years of existence of the ESDC. The ceremony will take place at the Royal High Institute for Defence on 29 September from 4:30 to 6 PM.

This conference, organised by the European Commission under the Belgian presidency of the EU, will debate the role of world class clusters in the re-launching of European industry.

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) is responsible for providing scientific opinions on all questions concerning veterinary medicinal products, in accordance with Regulation N° 726/2004/EC and concerning maximum residue limits, in accordance with Regulation N° 470/2009/EC. 

The Scientific Advice Working Party (SAWP) is a Working Party of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), in charge of Scientific Advice and Protocol Assistance for orphan medicinal products.

There are still major differences in social inclusion within the European Union. Putting an end to inequality, poverty and social exclusion is therefore a key challenge and must remain a priority. This challenge applies to every policy area, but education plays a crucial role in this regard. Policy makers, social partners, experts, researchers, and education and training providers will debate this issue at the conference. This two-day conference will put European, national and regional policy under the microscope, together with good practice models. Equality and inclusion across all levels of education are paramount.

The fight against climate change and the transition towards a low-carbon economy – a major challenge for competitiveness in the European economy on the world stage – will have significant consequences for our job markets. While new jobs will be created, others will be either lost or transformed.

This conference is being organised by the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES). Its goals are to analyse the political and economic factors that enable illegally collected natural resources to be sold on the European market and to better understand the impact on the development, the environment, and the stability of exporting regions.

This major event in the ICT sector will bring together 5000 participants from more than 80 countries. The programme will include: an exhibition, conferences and workshops. This conference is intended for professionals from the private and public sectors and academic circles.

On the occasion of the 2010 Belgian Presidency, the European Movement-Belgium (EBB) is realising a bilingual blog (FR and NL) with accessible and informal information about the EU and the Presidency, geared towards a young audience.

Organised by the municipality of Ixelles on European Parliament square, “The 27 countries on your plate” provides a gourmet display case of the specialty dishes of the 27 member states. The aim is to help people discover the local and regional traditions of each country.

At the time of his birth, the stars foretold that Sigismund would topple his father King Basil from the throne and become a bloody tyrant. To prevent the terrible prediction from coming to pass, Basil locked his son deep inside a tower. Will Sigismund succeed in overcoming the brutality of his nature? Galin Stoev (‘Oxygen’ and ’Genesis No2’) tackles this baroque drama with an eye to marrying classical material with contemporary sensibility.

An exhibition composed of photographs and films produced by students in Brussels, France, Austria, Poland and Spain who, thanks to the European CULTURE Programme, went off and discovered the ancient palace of Brussels, as well as châteaux in Versailles, Chambord, Schönbrunn, Wilanow and Madrid. A useful discovery-tour tool will be provided for visitors to hone their appreciation of the materials and building techniques of the archaeological site and the Royal Palace.

The René Magritte Museum, situated in the painter’s house in Jette, is putting on an exhibition devoted to Belgian abstract art to coincide with the centenary of non-representational art in Europe (1910-2010). Around 40 masterpieces give a fine overview of representatives of this movement in Belgium, from the 1920s to the present day. Activities organised on the fringes of the exhibition will emphasise the exciting cross-fertilisation between these artists and other European countries.

Every five years, Bruges is the setting for a major cultural city festival. This time creative people from the area and artists from Central Europe are taking over the city. For about four months 'Brugge Centraal' will draw people to an intense and varied selection of concerts, films, stage shows and exhibitions. The programme balances East and West, past and present, confrontation and harmony. The modern art trail 'Luc Tuymans: A Vision of Central Europe' and the historic exhibition 'Van Eyck to Dürer' are the stars of this major event.

100 Years of abstract art in Belgium is organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in cooperation with the René Magritte Museum in Jette (Brussels) in the context of the Belgian EU presidency. It introduces five Belgian artists with a clear focus on covering different provinces of Belgium. They represent the geometric approach in abstraction - also known as constructive or concrete art.

Brussels enjoys a unique position as the capital of Europe. However, we have noticed that only a small number of young people in Brussels are aware of what this European presence means for Brussels and what repercussions it will have. That is why, on the occasion of the Belgian presidency, the Brussels-Europe Liaison Office has proposed an exceptional project to the schools: a rally in the European quarter for all students in the final two years of secondary school, with the aim of informing them about 'Europe in Brussels' in a fun atmosphere.

The “SOS Planet” exhibition is set to be the biggest exhibition ever created on the topic of climate change.

Throughout the Belgian Presidency of the EU, the Brussels-Capital Region will be offering tours of discovery in the canal area (guided, with a reservation, or unaccompanied) of projects cofinanced by the European Union.

Architecture and urban planning in the European Quarter: past, present and future. Many artists have resided in the Leopold Quarter in the past. The project aims to show visitors the past and future potential of the area. During the Belgian presidency of the European Union, a discovery group will be set up in the European Quarter, accompanied by an exhibition.

Take part in a fun adventure quest through Brussels' European district, complete with a prize-winning contest, a version for kids (also with prize-winning contest) and a photo competition.

When the design world moves into to the power station, something must be afoot! 20 designers agreed to play the game, to reveal the mysterious and hazardous journey from creative idea to finished object, a design object intended for mass production to improve our lives; this conversation oscillates between art and technology, it is a constant - and sometimes strained - dialogue between the designer and the constraints of industrial manufacture.