Minister Bourgeois on his role during the European Presidency
Flemish Minister Geert Bourgeois has very diverse responsibilities: administrative affairs, local and provincial government, civic integration, tourism, immovable heritage and the Flemish municipalities around Brussels. In the course of the EU Presidency he intends to draw attention to a number of "forgotten" policy areas in Europe, such as heritage strategy and e-government.
What exactly will be your role during this European Presidency?
I will be organising a number of conferences where experts from all over Europe will exchange thoughts and ideas. Thus, on 9 December a conference will take place in Bruges on heritage strategy and on 14 December there will be a conference on e-government in Ghent. Our intention is to generate greater attention and larger support for these issues, which so far have been rather neglected at the European level. In Ghent we will also hold a conference on integration policy on 25 and 26 November.
I will also be actively supporting the High level meeting of top officials concerning local and provincial government, to be held on 29 September. The central theme of this meeting will be the efficiency and effectiveness of local government.
Finally I would also like to familiarise the foreign press and press attachés with the territoriality and language policies in our country by means of a "Speakers’ Corner" in Tervuren. In this way I hope we can eliminate a number of misunderstandings about Flanders and in particular the Flemish municipalities around Brussels.
What is the influence of the European Union on your policy areas?
Europe has great influence on the policy areas for which I am responsible.
For example the quality of legislation and regulations and the reduction of the administrative burden are important issues on the European agenda. In Flanders we try to be among the "best in the class" in these areas.
In the field of heritage policy there is a large indirect impact of the European rules and regulations with respect to such areas as occupational safety, the environment and energy saving. The major challenge then becomes one of tuning the legislation to the specific needs related to heritage.
As regards tourism, the European Union mainly ensures the proper protection of consumers. Thanks to the European Integration Fund we are able to further develop the integration initiatives in Flanders.
In your policy areas, which breakthrough would you like to see realised on a European level?
In my opinion, one of the major challenges facing the European Union has to be the development of a common policy on asylum and migration. What certainly should not be left out, is a link to integration and (voluntary) return.
In addition I would also like to see a clear European hotel classification system and tourist signposting come about. With respect to immovable heritage, Europe should ensure that new policy measures in other areas have no adverse effect on heritage. I am also a champion for the creation of a new instrument to make an international comparison between local governments with regard to efficiency and effectiveness.
In general I think it would be a good thing if Europe would devote more attention to federal entities with regulatory powers.
How do you see the future development of the European Union?
In my view, the main responsibility of the European Union is the concerted approach to issues and problems of a cross-border nature. No single Member State can cope on its own, faced with major issues such as demography, globalisation, the environment or climate change. Faced with such issues, European cooperation is more than just a necessity.
Europe is capable of setting public finance back on the rails, is the player par excellence to make rules and regulations in the fight against climate change, is needed in the fight against terrorism, and can ensure cross-border mobility. And only recently it also became clear that Europe urgently needs an auditor and regulator at the European level for the banking and finance systems.
In addition I attach great importance to ‘subsidiarity’. What I mean by this is that a strong Union must by necessity be based on diversity: the only way for Europe to have European citizens, is for it to be built from the bottom up, through the transfer of sovereign powers.
What is your favourite holiday destination in Europe?
That would undoubtedly be Lisbon. The city simply exudes authenticity: the trams, the pavements, book shops, the melancholy atmosphere, the churchyards, the fado... And while it is a big city, you still feel a genuine community spirit. Lisbon is like seven different villages right next to each other, each with its own specific charm and attractions.
