The Presidency of the EU Council: a real coordination challenge
This is the 12th time Belgium assumes the Presidency of the EU Council. One might even say that Belgium has this task “in its bones”. Nevertheless, it remains a fact that the coordination of the Presidency is an endeavour of truly titanic proportions. This week, we invite you along to meet two of the key people involved: the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Steven Vanackere, and the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Olivier Chastel. For a start, we are pleased to present the results of our first meeting on the sidelines of the presidency: our conversation with Secretary of State Olivier Chastel.
The coordination of the Belgian Presidency of the EU
As Secretary of State for European Affairs you assume an essential coordinating role and responsibility. Could you give us some more specific information about your task? What exactly does it entail?
Ever since I took office in March 2008, my task was to coordinate and prepare the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, both in the logistical sense and in terms of drafting the programme for the Presidency. Many people are involved in a Presidency: public administrations and cabinet officials responsible for the various Council configurations, thus both at the federal level and at the level of the federated entities. From the very beginning of the preparatory work we have also involved civil society. This was a first, as was the way in which we decided to draw up the working programme together with our Spanish and Hungarian partners.
Proper internal coordination is essential and to achieve this we have set up the necessary mechanisms: monitoring group, task force, working groups. Now that the active phase of the Presidency has commenced, this coordination work focuses on monitoring work progress.
In the coming months, I will represent the EU Council in the European Parliament and will attend the plenary sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels.
What would you describe as the biggest challenge you have to face in this context?
The biggest challenge will lie in continuing the contacts established with members of the European Parliament and in representing the Presidency in this European institution, the powers of which have been expanded since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. Of course, the ministers responsible for individual dossiers will also have contacts with the Parliament. But it is important to keep a horizontal overview of progress being made in the different fields. Our goal in the Presidency is to ensure conditions that are conducive to progress and if possible bring several concrete issues to a successful conclusion. In this respect, the European Parliament is a key partner. All this also implies the need to closely monitor developments in a wide range of dossiers, some of which are highly technical.
Relations with the European Parliament
The Lisbon Treaty has considerably increased the powers of the European Parliament. What relations have you established with this institution, within the framework of the Belgian Presidency of the EU? What is the importance you attach to the institution in order to make the Belgian Presidency successful?
Since the start of the Spanish Presidency in January 2010, I have attended the plenary sessions of the European Parliament. To establish effective cooperation and develop good contacts, I made sure to meet with key players in this democratic institution: its President Jerzy Buzek, the Chairmen and Secretaries-General of the various political groups, the Secretary-General of the European Parliament Mr Klaus Welle and his chief of staff, the President of the Conference of Committee Chairs, etc. Such contacts are valuable because these people can influence the EU agenda. The Presidency of the EU is a collective exercise. With the help of our Permanent Representation, we want to strengthen the relations between institutions (Council – Parliament).
Numerous meetings
Among the many meetings that you had in the context of the Presidency, which one has most impressed you and what in particular did you carry away from it?
I found the meetings with the Chairmen of the major political groups in the European Parliament highly interesting. These encounters enabled me to familiarise myself with the priorities on the EU agenda as seen by these groups. My purpose is mainly to find common ground for progress with the implementation of the Belgian programme.
Regarding upcoming meetings; which one do you look forward to most and why?
I do look forward to the plenary sessions of the European Parliament in September, where my task will be to present the Council's position on topical debates, and to respond to oral questions from MEPs. This will be both technical and exciting.
Media and social networks
The purpose of communications from and about the Presidency is to further interactivity between citizens and institutions. With this goal in mind, a logo was created that invites all citizens to reclaim the European project, a dynamic and responsive website in four languages was designed to convey news and current events related to the Presidency to as large and wide an audience as possible, and in this age of the “internet generation” even social networks such as Twitter and Facebook were brought into play. What is the role of the media and of these social networks in the communication from and about the Presidency?
I give special attention to social networks (Twitter, Facebook) because these instruments allow me to interact with many people. By posting near real-time photos, video clips, texts and press articles, and also by explaining my work as Secretary of State for European Affairs, I hope I have been able in a sense to make the European project a bit more tangible to the citizens.
In your opinion, does this initiative improve the interest and involvement of citizens in the European issue?
Yes, because it leads to greater interaction. However, we should not rely solely on social networks. We must continue to consider communication as a whole and must also try to involve the sections of the population who do not surf the web.
Our communication must also be based on specific achievements that match the expectations of citizens, particularly in this time of economic crisis.
The official website of the Presidency has been online for two months now. The goal of this site is rather challenging: to not only appeal to diplomats and journalists, but also to the general public. In your opinion, and as far as it is possible to say at this stage, has the venture succeeded? Have you had any feedback on this subject?
Well yes, many people spoke to me about EuTrio.be and told me how they appreciated both its more "playful" side (the pictures, videos, twitter, Notebook of the Presidency) and also its educational side with clear explanations of major European issues.
And for yourself? When you visit the site, which section do you look at first of all?
I chiefly consult the “news” section, to stay abreast of the accomplishments of my fellow ministers.
