Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

During the first part of the Informal Competitiveness Council, the EU Patent dossier, and especially its language regime, was discussed today.

On the occasion of the first ministerial conference on "Green Jobs" within the framework of the European Union, held by the Belgian presidency on 28 and 29 September, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment Joëlle Milquet, together with the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and inclusion, László Andor, launched a proposal for the first European plan for the creation of jobs in ‘Green sectors’ and for the "Greening" of the economy and the labour market.

“Without a doubt a good education is the way to break the vicious circle of poverty”, says Belgian researcher Ides Nicaise. During the conference held on 28 and 29 September in Ghent, policy makers, experts and people involved in education will meet to think about the role of education in social inclusion.

An inter-parliamentary meeting was held on 28 September, attended by the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee and sub-committee for Security and Defence as well as representatives of national parliaments.

Within the framework of the Belgian EU presidency, it is the Brussels Capital-Region which is awarded the presidency of the Competitiveness Council/Research. Minister of Research Benoit Cerexhe is in charge of organizing the presidency and is presiding over its activities.

Because reading is a pleasure, a vector for exchange and sharing, the European Book Prize is designed to promote European values and to help bring the Union to life among its citizens. 

Speech by H.E. Mr. Steven Vanackere Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium at the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In 2010, no fewer than 17 African countries will be celebrating 50 years of independence. In honour of the occasion, BOZAR and the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren are organising the festival Visionary Africa featuring concerts, exhibitions, performances and a literature festival. GEO-graphics is the central exhibition of this summer festival.

Olivier Chastel expressed the EU’s concern about the human rights situation and stated that the EU deplores the deterioration of conditions for those defending human rights. “The issue of sexual violence is particularly alarming in this area”, added the Secretary of State for European Affairs.

Natura 2000 is a European network of nature conservation areas situated on the territory of the Member States of the European Union. This network is the cornerstone of the European policy for the preservation and restoration of biodiversity. Natura 2000 is not intended just for the conservation of habitats, but also contributes to the protection of species.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment, Joëlle Milquet, recalled that the future governance of the Europe 2020 Strategy is one of the major work areas of the Belgian Presidency, and that the role of the European and national social partners has not yet received the attention that it deserves in the discussions under way.

Today, September 16, the European Council changes the name of the Council in charge of Education, Youth and Culture. Officially the Council is called from now on, the Education, Youth, Culture - including Audiovisual Affairs - and Sport Council. The insertion of Sport in the name of the Council confirms the intention to make fully use of this new EU competence.

The Brussels Minister represents Belgium at the Informal Meeting of EU Transport Ministers in Antwerp. Today, Brigitte Grouwels (Flemish Christian Democrats), Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region responsible for Transport, Public Works and the Port of Brussels, addressed the Informal EU Council of Transport Ministers in Antwerp.

The Council today adopted a decision giving the go-ahead for an agreement with South Korea on free trade to be signed and provisional applied.

Wednesday September 15th, Paul Magnette, serving chairman of the Council of EU Energy Ministers, was invited by the European and national MPs from EUFORES (European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources) in Brussels.

The Secretary of State for European Affairs met with Member of the European Parliament Klaus-Heiner Lehne, President of the Conference of Committee Chairs of the European Parliament, this 14 September 2010.

Since the coming into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the “citizens’ initiative” has been added to the range of instruments available to European citizens through which they can get involved in the policymaking of the European Union.

"Today, of course, the General Affairs Council will be preparing for the European Council of Thursday and this is the first Council on which the Foreign Affairs Ministers will be assisting the Prime Ministers and the Presidencies of the governments to discuss how we can make it possible that the foreign policy of the European Union becomes more effective."

All Member States of the European Union face common challenges in ensuring and maintaining an adequate workforce to meet the changing and growing health needs.

More attention for appropriate participation by young people, more collaboration and scientific research and more resources for early childhood facilities. These topped the wish list of the experts at the youth conference ‘Europe de l’Enfance’. For three days, they focused on the new EU-strategy to promote and safeguard Children’s Rights and the various policy agendas in the area of child and youth policy and children’s rights.

Delegates attending the biodiversity conference at Ghent today crystallized their expectations of the international summit to be held at Nagoya in October. They emphasized that only an integrated policy with sufficient resources for co-operation, specific measures, research and communication could hope to succeed in preserving worldwide biodiversity.

In a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs Steven Vanackere assured his colleague that Pakistan will remain high on the European agenda. "It is the intention of the European Union not only to respond to immediate needs, but also to develop a strategic approach to the situation in Pakistan", Vanackere said.

In the framework of the Belgian Presidency, a major conference was organized in Liege on various social themes and particularly pensions, in collaboration with Mrs. Laurette Onkelinx, Deputy-Prime Minister for Social Affairs.In this context, the Minister of Pensions, Michel Daerden, organized a ministerial conference on Tuesday, 7 September, on how various European pension systems and their financing have been adjusted at a time when the proportion of senior citizens is growing.

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The Informal Energy Council was held in Brussels on 6 and 7 September 2010. This informal ministerial meeting focused on three issues: consumer protection, the grid infrastructure and energy efficiency.

Speech by Secretary of State for European Affairs Olivier Chastel regarding the situation of the Roma people in Europa, European Parliament, 07/09/2010

Monsieur le président, Honorables Parlementaires,

Brussels, 7th September 2010 – The European Industrial Technologies 2010 conference is being held September 7th through 9th at the Tour & Taxis conference and exhibition centre in Brussels. Dedicated to the integration of nanotechnologies and nanosciences, materials and production technologies, the conference will bring together more than 1000 attendees including the top managers of companies and SMEs active in research, high-level EU political decision-makers and key researchers and scientists from industry and public research organisations.

For four more months still, Belgium will play host to high-level European and international gatherings. According to Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Steven Vanackere, this is a truly exceptional opportunity to bring the Union closer to citizens. “All Belgians stand to benefit from our European involvement and there is every reason to give that special emphasis.”