June 30, 2010. Copyright 2010, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Divided but not out: Belgium takes over the EU presidency
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, June 30, Graphic News: ÊWith no end in sight to the euro financial crisis and its political fallout, it might seem that the European Union project couldnÕt get in any more trouble. But the EUÕs rotating presidency is about to hand over to a country without a national government after recent elections heightened deep, festering schisms. Europhobes will note gleefully that Belgium is also host to several key EU institutions.

However, they should be wary of reading too much into how BelgiumÕs domestic turmoil could affect its turn at the EU helm, which starts on July 1. The Belgians are well used to the kind of existential crisis caused by the June 13 poll victory of Flemish separatist leader Bart de Wever in Dutch-speaking areas, and gains by the socialists in French-speaking Wallonia. It is hoped that the coalition government that eventually emerges from ongoing negotiations (expected in September) will better address the longtime complaints of the different groups.

Prime Minister Yves Leterme -- his government collapsed in April but he has stayed on at the request of King Albert II until a new one is in place -- insisted recently that the domestic political situation will not affect the countryÕs EU presidency, and that Belgium will Òlive up to expectationsÓ. Some observers point out that those expectations are in fact lower than they used to be given that the EU now has a permanent leadership position in its EU Council president, and that its current holder is Herman Van Rompuy, himself a former Belgian PM, bodes well for smooth cooperation during the second half of the year.

As part of its 18-month joint programme with Spain and Hungary, BelgiumÕs priorities include tackling the economic crisis, climate change and the environment (including preparations for the COP 16 conference in Cancun at the end of the year), implementation of the Stockholm Programme on justice, asylum and immigration, and the launch of Europe 2020, the UnionÕs strategy and policies for the next decade, as well as beginning negotiations on the 2013-2020 EU budget. Behind the scenes, Croatia and Iceland are both expected to move closer to becoming EU members.

Undoubtedly, Belgium is in a difficult position: it must tackle the complex issues arising from the regionalist aspirations of its various communities, including the problem of administering Brussels, while putting on a united front as holder of the EU presidency. However, as a federal state with significant powers already devolved to the regions of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels, a successful presidency involving close cooperation between their representatives could send a message that the EUÕs strength really does reside in the diversity of its people.

And another thing: Belgium takes over from Spain, which was strongly criticised for opportunistic attempts to raise its national profile while in the hot seat. We can hardly expect that from Belgium.
/ENDS