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1. PRIORITIES OF THE BELGIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE EU
As with most presidencies of the EU, internal EU issues are the main feature in the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the EU (1 July – 31 December 2001). A ‘Priorities Note’ posted on the official website of the Belgian Presidency, identifies 6 priority themes of the Presidency. Out of these, those with a clear implication for external affairs include: a) The debate over the future of Europe; b) sustainable development; c) sustainable economic growth and a common economic policy; and d) enlargement of the EU.
The Presidency will also give priority to the establishment of a common asylum and migration policy. Though the Presidency argues that the entitlement of refugees to protection in the EU cannot be challenged in the year of the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Convention, it states that there is a need for fairer burden sharing schemes within the EU. The Presidency will also work on combating illegal immigration and the trafficking in human beings.
Regarding the more explicit external dimension of Belgian Presidency programme, the document states that the Presidency will make an effort to improve the efficiency and coherence of all external actions by the EU and its Member States. According to the ‘Note’, this implies a more prominent role for the High Representative of Common Foreign and Security Policy, Mr Solana, and the strengthening of relations between Mr Solana’s office and the European Commission. The ‘Note’ states that the Belgian Presidency is determined to give respect of human rights, a prominent place in the common foreign and security policy of the EU.
Amongst the specific regions that the Presidency will focus on are:
Central Africa, - The Presidency aims to bring a greater involvement of the EU in the peace process in Central Africa and the Great Lakes region. According to the note, the Presidency will draw up an inventory of humanitarian and rehabilitation needs in sectors such as health, education; infrastructure, justice and the democratisation process. On the basis of this inventory, the Presidency will put forward an action plan for peace and development in Central Africa.
The Balkans – The Presidency will pursue the process launched at the Zagreb Summit involving co-operation and economic development. The Belgian Presidency will attempt to move forward with the negotiations on stabilisation and association treaties with the countries in the region. Such agreements could be concluded with a few of the countries in the region during the second semester of the Presidency.
Regarding trade, the Belgian Presidency will do its utmost to allow the launching of a new WTO round during its Presidency. On climate change, the Presidency states that it will try to get Kyoto process back on track following its derailment due to the US position on the issue.
On security and defence policy, the defence of the EU’s own defence identity is central to the Belgian Presidency. By the end of the Presidency, the EU Council of Heads of State in December should declare the EU operational regarding crisis management with all required structures in place.
The document makes almost no reference to development co-operation. For more information see: www.eu2001.be
2. BELGIAN NORTH-SOUTH NGO COALITION LAUNCHES AMBITIOUS CAMPAIGN FOR BELGIAN PRESIDENCY
At a press conference on Thursday 28 June, the Belgian North-South NGO Coalition launched its programme for the Belgian Presidency. The North-South Coalition, an extension of the Belgian Platform of Liaison Committee of EU NGDOs (CLONG), was set up especially on the occasion of the Belgian Presidency. It comprises of Belgian NGOs working on North-South solidarity, peace and sustainable development. CNCD (umbrella of Francophone NGDOs) and Eurostep member - 11.11.11. - Koepel van de Vlaamse Noord-Zuidbeweging (umbrella of Flemish NGDOs, formerly known as NCOS) are jointly responsible for the co-ordination of the Coalition. The Coalition’s main focus is on the role of the EU in the world. In November 2000, the Coalition presented a Memorandum to the Belgian government entitled "European Union: world power or world partner?" The document deals with ten themes: 1) EU development policy, 2) Central-Africa, 3) Trade, 4) Food sovereignty, 5) Financial architecture and the Tobin Tax, 6) EU defence and security policy, 7) Impunity, 8) The role of migrants in development cooperation, 9) Debt, and 10) Sustainable production and consumption.
Within the Coalition, working groups have been set up to organise information, sensitisation and advocacy around each of these themes. One output is a series of briefing papers per theme.
To disseminate information on the programme of the North-South Coalition, a website has been set up that is accessible in English, French and Dutch: http://eu.ngoforum.be/northsouth. This website may be used by any other NGOs who would like to post activities or positions related to the Belgian Presidency. For a list of the most important activities of the Coalition, see also PAF 233.
The ‘file rouge’ of the Coalition's programme is "the defence of an autonomous European development policy supported by a coherent EU external policy that effectively contributes to poverty eradication and sustainable development".
"Now that the EU has a policy statement for its development policy, making poverty reduction its main objective, it is time for the EU to also come forward with a policy statement for its entire "external policy" making poverty reduction the overall objective (as has also been requested by a European Parliament resolution in November 2000)",
says Marc Maes, Policy Officer at 11.11.11- and co-coordinator of the North-South Coalition.
"Belgium wants to deliver a Declaration on the future and destiny of the EU at the Brussels summit of 14-15 December, we hope that the Belgian Presidency will also organise some reflection on what role the EU sees for itself in a globalising world. Is the EU working to become a world power, or will the EU be a reliable partner for sustainable development?"
Specifically on EU development policy, the North-South Coalition will focus on three issues: a) Civil society participation in North and South; b) Effectiveness and coherence; and c) Development education. The Belgian Presidency has put the development education resolution that CLONG has been working for since 1999, on the agenda of the November EU Development Council. The North-South Coalition will organise input to the preparatory process leading up to the Council meeting. On 3 and 4 October, the North-South Coalition will also host an international seminar on EU development policy and the EU Development Council agenda. - 11. 11. 11 (umbrella of Flemish NGDOs)
3. EU-MERCOSUR/CHILE COOPERATION COUNCIL
The joint EU-Mercosur/Chile Cooperation Councils met this week to assess the free trade negotiations between the EU and Mercosur and the EU and Chile launched in 1999 and the preparation of the EU-Latin America Summit in Madrid in 2002. Regarding the trade negotiations the aim is to begin liberalisation in 2005, at the same time as the free trade of the Americas.
The Council will hold a session of political dialogue which will be dedicated to the situation in Colombia, EU enlargement, the Americas Summit and the EU-US Summit in Gothenburg.
The EU-Mercosur negotiations seem to have hit problems recently with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay finding it difficult to reach a common negotiating position, and the integration process in the region at a dead end. In contrast both the EU and Chile are looking to make rapid progress in their negotiations over the coming months.
The EU signed three memorandums of understanding which will frame EU-Mercosur/Paraguay /Argentina co-operation. The EU-Mercosur memorandum is worth €48 million, while that signed with Argentina and Paraguay separately are worth €65.7 million and €50 million respectively.
4. IN BRIEF
At a meeting between European Commission President, Romano Prodi and President of Eritrea, Mr Afwerki, Mr Prodi stated that a budget of €96 million had been programmed for Eritrea under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) of the Cotonou Agreement. A further €7 million is left over from the 7th EDF from the Lomé Convention.
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