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Cools: No Problem to Manage EU Presidency with Caretaker Government
Sunday 27 June 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, June 27 (TASR) - The European Union is getting used to the new rules set by the Lisbon Treaty and is snapping out of the global economic crisis with a recently-signed strategy for upcoming 10 years Europe 2020 on the table.
Spain on July 1 is handing over the rotating EU presidency to Belgium, which is an experienced player, but is facing the process of forming its own government after the recent early general election and a heated debate about whether the Walloons and the Flemish should or should not separate. "We will manage the EU Presidency," assures Belgian Ambassador to Slovakia Alain Cools in an interview for TASR.
- Belgium is taking up the EU Presidency on July 1. How do you assess the state in which you are "inheriting" it? -
Europe has made tremendous progress. People do not realise that, but if you see what we have succeeded in doing in order to help Greece, in order to prevent new crises, if you see what Mr. (EC Commissioner for Internal Market) Michel Barnier is proposing, if you see that we had an agreement on the transaction tax on the banks recently, that we had the Stabilisation Fund ... People may say it's not enough, it's too little, too late. Perhaps, but on the other hand, who would have thought six months ago that we would have been able to reach that agreement? I think, Europe is in better shape; but we are in a transition period - we have the Lisbon Treaty that has been adopted somewhat later than expected and now we will have to adapt to this new situation.
- That is to say, many things were accomplished during the Spanish Presidency... -
Absolutely. Especially the things I've just mentioned. Well, the Spanish Presidency was a little handicapped because of the late adoption and ratification of the Lisbon Treaty (last year) and also by the late appointment of the European Commission. But, for instance, they have an agreement in the environment sector, on industrial emissions, which is something very important. They have a general approach now on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), which is something we have to work out, but the agreement – on citizens' right to launch referendum – is there. They have also obtained an external mandate for the European Investment Bank (EIB), which will allow the EIB to go outside the European field. And what might be interesting for Slovakia as well is the reform of Eurostat, because I can see that very often that your (Slovakia's) statistical data is different from that of Eurostat. And this happens in other countries as well, so it is important to have a global and uniform system of evaluating the situation and of calculating statistical data. So they have achieved a number of things, but the most important ones I have mentioned earlier in the economic field.
- So what issues have remain for Belgium to accomplish? -
Well, we will have to implement the decisions already taken. I would say we have five priorities. The first one is the social-economic priority, including the Europe 2020 strategy. The second is climate change. We have some agreements on 20/20/20 (targets for lowering emissions, increasing the use of renewable sources of energy and increasing efficiency). We also think that at COP16 (16th UN Climate Change Conference) in Cancun, we will have to make alliances - not just think of our own priorities - but take into account priorities of other countries and see what alliances we can make. Environment goes further than just 20/20/20. We will try to have a "greening" of transportation, for instance, better insulation of buildings ... all these things that have been on the table for a number of months, if not years, but we have to see them progress. The third priority will be the Stockholm Programme on justice and internal affairs, where we really think better co-operation is needed in order to improve the security and protection of citizens. This is really something for the citizens. Then, of course, we have the social aspect, which is very important for the Belgian Government. The year 2010 is the European Year of Poverty (and Social Exclusion), so social inclusion will be an important issue for us. And then, the last priority is the External Action (Service), and that means three things: first of all to have the external service ready as soon as possible, and we have to implement it. Second, we must speak with one voice as much and as often as possible in international fora. And third, there is the enlargement. In this regard, Belgium will be an honest broker and will deal with every file on the basis or its own merits.
- You mentioned the Europe 2020 Strategy. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said at the March EU summit several times that he didn't believe that these goals are achievable. On the other hand, the head of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek claims that the goals should be stricter and more ambitious. What is your stance on this and what should be done, so that this strategy doesn't end like it predecessor - the Lisbon Strategy (established in 2000 to make Europe the world's most competitive economy by 2010)? -
First of all, as I said, these are not just abstract goals. These are really goals that have been negotiated and that are within the framework. So every country has to seek what is achievable. You will have fewer excuses not to achieve the goals that you set yourself and that you consider realistic than blanket goals that were imposed and that you can easily call utopian. So it will boil down to political will and capability. Now, we have always been in favour of more strict criteria and, I will not say compulsory, because that doesn't work here, to exert some more pressure, so that the goals are really achieved.
- How does the country intend to manage the EU Presidency only with a caretaker Government? After the recent election, a new government has to be formed in Belgium, and it's not clear when it will be appointed. -
It's not clear indeed, and it might take some time. I think no one predicts that we will have a government by July 1. Honestly, I don't think that this will hamper the Belgian Presidency, for a number of reasons. The first one is that, logistically, everything is ready. We have been working on it for a well over two years now and we took the civil society into account. We have much experience, it's the 12th time we will have the Presidency. That means that the people in charge - the civil servants, the politicians, the diplomats - all have some kind of experience with the European Presidency. So, logistically, I don't think there will be any problem. Politically, Belgium always tries to push the European agenda, and not necessarily its own agenda. We are again honest brokers. And I remember some Belgian foreign ministers saying that 'when we have the Presidency, we have less national clouds than when we are just a member', because what we try to achieve is consensus, a compromise so as to advance the European goals. You can do that, you can be a honest broker if you have a caretaker government, that's not a problem.
- The fact that there is the new "EU President" and "EU Foreign Affairs Minister" should also help the Belgium Presidency to some extent, shouldn't it? -
Yes, I know, certainly in the long run the load will be a little bit lighter for the EU Presidency, but now we have to adapt to the new circumstances. We also have to take into account the new role of European Parliament - 95 of the discussions will be under normal procedure, which used to be called co-decision. It might not be easier, but the fact that the President of the European Council is Mr. (Herman) Van Rompuy, who's a highly-regarded Belgian politician, who knows Belgian politicians, will make the collaboration very, very easy. Then, I also think that we'll work together with Mrs. (Baroness Catherine) Ashton very well together, since a good functioning of the European institutions is high on our agenda.
- What does Belgium Presidency have to prepare for? -
We want to be extremely pragmatic and we want to be prepared for the unexpected. Last time we held the Presidency, there were the terrorist attacks against the Twin Towers in New York on September 11 (2001). Of course, we all hope that this doesn't repeat itself or anything of the kind, but the success of the Belgian Presidency at that time was that we were able to integrate the consequences of September 11 in our Presidency without abandoning the other priorities. And I think this is really what we are prepared for. - The recent election in Belgium show that more voices are calling for dividing the county into Wallonia and Flanders. Isn't that a paradox, when the Belgian capital is a symbol of the EU integration? -
Is that really a paradox? I don't know. We were one of the founding fathers of the EU, it was obvious at that time that it should be a central country and not too big a country which should held the seat of the institutions. It was not possible to give the seat to France, Germany or Italy, so it had to be a Benelux country and, of the three, we were the most central. So this is one of the reasons Brussels became the seat of the European Union and that has nothing to do with the internal Belgian politics. Moreover, all over Europe some regions want more power and visibility. That is part of the so-called subsidiarity. So I don't necessarily see a contradiction. - This is the 12th time that Belgium will be presiding over the EU, but the first time since the Lisbon Treaty was adopted. What difference will it make for the presiding country? -
As I mentioned before, we will have to work with the President of the European Council. Second, the rotating Presidency should really be abandoned progressively, we'll not be able to do it in one day or one week, but it should be abandoned progressively in most countries outside the EU. The Union should be represented by Mr. Van Rompuy and by Lady Ashton. The Presidency will be held by the delegation of the European Union outside the EU, this is external.
- How does the Belgian Embassy in Bratislava want to promote the Belgium Presidency in Slovakia? What events or activities are you preparing? -
This is a one-man show (laughter), I am completely alone here, I have no diplomatic or consulary collaborators. I have a presentation on July 1, I will present the programme of the Presidency. And we will not toast with champagne, but with the Belgian beer. And then, at the end of September, we'll have a Belgian dance group, C de la B, and it will take place within the international Nitra Film Festival. And then, sometime in November, we'll have a jazz concert with Belgian and Slovak jazz players.
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