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Belgium Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities


Ministers are holding a sequence of conferences in parliamentary committees to current the priorities of the Belgium Presidency of the Council.

Belgium holds the Presidency of the Council till June 2024 included.

Financial and Financial Affairs

Defending taxpayers and their buying energy whereas restoring residents’ belief in monetary establishments can be the overarching precedence, Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem advised MEPs on 22 January. He mentioned the financial governance evaluate, deepening the capital markets union, reaching a normal method on the financial institution deposit assure, and securing long-term monetary assist to Ukraine can be the concrete priorities.

MEPs themselves burdened the necessity for progress on the capital markets union, assist for Ukraine, and updating the financial governance system. Some singled out the necessity to make progress on combating tax avoidance and dealing to push the US to conform to the newest worldwide tax requirements.

Civil Liberties, Justice and House Affairs

On 23 January, Justice Minister Paul van Tigchelt desires to make progress on priorities such because the combat in opposition to organised crime, small-scale detention, the rights of intercourse staff, violence in opposition to ladies and trafficking in human beings. Secretary of State for Digitalisation Mathieu Michel mentioned the Presidency hopes to succeed in a Normal Strategy in Might on enhancing GDPR enforcement.

MEPs highlighted Parliament’s request to set off Article 7(2) procedures on the rule of regulation and the combat in opposition to hate speech and disinformation. Replying to MEPs’ questions, the Presidency confirmed a vote on the Synthetic Intelligence Act within the first week of February, and that work continues on Baby Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). Lastly, MEPs requested to advance in the direction of a consent-based definition of rape within the draft regulation on violence in opposition to ladies.

Transport and Tourism

On 23 January, Georges Gilkinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility, burdened that the Presidency will attempt to advance a inexperienced and digital transition, decarbonise the transport sector and finalise as many recordsdata as doable earlier than the EU elections. Valérie De Bue, Minister of the Civil Service, IT and Administrative Simplification, in command of Tourism and Street Security, famous that tourism has come again to pre-pandemic ranges and introduced a casual assembly of Tourism Ministers in February to advance the tourism agenda.

Transport Committee MEPs urged the Presidency to conclude the work on Trans-European transport networks, a biking declaration, and the maritime and street security packages, in addition to get a mandate to barter on Single European Sky guidelines and on transport weights and dimensions and railway capability guidelines.

Regional Growth

On 23 January, Minister-President of the Authorities of Wallonia Elio Di Rupo desires post-2027 cohesion to offer focused and easier regional support whereas guaranteeing that no residents and territories are left behind by the inexperienced and digital transitions. Among the many priorities talked about had been the removing of cross-border obstacles, and growing macro-regional methods for the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and for the islands.

MEPs raised the problems of accelerating the cohesion price range for the subsequent programming interval, responding to the housing disaster and guaranteeing that the inexperienced transition is included into the cohesion coverage. In addition they highlighted the necessity to put together for EU enlargement and the intention to discover a deal on the mechanism for cross-border removing of obstacles earlier than the elections.

Trade, Analysis and Power

On 22 January, Petra De Sutter, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration, emphasised the purpose of the digital decade: common entry to high quality telecommunication, together with 5G. She talked about the anticipated White Paper on the way forward for telecommunications and hoped for an settlement on Gigabit infrastructure laws.

Mathieu Michel, State Secretary for Digitisation, offered 4 priorities: the Digital Identification framework, bridging the digital expertise hole, AI laws and blockchain. These intention to boost Europe’s digital hub standing and place the EU as a pacesetter in digital innovation.

MEPs raised EU cybersecurity, Gigabit infrastructure, the digital expertise hole, digital {qualifications} and the impression of AI laws on innovation as their precedence areas of labor.

On the way forward for analysis and innovation, Willy Borsus, Vice-President of the Walloon Authorities and Minister, mentioned the presidency will intention to steadiness safety and competitiveness, fostering EU resilience in very important sectors and reworking analysis into societal and financial worth.

Thomas Dermine, State Secretary for Financial Restoration and Strategic Investments, in command of Science Coverage, mentioned that the area sector will evolve round three initiatives: the midterm evaluate of the EU area programme, a European House Legislation and a joint area council between the European House Company and the EU, deliberate for Might 2024.

MEPs sought clarifications on proposed cuts to the Horizon programme, Europe’s lagging place in life sciences, the necessity for complete area laws and the event of satellite tv for pc constellations like Iris² for Europe’s autonomy.

Power Minister Tinne Van der Straeten highlighted key initiatives comparable to updating the Euratom safeguard for the peaceable use of nuclear and bolstering vitality safety and sovereignty. They can even concentrate on growing the speed of inexperienced renovation of buildings and selling offshore renewable vitality manufacturing.

MEPs burdened the necessity to put together an EU “Blue deal” and to bolster the electrical energy networks to permit for the growth of renewables. MEPs additionally need the EU to concentrate on home manufacturing of hydrogen and ban the remaining imports of liquefied pure gasoline from Russia.

On 23 January, Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister for Economic system, Innovation, Work, Social Economic system and Agriculture, mentioned that EU trade is simply too depending on imports and that the EU must be extra assertive. The Presidency will concentrate on the remaining legislative work, significantly on the Internet-Zero Trade Act.

MEPs expressed concern over the waiver of state support guidelines granted by the Fee to sure member states and referred to as for the Strategic Applied sciences for Europe Platform, presently underneath dialogue between Parliament and Council, to be allotted sufficient funding.

Employment and Social Affairs

On 23 January, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic system and Employment Pierre Yves Dermagne mentioned the Presidency needs to make progress on the Platform Work Directive and the European Incapacity Card. He additionally burdened the significance of psychological well being at work, the revision of the carcinogens and mutagens Directive (CMRD6), and the European Pillar of Social Rights.

MEPs referred to as on the minister to beat the present block within the Council on the Platform Work Directive. Questioned on the coordination of social safety methods, Mr Dermagne mentioned that there’s a will to conclude negotiations. Different points raised by MEPs had been high quality traineeships, the mandate of the European Labour Authority and the price of residing disaster in Europe.

Inner Market and Shopper Safety

On 24 January, Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economic system and Employment, and Alexia Bertrand, State Secretary for the Finances and Shopper Safety, mentioned they wish to finalise negotiations on the appropriate to restore, the Single Market Emergency Instrument and banning merchandise made with compelled labour within the EU. The Presidency additionally introduced that a casual assembly on 19 April will look forward at what the subsequent Fee ought to tackle, comparable to mileage fraud for second hand automobiles, accessibility to monetary providers and AI and client safety.

MEPs inquired about Presidency assist for brand spanking new guidelines on addictive design of on-line platforms and on influencer advertising. Europe’s world function, the considerations of companies and SMEs, Enrico Letta’s report on the way forward for single market and disinformation had been additionally mentioned.

Authorized Affairs

Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt highlighted on 24 January the combat in opposition to organised crime, drug trafficking and reintegration of individuals leaving jail among the many priorities. He additionally expressed ambition to attain progress on the EU-wide recognition of parenthood and a few mental property recordsdata, whereas finalising the company sustainability due diligence.

MEPs quizzed the minister concerning the combat in opposition to counterfeit merchandise and highlighted the necessity to make progress on firm and patent legal guidelines together with company sustainability reporting. In addition they requested about deliberate steps on digital laws and recordsdata benefitting civil society organisations.

Growth

On 24 January, Caroline Gennez, Minister of Growth Cooperation and of the Main Cities Coverage burdened that the Presidency is dedicated to fostering a extra equal partnership with Africa, with concentrate on implementing the Samoa Agreements. Notably, they’ll concentrate on well being in Africa, humanitarian support and a sturdy cease-fire with humanitarian help for Gaza.

MEPs requested concerning the relations with Latin American nations and different EU strategic companions and burdened the significance of together with civil society and of cooperating with companion nations on environmental safety. Some MEPs additionally requested the way to regain the belief of the Sahel nations.

Worldwide Commerce

Hadja Lahbib, Minister of International Affairs, European Affairs and Commerce advised MEPs on 24 January that the Presidency will concentrate on open strategic autonomy, the upcoming thirteenth Ministerial Convention of the World Commerce Organisation (WTO) and the implementation and enforcement of present commerce agreements. The Presidency additionally plans a convention on crucial uncooked supplies for 26 March.

For the WTO Ministerial Convention on the finish of February, the Presidency will concentrate on the dispute settlement problem, sustainable fisheries, e-commerce, and industrial and environmental subsidies.

Girls’s Rights and Gender Equality

On 24 January, Marie-Colline Leroy, State Secretary for Gender Equality, Equal Alternatives and Variety, mentioned the Presidency would prioritise combating gender-based violence and discrimination, strengthening equality coverage and making ready the equality agenda for the brand new legislature. The Presidency is decided to conclude the negotiations on a directive on combating violence in opposition to ladies.

MEPs expressed their disappointment that member states are refusing to incorporate rape within the directive on combating violence in opposition to ladies. In addition they highlighted the financial prices of home violence and the burden the price of residing disaster is placing on susceptible ladies.

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