Beyond Chocolates And Waffles : Belgium’s EU Presidency In 2024

NewsAnalytics Bureau

The Trio

As 2024 began Belgium assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union from Spain. Since the advent of the EU on 1^st November 1993 it will be the 13^th time that Belgium has assumed this key responsibility. EU charter lays down a unique rotational presidency format clubbing three nations called ‘trio’ together for a presidency term for six months each. The current trio includes Spain, Belgium and Hungary, Belgium’s presidency shall continue till the end of June 2024 when it will hand over the mantle to Hungary. As the Presidency moves to Brussels, it will also be entrusted with conducting EU’s most anticipated parliamentary elections, which will further elect its next President.

Belgium has more of a neutralist approach on matters critical to the EU and this will remain a matter of deep concern to powerful European capitals when it is expected to shape the agenda for the EU at international forums. The importance of holding the Presidency of multination grouping has generally been ceremonial in many cases but not with the EU for two reasons; firstly, the grouping is considered as the World’s most valuable, if not most powerful regional organisation, and secondly, the very challenging period entire Europe is going through in its modern history. These home truths will add a different perspective to Belgium’s governing responsibilities, which has been better known for its chocolates and waffles!

Intricate Quandary

The EU was established after the end of the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union as a grouping for larger European integration. Over the years it has indeed become one of the most prominent global bodies with 27 member states having a cumulative GDP of $19.35 Trillion and having one-sixth share of world trade. Indeed, it has been the success of the EU that became the major motivational factor for other similar regional bodies like the African Union and the Eurasian Economic Union.

The EU was the largest experiment in the integration of governments, their financial systems, and their policy outlook including their approach to global issues. To be fair to the EU they have been mostly successful at them. The EU remains an uncontested benchmark as far holistic integration of continental states is concerned. But its seeming successes in rolling out the Euro, European Parliament, European Commission, European Investment Bank and the European Central Bank have also been plagued with serious challenges, mired expectations and flawed outcomes. If Brexit and COVID-19 looked to completely derail the EU’s impressive growth the current geopolitical challenges pose an intricate quandary for the EU.

Serious Challenges

The major concern that Belgium’s EU presidency will face will be the impact of the continuing Ukraine war on European security and economy, continuing strong relations with the United States, and managing the EU’s relations with China, especially given conflicting views of major member states. Belgium will also have to conduct elections for the European Parliament in June while it will be organising its national elections around the same time. It will also need to carefully navigate the EU’s foreign relations outlook; its Common Foreign and Security Policy approach faces clear headwinds.

The continuing war in Ukraine has put multiple stress on the European economy with commodity shortages, rising food & fuel prices, and high inflation. The tourism sector has faced severe impacts, especially in Eastern Europe. These unwarranted developments have badly hurt smaller EU members who have barely come out of the Covid-Catastrophe. There is a clear divide that is emerging between Central and Eastern Europe over matters of foreign policy engagements, migration and level of support to Ukraine. This puts the threat of a vertical split within this power block.

The immediate challenge for Belgium would be to stitch together a semblance of unity and carry forward the achievements of the Spanish presidency. Belgium would be fully aware of these challenges it has identified ‘Protect, Strengthen, Prepare’ as the motto for its EU Presidency. It has laid down six thematic agendas as a target to be achieved during its Presidential term; prominent of them are the rule of law, democracy, competitiveness pursuing a green and just transition, protecting borders and promoting global Europe.

Maintain Creditability

EU’s blinkered approach has somehow cornered it into a fault-finding organisation. Its global approach has often had an inherent contradiction and an absolute idealist outlook. This conduct has considerably diminished the EU’s political and diplomatic capital which it once used to wield. A case in point is its economic policies for engagement with other partner countries, which has this clause of – suspending cooperation if fundamental human rights and democratic principles are not respected.

On the other hand, the EU continues to do major trading with authoritarian regimes across the world. Such aspects have dented the EU’s image of selective quantification and paint the organisation as prioritising benefits over principles. The EU has begun to appear as a distorted shadow of itself now, its multiple internal complications continuously hurting its external aura. Many a time its member states have held the ‘EU vision’ ransom to their domestic polity. Be it the case of Bulgaria which despite being part of the EU has its domestic governance heavily influenced by Russian policies, Hungary remains at loggerheads with the EU for frozen funds, France distancing itself from the EU’s new China approach and so forth.

Deep Scrutiny

The global point of interest in the EU now is its capacity to maintain creditability as a group leading with a forward vision, offering a deeper understanding of the global challenges, being compassionate about the developing world and overcoming its obsession for European ‘well-being’ only. EU is under deep scrutiny from outside as much as from within. If Britain found exit more rewarding, if there’s a sudden downturn in mutual survival with Russia a reality, if its relations with China are being operated via the Russian prism and if it continues to find faults with the world’s largest democracy and economic powerhouse India then surely it warrants a serious introspection.

As much EU wishes to engage with global stakeholders on its own terms, the rising geopolitical heft of other global players like India or China has made them pursue a similar approach vis a vis EU. Brussels would do well to keep a note that global power centers have been shifting Eastwards, it’s not the era of the industrial revolution anymore. New global dynamics dictate understanding and accommodation as the bedrock of international engagements.

The concern is that Europe has tightly hugged its cross-Atlantic partner whenever distress has gripped it. Continuing with the same approach will keep it distanced from acceptance of newer realities. To stand on its own and be respected for what it represents, the EU needs to move out of the shadow of US foreign policy goals, which undoubtedly have been designed to serve US interests first. Otherwise, the EU’s presidency may keep rotating and minor landmarks continue to be crossed but the collective finishing will never be achieved!