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WIDE Welcomes Belgian EU Presidency
By Susanna Jussila On 1 July Belgium took over the EU´s rotating presidency, which will last until the end of the year. While continuing the ambitious programme of the Spanish presidency the first one under the new Lisbon Treaty Belgium has set up its own challenges under the title ´Europe in action!´. This article reviews some of the Belgian programme´s highlights and main areas of interest from WIDE´s perspective. SOCIAL PROGRESS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT A CHALLENGE AS ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE Taking into account the current situation of crisis and its effects such as worsened unemployment and deepened social inequalities, the Belgian presidency is calling for a "stronger, more coherent and determined Europe, focused on guaranteeing and developing its social model and prosperity". It also speaks for "a Europe that is more accessible and in which there is closer dialogue between the Union and its citizens". WIDE considers Belgium´s social-oriented and dialogue-seeking approach a good opportunity to work together, to question the concept of ´sustainable growth´, which seems to be the buzzword of the EU agenda, as well as to address socially and ecologically sustainable economic alternatives. Among other core issues for WIDE to follow up are the upcoming ASEM summit, the EUAfrica summit, the EU´s aid effectiveness especially in the light of the MDG summit held in September, and the negotiations of new economic partnership agreements (for example, with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, which is to be pursued in 2010). HOPE FOR STRENGTHENED POLICY COHERENCE ON MIGRATION As one of the promising statements of the Europe in action! programme WIDE welcomes the following: "The Belgian presidency will ensure a strong correlation between policy on migration and other policies, in particular the external policy of the Union." In addition, the Belgian presidency is going to launch a debate on migration within the context of demographic challenges, and work on new proposals concerning the regulation of the entry, temporary stay and residence of intra-corporate transferees as well as residence conditions for seasonal workers. The question of seasonal workers, in particular, was widely addressed during the WIDE Annual Conference 2010 ´Migration and gender in the context of globalisation´. WIDE sees this forthcoming debate as an opportunity to highlight the interconnection of the EU´s migration policy with its trade, development and gender policies, and address the issues discussed at the Annual Conference. Furthermore, WIDE hopes this debate will be based on dialogue with civil society, especially with migrants´ and migrant women´s organisations such as the newly established ENoWM. ...AND POINTING OUT A LACK OF POLICY COHERENCE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION The employment sector, which has experienced great pressure during the crisis, is one of the Belgian presidency´s priorities. While focusing on creating more green and white-collar jobs, it also commits to "ensure that the European Union implements the Decent Work Agenda, as well as the Global Jobs Pact in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), and ensures the defense of social norms in its external relations". This is certainly an important step to take, but, considering the multiple global crises, WIDE calls for a broader approach on employment policies. Although the link to external relations is mentioned, these commitments should be discussed in close connection with the economic, trade and development policies if they are to be guaranteed. Likewise, within the framework of the ´European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion´, the presidency will propose draft conclusions, which, according to the programme, "seeks to demonstrate that the fight against poverty and social exclusion are challenges of a transverse nature which require the introduction of favorable cultural policies". This kind of narrow approach to poverty and social exclusion is questionable and may distract attention away from the structural root causes of the problem. Therefore, WIDE would rather speak of solidarity than social cohesion. However, in the current programme, a spirit of solidarity is mentioned only in the context of possible terrorist attack or a natural or man-made disaster... NEW STRATEGY ON EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN Last but not least, under the Belgian presidency, the Council will adopt conclusions relating to the new Strategy on Equality between Men and Women (20112015) as well as concerning equality of salaries in the context of the implementation of the Beijing action plan. Furthermore, as stated in the programme, combating violence against women as well as human trafficking will receive the presidency´s full attention. The next six months will show whether these promises are kept. WIDE is looking forward to seeing Europe in action and hopes to enter into a fruitful dialogue with the EU during the Belgian presidency! For more information on the Belgian presidency, visit: www.eu2010.be. Susanna Jessila is a student of International Politics and Women´s Studies at the University of Tampere, Finland. She is currently doing an internship at the WIDE office in Brussels. You can contact Susanna at: volunteer[at]wide-network.org
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