Belgium's Presidency of the EU has finalised 67 legislative files since the start of the year, exceeding expectations, according to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib.
The first half of Belgium's term focused on legislative work, with an urgent influx of documents nearing completion before the end of the 2019-2024 legislative period. The final texts will be voted on during the final plenary session of the European Parliament from 22 to 25 April in Strasbourg.
The Belgian Presidency had identified around 150 cases remaining at the beginning of January, with around 60 of them being of legislative nature and potentially ready for finalisation, Lahbib said. So far, they have managed to finalise 67, surpassing initial expectations.
The legislation passed encompassed many areas, including media freedom, new directives against domestic and women’s violence, laws for a zero-emission industry, cybersecurity and climate issues.
Lahbib also highlighted progress made on critical cases, such as the revision of the EU budget granting €50-billion support to Ukraine, reforms of budget rules implemented for member states, and the completion of the controversial immigration and asylum pact. Measures also included protecting digital platform workers, corporate due diligence, revision of Schengen codes, and artificial intelligence legislation, among others.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lahbib also highlighted the first steps that have been taken to be able to use the windfall profits that certain financial institutions are reaping from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, and finding consensus among the 27 Member States, despite their profound disagreements, backing a humanitarian truce in Gaza towards achieving a permanent cease-fire.
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The second half of Belgium's presidential semester will focus on preparing the programme for the next European legislative period and implementing reforms to adjust the EU to potential enlargement in the medium term.
According to De Croo, the Union needs a bold agenda for its competitiveness and economy if it intends to implement the European Green Deal. "The Green Deal will require about €1 trillion annually for the next 25 years," he warned.
He added that former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has been tasked with a report on the single market’s future, to be discussed at the next European summit. Ensuring an optimal economic base for climate transition will be crucial to ensure the "political centre" (moderate forces supporting the Green Deal) stays in line to guarantee the political basis for the Green Deal.
