The Belgian Presidency will continue to advance the work programme agreed by the three countries of the Trio presidency: 

• review the Lisbon Strategy so that the EU is better prepared to overcome the economic crisis, restore sustainable growth, a higher rate of employment and better competitiveness
• better monitoring of the financial markets
• broaden the social agenda and focus it on young people, on combating gender discrimination and fighting poverty
• press forward on energy and climate change
• make the EU a space for ever greater freedom, safety and justice (Stockholm programme)
• set up a global European policy for immigration and asylum
• set up a more consistent, effective external EU representation
• place the emphasis on the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms

The political programme of the Spanish Presidency included the issues which the Spanish government thought the EU should address as a matter of priority and which it wished to progress during the six months.

• Consolidating Europe's social agenda, paying special attention to gender equality and the fight against domestic violence.


• Promoting a People's EuropeGetting out of the economic crisis. The fundamental aims are restoring job creation and achieving a more competitive Europe, as stated in the Lisbon Strategy.


• The European Union's energy security and the fight against climate change.


• Enabling Europe to speak with its own voice on the international scene and promoting its common values, peace and well-being.Consolidating a safer Union for its citizens, responding to the challenges of immigration and constructing a shared space with judicial and police cooperation.

The Presidency of the Council rotates between the member states on a 6-monthly basis.  The country which holds the Presidency has a number of key responsibilities: it ensures that the Council runs smoothly, chairs and directs discussions, tries to reconcile divergent points of view and formulates proposals for compromises so that decisions can be taken. The Presidency also plays an important role in negotiations with the other institutions of the Union, especially the European Parliament which, like the Council, has to give its assent to most European legislation. 

Trio Presidency 

The Spanish Presidency, which ran from January to 1 July, coincided with the beginning of a new phase for the EU, with a renewed Parliament and Commission and a new treaty in effect since 1 December. With this outlook, Spain, Belgium and Hungary drew up a work programme for the 18-month period during which they will hold the Presidency in succession, according to the new regulations which apply in Europe. 

It is the first ‘trio’ of presidencies to be formalised and perform its functions in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon. The aim of this new procedure is to provide the work and initiatives of the EU with more continuity.

The work programme of the Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies runs from January 2010 to June 2011 and is divided into two parts:

The UN 64th General Assembly has voted to consolidate the 4 existing UN bodies focusing on gender into one entity - the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). The new entity is designed to boost the UN's efforts to promote gender equality and address discrimination globally.

Click here for the Press Release and here for the Resolution.