Passing of the helm

Christmas trees and manger-scenes decorate the community headquarters in Brussels and Strasbourg. Working activities are officially postponed to after the holidays, even if someone is still working: those who are on watch for possible emergences, while all the final arrangements for the new Presidency are taking place.What are the novelties for January? Starting from January 1st, the EU presidency, even if with reduced competences, will pass from Sweden to Spain. The Madrid government scheduled cultural and music events, shows and light displays in the Iberian capital and in Brussels. The presidency will be shared with the “stable” president Herman Van Rompuy, with the High representative for Foreign Policy, Catherine Ashton and Belgian and Hungarian presidencies. All in compliance to the strict rules defined in the Lisbon Treaty. The appointed commissioners are getting ready for the hearings and the European Parliament election; the “exams” will be held from the 11th to the 19th of January, while an extraordinary Assembly session for the approval is scheduled on the 26th. The Parliament is taking a break after having approved the EU budget for 2010, with many political and budget issues debated during the plenary session of the Swedish presidency (December 14-16). The vote to solve the subsidiarity resolution triggered by the decision of the European Court for Human Rights on the presence of crucifixes in schools. 2010 will be the year centred on the fight against poverty: the inauguration is set for January 21st in Madrid. The new year will focus on three “Culture Capitals”, that in the following 12 months will be Essen (Germany), Pecs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey): events will start between January 9 to 16. EU accounts for 2010. The European Parliament ends 2009 with the approval of next year’s budget. “2010 will undergo a recovery. We need to prepare for better moments, safeguard work and spur economic growth”; Algirdas Semeta, Commissioner for finance and budget planning, made this comment after the Assembly vote for the approval of next year’s budget, that foresees a tight cooperation among MEPs, Commission and State Council. Out of a 141 billion euro budget (in commitments), 65 billion, which is 45%, will be allocated to development, common issues, research, education and innovation. Research investments by themselves will grow 12% (7.5 billions); energy and transport by 10% (an overall of 2 billion). Energy infrastructures and broadband funding will grow. Funding for agriculture will remain stable at almost 44 billion euros. The highest registered growth is in the fight against crime and terrorism: with more than 16.2% as of 2009, totalling a billion euros. Cooperation in development and fight against poverty worldwide is of 2.5 billion euros (3.9% more). Sweden’s six-month presidency. As the curtains fall on his six months at the helm of the Union, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, listed what according to him where the successful points of his presidency: “We had to tackle 5 challenges, 5 important goals and we have achieved them all”. In front of the Euro-deputies he explained; “On institutional issues together with the newly elected European Parliament, we appointed the Commission President and enforced the Lisbon Treaty”. “As far as the economic crisis is concerned we established intervention measures, an exit strategy and financial monitoring measures”. The speaker also took credit for the definition of the Stockholm Programme (justice, security, immigration) and the Baltic Strategy. Spain’s Presidency and the “trio”. Spain’s Prime minister, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the president for the next six months, presented the “four priorities” of his mandate: “full application of the Lisbon Treaty, “consolidating economic recovery and creation of high-quality employment”, strengthening Europe as a responsible and supportive global player”, “and putting European citizens at the heart of EU’s policies”. The government of Madrid will play the role together with new institutional figures created by the reform treaty (“stable” President and High Representative”) and the following presidencies: “the “trio” will share programmes and commitments for 18 months. This is why a presidency website was created www.eutrio.es (the site will also appear on the traditional www.eu2010.es).