Belgian Presidency of The Council of the EU

On 1 January 2024, Belgium, one of the European Union’s founding members, will assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union. This will be Belgium’s 13th presidency overall and its second since the Lisbon Treaty. The country finds itself at a critical juncture in the twilight of the current European institutional cycle and ahead of the European Parliament (EP) election, highlighting the utmost urgency to finish some pertinent pending issues. Moreover, the Belgian federal election will take place along with the EP election, thus further burdening the Presidency. Under the guiding principles of “protect our people,” “strengthen our economy,” and “prepare for our shared future,” the Belgian presidency is poised to grapple with the multifaceted challenges confronting the EU. This insight seeks to unravel the strategies, policies, and diplomatic endeavours that Belgium will employ in leading Europe in the upcoming six months.