The ambassadors of Spain, Belgium and Hungary, presidents of the European Union in the next 18 months, presented their programme at a joint press conference at the European Commission’s representative office in Paris on Thursday.
Spain, the first of the trio, will focus on the institutional and practical aspects of the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, Ambassador Francisco Villar said. The management of the economic crisis, fighting unemployment and efforts to ease energy dependency and the effects of climate change are also high on the Spanish agenda, the ambassador said.
In the second half of 2010, Belgium will give priority to four areas: further management of the economic crisis, climate change, security policy with regard to the issue of refugees as well as a common European defence policy and integration of the Balkans, Ambassador Baudouin de la Kethuelle de Ryhove said.
Hungary in the first half of 2011 wants to “act as a political president” providing support to the new officials and the new European Commission, Ambassador Laszlo Nikicser said.
Hungary’s priorities will include continued talks with Croatia and the Western Balkans, enlargement of the Schengen zone, environment protection and water management, as well as efforts to maintain the cultural diversity of Europe, the ambassador said.
