An enormous task lies before the Belgian government as they take over the Presidency of the European Council for the period from January-June 2024. The coming months will be crucial not only for preparing for the European elections, but also for determining whether Europe maintains its course towards a more sustainable future. Fortunately, Belgium is already demonstrating that local voices and multilevel cooperation will be at the heart of this work.
What is in store for the Belgian Presidency?
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is a role that rotates among EU Member States every six months. While a Member State holds the role, they steer the Council of the European Union to ensure that EU legislative processes run smoothly. They facilitate dialogue – and represent the Council in relations – with the European Commission and the European Parliament.
Belgium will steer the European Union in putting together its Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, and in regional and European elections, all while finalising more than 100 outstanding EU legislative projects. Amongst these are several projects pertinent to the European green agenda, such as drafting an Industrial Carbon Management Strategy, concluding a review of the 8th Environmental Action Programme, and working on the forthcoming EU climate target for 2040. In other words: the next few months will be key to putting the Union on track for a resilient, sustainable and prosperous future.
There are unique opportunities for local and subnational governments to shape the EU agenda during the Belgian Presidency.
Regions have a very strong role in the federal government in Belgium, with decision-making power shared with subnational leaders in Wallonia, Flanders and the Brussels-Capital Region. As a result, Belgian regions also have an important role in navigating EU politics during the country’s Presidency. The three regions are set to use this position to strengthen the role of cities and regions in European policy-making more broadly, by showcasing local leaders as partners and drivers in the implementation of a green and just transition.
Local seats at European policy tables
ICLEI Europe and its Members will actively contribute to these efforts, most notably through engagement in various Presidency events and policy discussions hosted by Belgium’s three regions.
This kicked-off in January with a discussion on the future of EU urban policy, in which the Cities of Aalborg (Denmark) and Antwerp (Belgium), both of which sit on ICLEI’s Regional Executive Committee (REXCom) for Europe, took the stand. Ultimately, the event conclusions were captured in a joint declaration signed by European cities, calling for more “binding dialogue and involvement of local governments at the European level, including better integration and coordination of urban matters, as well as accessible and urban-friendly EU funding”.
On 8-9 February, the “first European Summit dedicated to adaptation issues” facilitated closer collaboration between companies, local authorities and citizen organisations on climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and resilience. Conclusions were captured in the “Liège Declaration”, which calls on EU institutions to prioritise place-based adaptation, and to mainstream adaptation and resilience across EU legislation.
In March, ICLEI Europe will discuss minimum standards for food procurement at the Open Food Conference, and will contribute to the European Conference for a Just Transition. The organisation will furthermore be part of the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities, organised jointly by the European Committee of the Regions and the Belgian Presidency.
March will also feature an event that may be the key moment for subnational governments during the Belgian presidency and in the run-up to the EU elections. Namely, 550 mayors and local leaders will convene to discuss “Translating the EU Green Deal into Local Action”. The event will send a clear message to European policymakers that the local level must be at the heart of the European Green Deal. ICLEI Europe is actively supporting the programme, bringing forth discussions of resource efficiency, resilience, and social responsibility in relation to Local Green Deals.
Looking beyond the Belgian Presidency
The Belgian Presidency is opening unprecedented opportunities for multilevel governance with and led by cities. ICLEI Europe will not let this momentum fade! Rather, 2024 will be a year for local leadership at the European and global level, featuring the ICLEI World Congress and culminating in ICLEI Europe’s flagship European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns in Aalborg from 1-3 October 2024.
“Time and time again over the past year, we have seen a commitment from national and European leaders to work across governing levels to make decisions around climate planning, financing, implementation and monitoring hand-in-hand with the local governments,” notes Wolfgang Teubner, ICLEI Regional Director for Europe. “We are committed to seizing this momentum, and to continuing to support the implementation of innovative governance structures that make full use of the expertise, ambition, and commitment of local governments to usher in a just and climate-neutral future.”
ICLEI Europe will use the Aalborg conference to bring the messages from the most impactful Belgian Presidency events forward to the EU decision-makers that will take office in autumn 2024. The conference will provide a stage for dialogue with the newly elected European decision-makers that will determine not only the role of local governments in EU policy making, but possibly the course of European sustainability for decades to come.