A country with no government and whose two language groups are at loggerheads takes over the reins of the EU Presidency today.
Just as the 27-strong, recession-hit club is needs to be steered through economic storms, it will be run from a country rocked by its own domestic crisis.
Little wonder that outside of Brussels, many feel it is absurd, even worrying, for one crisis-hit entity like Belgium to run another.
Five jobs for the next six months
-Set up new rules for greater economic governance within the EU to avoid a Greek-style crisis. Introduce greater controls of national budgets and debt levels and sanctions for countries that break the rules. Greater regulation of national banks.
-Establish the EU’s first ever foreign ministry, or External Action Service (EAS). Headed by Catherine Ashton, this is meant to enable the EU to speak with one voice on the world stage.
-Launch the Citizen’s Initiative whereby EU citizens will be able to petition Brussels to demand new EU rules or to changes to existing laws.
-Conclude EU membership talks with Croatia (due to join 2012), make a start with Iceland and prepare Estonia to join the Euro next year.
-Try to make global climate change talks in Cancun, Mexico, in November a bigger success than Copenhagen.
But Belgians have a knack for embracing absurdities.
Take Elio di Rupo, the French-speaking Socialist who is in coalition talks with the Flemish nationalist, Bart de Wever. Last month’s elections made these two opposing figures the biggest winners and the pair are now charged with mapping out the future of Belgium. But for all the improbability of the situation, Mr di Rupo is optimistic:
“Belgium is a fascinating country and it’s true we are going through crucial times and the results of the Belgian elections could be seen as a major problem by the international community. But the reality is quite different. We are aware of the upcoming challenges and… we’ll take our responsibilities.”
Kris Peeters, the Minister-President of Flanders, also told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that things are far better than three years ago, when talk of splitting up the nation reached fever pitch. "The situation is totally different than in 2007, when Yves Leterme started the negotiations. We have two good winners who have sounded positive so far. I will help them when possible to succeed."
Mid-term nightmare?
The six-month rotating presidency is responsible for setting the agenda and chairing hundreds of EU meetings over six months. An army of bureaucrats has already laid the groundwork and many of them know the drill, as this is the 11th time that Belgium has taken over the EU baton.
But their good work could be massively disrupted if a new government is formed half-way through. “We just don’t know what would happen then, especially if key posts like the finance minister changes,” said one EU diplomat. “New ministers will not have a clue what they are doing.”
The current finance minister, Didier Reynders, will need to keep the peace among bickering EU leaders like Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel as painful economic reforms are hammered out and he is arguably the only person able to do the job. It can also not be ruled out that Spain or even Portugal may yet face a new Greek-style crisis, which would require immediate crisis management in Brussels.
Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere acknowledges that “the EU is facing great challenges, things are not going well. But we realise there is lots of work to do. Our methods will be sober and collective.”
Bart de Wever said recently that he hoped that any change of guard would be well-timed: “The transition towards a new government will not impede an efficient presidency. And we hope to have a new government ahead of October when the real work of the presidency will start.”
Clearly, there is the potential for trouble. But much of the calm is explained by the fact that under the new Lisbon Treaty, EU President Herman van Rompuy is now able to take the lead, conveniently enough as he is also a former Belgian Prime Minister.
“So whatever happens, a Belgian will be in charge,” one Belgian diplomat said.
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