The rotation of the Council of the EU Presidency put Spain in the lead for the second half of this year, its fifth time in the position. Spain set several priorities for its Presidency, including comprehensive and effective implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, economic recovery and job creation, strengthening the EU's voice and influence on the world stage, and promoting initiatives to develop citizens' rights and freedoms. Other important items on the agenda are finalizing the reform of migration rules and contributing to the EU Strategic Agenda, which sets out the priority areas for the governance of the European Council over the next five years. The six-month Spanish presidency will be succeeded on January 1, 2024 by Belgium, which will be taking the lead of the EU Council for the thirteenth time. Belgium was one of the founding members of the European Economic Community in the 1950s and thus has a history within the European Community that goes back to its very birth. Both the Spanish and Belgian presidencies are significant for several reasons. Each country held its federal elections during the six-month mandate, and the Belgian presidency will also witness elections to the European Parliament.

What subjects are common to both the Spanish and Belgian Presidencies? In what areas can the Belgian Presidency continue to follow the previous Spanish Presidency? What is expected from the cooperation between Spain and Belgium? What is the final shape of the migration rules reform, in which Spain participated in? What does the new EU Strategic Agenda contain? How did Spain manage its presidency and what role did national elections play in it? How will the upcoming European Parliament elections affect the Belgian Presidency?

Confirmed speakers:

H. E. Alberto Moreno Humet, Ambassador, Embassy of Spain of the Czech Republic,

H. E. Jurgen Van Meirvenne, Ambassador, Embassy of Belgium of the Czech Republic,

Jaroslav Kurfürst, Director General for European Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

The moderator of the event is Jan Macháček, Chairman of the Board, Institute for Politics and Society.

The closed debate will be held on December 12th, 2023 from 8:30 to 10:00. The working language of the business breakfast is English. The event is by invitation only.