Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Belgium's Presidency of the European Union

Presidency Programme

Programme of the presidency trio: Spain – Belgium – Hungary

The Presidency Trio, consisting of Spain, Belgium and Hungary, runs from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2024. Spain holds the Presidency in the second half of 2023, followed by Belgium (January 2024 – June 2024) and Hungary (July 2024 – December 2024). The Trio countries work in close cooperation with European Statistical System members. The Presidency Trio will follow up on the work of the preceding presidencies aiming at promoting the high value of official statistics, continuing the modernization of the European Statistical System and ensuring that new European data regulations will take into account the specific needs of official statistics.

During the three terms of the Presidency, challenges derived from the ESS modernization, based on the implementation of the European Data Strategy and its direct relation with official statistics, the statistical response to crises and the need to raise awareness on statistics will be prominent features.

In this context, the trio partners will aim at responding adequately to a broad range of users’ needs such as statistical literacy, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by new data sources and technologies and ensuring the secure production of high-quality statistics.

Priorities and objectives of the Belgian presidency

The main priorities of the Belgian Presidency are determined by the 18-month programme which has been jointly prepared by the trio Presidencies mentioned above.

The Belgian Presidency will continue with the revision of the legislative framework, taking into account the users’ needs. Attention will be paid not only to the needs of users in terms of their search for new or different data or statistics, but also to the skills that young users in particular need in order to understand and critically approach data and statistics in our datafied society and how statistical and data literacy can become an integral part of standard curricula in education.

Therefore, the Belgian Presidency plans to organize a Conference “Towards a more statistically literate future” which will be held in Bruges on 2 and 3 May 2024. The event will provide an opportunity to debate and exchange experiences on enhancing statistical literacy among young people.

The Belgian Presidency will build on the progress made by previous Presidencies and will try to complete legislative dossiers or get them as far as possible.

In addition, the Belgian Presidency will monitor other regulations with interest for official statistics.

Calendar

11 January	Meeting of the Council Working Party on Statistics	Agenda (PDF) Presidency flash (PDF)
31 January	Meeting of the Council Working Party on Statistics	Agenda (PDF) Presidency flash (PDF)
7 March	Meeting of the Council Working Party on Statistics	Agenda (PDF) Presidency flash (PDF)
18 April	Meeting of the Council Working Party on Statistics	Agenda (PDF) Presidency flash (PDF)
2-3 May	Conference of the Belgian Presidency in Bruges	Agenda (PDF) Presidency flash (PDF)
27 May	Meeting of the Council Working Party on Statistics	Agenda (PDF) Presidency flash (PDF)
13 June	Meeting of the Council Working Party on Statistics	Agenda (PDF) Presidency flash (PDF)
24-25 June	Presidency Handover meeting in Brussels

News


Outcomes of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union	Handover of the Council of the EU Presidency from Belgium to Hungary	Outcome of the informal meeting of the Council Working Party on Statistics	Outcome of the second meeting of the Council Working Party on Statistics

Outcome of the first meeting of the Council Working Party on Statistics	Infographics: figures in Belgium in comparison with the European Union	Handover of the Council of the EU Presidency from Spain to Belgium

Conference ‘Towards a more statistically literate future’

On 2 and 3 May, Statistics Belgium will host, in the context of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a conference “Towards a more statistically literate future”. The event, co-organized by Eurostat, will take place in Bruges at the Beurs-, Meeting- en Congrescentrum (BMCC).

Legislative files

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 as regards introducing new environmental economic accounts modules (EEEA)

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics on population and housing (ESOP)

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European labour market statistics on businesses (LMB)

Presidency Team

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Presidency team at the following email address: eu2024.stat@economie.fgov.be

Olivier Goddeeris Chair of the Council Working Party on Statistics	Patrick Lusyne Senior advisor, Data steward, Co-chair
Anouk Deceulaer International Strategy and Coordination Department	Amandine Van Lathem International Strategy and Coordination Department
Karsten Kumps International Strategy and Coordination Department	Charles-Hubert Remiche Legal Advisor
Wendy Schelfaut Head of Communication and Dissemination