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BackLabour market central issue during Belgian Presidency
Europe is living through one of the most serious crises of the past fifty years. Unemployment and social inequalities have been extremely exacerbated. That is why in particular the labour market will be a central issue during the Belgian Presidency. One wants to focus on investments in human capital and the creation of jobs in a modernised labour market. Green and white-collar jobs, the fight against discrimination at the workplace as well as equal pay for women and men will also be addressed. What is interesting is the fact that the Belgians want to promote higher social standards in the area of social protection, of pensions and healthcare. It is also intended to make progress in the debate on social services of general interest.
Reform of the financial sector is also on the agenda
Under Belgian Presidency, the Council will also make an effort to strengthen financial integration, to create a new architecture of the supervision over the financial sector, to reinforce the stability of the financial systems and to improve the protection of consumers and investors. In cooperation with the European Commission and the European Parliament, the Belgian Presidency will prepare a multi-year action plan, which determines the entirety of the financial service reforms to be implemented in the European Union. The Belgians also want to examine how the financial sector, which was jointly responsible for the crisis, may be appropriately involved in financing the mechanism for crisis prevention and management.
Let's bring Europe back on track together
The programme of the Belgian Presidency is very ambitious. Comprehensive initiatives and the continuation of existing work have been planned for each policy area. Whether everything can be achieved in only six months remains to be seen. “Let's bring Europe back on track together!” is also on the programme of the Belgians and might address the fact that they alone will not be able to implement their programme and that they depend on support from all sides. It will be possible to take stock for the first time at the beginning of 2011; until then one can only wish the Belgians all the best.
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