Observatory on European defence, July 2001

July 2001
Belgian EU Presidency Program - ESDP

The Belgian government presented its program, at the beginning of its six-months Presidency of the Union. The Belgium Defence Minister also discussed the policies he will promote in the security and defence field in the European Parliament.
In particular, Belgium is committed to:

• making the European reaction force operational, promoting a capability conference to be held in November
• calling a formal Council of Defence Ministers
• facilitating a process of convergence between national military structures and defence budgets, promoting the drafting of a European “white book” on defence. 
• reaching an agreement with NATO, overcoming the Turkish opposition
• strengthening relations with all countries and international organisations (also NGOs) involved in the European project
• involving public opinion and national parliaments
• furthering the exchange of information among countries, in particular in the health sector
• developing civilian crisis management tools
• establishing the Satellite Centre and the Institute for Security Studies (former WEU agencies) as EU agencies.
• furthering international cooperation among armed forces, in particular in the field of procurement.