Lymec-PM: Who takes over – Spain or van Rompuy? (03. Januar 2010)
From 1st of January 2010, Spain takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU. After the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the Council of ministers now has a permanent President, Herman van Rompuy, so he will chair the meetings of the Council. The Spanish Presidency however still will have an important role. More importantly, Spain will as well be the country setting the tone of how the rotating presidency will work under the Lisbon Treaty.
The Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero outlined that he wants to work for a more united and stronger Europe. The European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) welcomes this goal of the Spanish Presidency and hopes that it will be able to set a strong European agenda.
Aloys Rigaut, President of LYMEC states: “The Spanish Presidency will have to face a lot of political challenges. The top priority must be to address the economic crisis including addressing the issue of youth unemployment. However, this very first country Presidency after the coming in effect of the Lisbon Treaty also will define how the distribution of tasks between it and the permanent President will look like in the future. We therefore call on Spain to make sure the Lisbon treaty is followed by its spirit rather than only by its words. It remains to be seen who takes over from the Swedish Presidency – Spain or President van Rompuy?”
Mette Lykke Nielsen, bureau member of LYMEC states: “An important issue will be to take up where the Swedes left off in terms of in justice and home affairs policy, particularly to turn the Stockholm Programme into concrete ideas and legislation. The EU budget on justice and home affairs will raise by 16,2 % and a new commissioner is appointed in this area especially after pressure from the liberal family. We want to see a clear and transparent action plan for implementation of the Stockholm Programme. And even though there will be fights between the member states in this area, we want the presidency to work for a serious and ambitious common asylum policy in the EU.”
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