"EU presidency is in safe hands"

The rotating presidency goes from Spain to Belgium Belgium is currently managed by a caretaker administration and is wrought by political division. Yet on Thursday it assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union. "EU presidency is in safe hands" A new Belgian government may not take office for months, but until it does, Prime Minister Yves Leterme will head the country's caretaker government as his nation takes on the rotating EU presidency for six months, beginning July 1. "I am absolutely convinced that Belgium, which has always been at the centre of the European Union, will remain there," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said last week. "Even after the Presidency period, I am fully confident that Belgium has strong European belief." "It will be a very pro-European presidency," Peter Becker, a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) told Deutsche Welle. As a founding member of the EU, Belgium has held the presidency 12 times already, and Becker said it was not at all a problem that the rotating residency would be headed by a temporary government. Leterme has dismissed any concern about Belgium's commitment to the EU presidency program, which he said enjoyed wide cross-party support.

"EU presidency is in safe hands"

A new Belgian government may not take office for months, but until it does, Prime Minister Yves Leterme will head the country's caretaker government as his nation takes on the rotating EU presidency for six months, beginning July 1.

"I am absolutely convinced that Belgium, which has always been at the centre of the European Union, will remain there," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said last week. "Even after the Presidency period, I am fully confident that Belgium has strong European belief."

"It will be a very pro-European presidency," Peter Becker, a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) told Deutsche Welle.

As a founding member of the EU, Belgium has held the presidency 12 times already, and Becker said it was not at all a problem that the rotating residency would be headed by a temporary government.

Leterme has dismissed any concern about Belgium's commitment to the EU presidency program, which he said enjoyed wide cross-party support.