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EU - Belgium assumes the rotating presidency of the EU Council

(01/07/2010 to 31/12/2010) Brussels, Belgium

Belgium assumes the presidency of the European Council until december 31, 2011.

Belgium's final EU presidency programme was formally adopted by the prime minister's cabinet and Belgium's constituent regions at a meeting on 16 June.

Socio-economic issues: Re-establish growth by tackling the ongoing economic crisis, with a package of measures to increase the surveillance of financial markets; promote green jobs, innovation and the transition to a 'green knowledge economy'.
Social issues: Promote social cohesion by fighting poverty, which Prime Minister Yves Leterme said "is very important in our eyes"; Progressing on services of general interest; Stressing the EU's value-added in terms of health and ageing, including pension reform.
Environment and climate change: Switching to a green economy; Preparing the December UN climate conference in Cancún; Adjusting taxation to fit other EU objectives on employment, energy, transport and emissions reduction.
Justice and home affairs: Implementing the so-called Stockholm Programme launched in 2009 under the Swedish Presidency; Establish mutual recognition of court rulings.
External relations: Continuing with the EU's enlargement policy and putting in place the EU's new diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The programme is expected to remain unchanged even if a new government comes to power during the presidency, because it is the result of a lengthy negotiation process between the federal state, the country's constituent regions and political parties at the different levels of government.

Polonia - Presidential Runoff

(04/07/2010 to 04/07/2010)

The liberal right-wing candidate, Bronislaw Komorowski, and his hardline rival Jaroslaw Kaczynski, twin brother of the late President Lech Kaczynski, will meet again for the Polish presidency on July 4.

EU - The Belgium presidency presents its priorities to the European Parliament

(05/07/2010 to 05/07/2010) Strasbourg, France

The belgium EU presidency will present its priorities for its term in office to the plenary session of the European parliament.

Japan - Parliamentary Elections

(11/07/2010 to 11/07/2010)

The 22nd Elections to the House of Councillors for the upper house of the legislature of Japan will be held on July 11, 2010. In the last election in 2007, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost its majority to the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which managed to gain the largest margin since its formation in 1996. The LDP's coalition partner New Komeito Party lost 3 of its twelve seats.

On 11 June 2008, a non-binding censure motion was passed by parliament's opposition-controlled House of Councillors against then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. Filed by the DPJ and two other parties, it was the first censure motion against a prime minister under Japan's post-war constitution

Colombia - Commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Independence

(20/07/2010 to 20/07/2010)

The High Presidential Council for the Bicentenary of the Independence of Colombia aims to "advise the National Government on matters related to the conclusion of cooperation agreements and educational and cultural, national and international, aimed at ensuring the development of programs and activities occasion of the Bicentennial of Independence ".

The Ministry shall formulate, coordinate with the ministries of Culture, Foreign Affairs, Education, Coldeportes, local authorities and agencies, "the recommendations it deems appropriate in respect of agreements for economic cooperation and social development plans and programs for the Bicentennial celebration.

Also coordinate the preparation and conduct of competitions and events commemorating the bicentenary to be commemorated on 20 July 2010, according to the instructions of the President of the Republic.

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