Events calendar
During the 1st half of 2024, the FPS will organise many events aimed at highlighting its many priorities to European and international ministers, delegations and experts.
Find below the calendar of our main events in January and February.
- January
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16-17 January: HERA Board Meeting
The Belgian presidency will support the organization of a HERA Board Meeting in Brussels on January 16 and 17, 2024. During this meeting, the Board members will have a strategic dialogue on the future role of HERA. -
24 January: 100th Anniversary of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU will host a celebratory event at the Résidence Palace to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This event will highlight WOAH's pivotal role in the fight against animal diseases, improving animal health globally and thus building a safer and healthier world for everyone.
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- February
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8-9 February: Joint Meeting of the Chief Medical Officers and the EU Working Party on Public Health at High-Level
On February 8 and 9, 2024, the Belgian Presidency invites the Working Party on Public Health at High Level and the Chief Medical Officers to a joint meeting to discuss matters of shared interest.
- 11-17 February: 14th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
During this COP in Uzbekistan, Belgium will coordinate and support the European position aimed at better protecting migratory animal species.
► Press release
- 26 February - 1 March: UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) 6
During the meeting, Belgium will coordinate and support European positions on the circular economy, raw materials, plastics, chemicals and waste, deforestation and nature-ocean based solutions.
► Press release
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- March
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- 7 March: Blue Leaders High Level Event
The Blue Leaders are an ambitious group of countries advocating for urgent action to save the ocean in the face of the climate crisis, overfishing, pollution, and other threats. The urgency of a swift ratification of the BBNJ Treaty (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) will be the central focus of the event.
► Press release
- 14 March: Border controls on Invasive Alien Species
The conference aims to bring together at European level national officials responsible for preventing the introduction of invasive alien species (IAS). The conference will provide a space for discussion to further identify Member States needs to better enforce IAS border controls policy.
► Press release
- 18-29 March: 29th Session of the International Seabed Authority Assembly and Council
During annual sessions of the ISA, representatives of the member states discuss the rules surrounding deep-sea mining. The negotiations aim to determine the procedure and conditions for the possible authorization of commercial exploitation of these minerals.
- 26 March : Towards a climate neutral society in 2050
This ministerial event will be an opportunity to continue the debate on post-2030 climate policy and encourage reflections among Member States on the European Commission Communication on an EU climate target for 2040, in the context of the discussions on the next Strategic Agenda.
- 26-27 March: High-level Conference on the Future EU Health Union
During this conference ministers, policymakers and experts will discuss the strategic priorities for the next European Commission's health agenda (2024 - 2029). The conference will put the spotlight on the three big themes of the Belgian Council Presidency on health: “care”, “preparedness” and “protection”. Key themes of the conference are security of medicines supply, the shortage of health workers and crisis preparedness.
- 7 March: Blue Leaders High Level Event
- April
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- 11 April: High Level Event on Regenerative Development
The event will raise awareness of the concept of regenerative development to define the EU biodiversity Strategy for 2030. It offers a space for dialogue and co-creation of key takeaways to inform future work of EU institutions.
► Press release
- 17 April: Circular Economy Conference
The Belgian Presidency wants to pursue reflections on the next steps post-2024, to establish the foundations for an overall EU strategy and action path on sustainable resource management and circular economy. This event aims to feed into the discussions on the Council conclusions for the further implementation of circular economy principles within Europe.
- 15-17 April: 9th Our Ocean Conference
The Our Ocean Conference brings together public and private actors on a global scale to join forces to protect the ocean. Participants will have the opportunity to present their concrete commitments for the ocean. Our country will also commit to projects that promote the health of the ocean, for example the oyster bed restoration project in the North Sea.
- 21-30 April: INC-4 on plastic pollution
Belgium will coordinate and support the European position during the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. The aim of the INC is to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
► Press release
- 22 April: Unlocking resilience in Belgium and Europe through climate and environment risk assessments
In the context of the Belgian Presidency priority on adaptation, the event will inaugurate the Belgium Climate and Environment Risk Assessment Center (Cerac) This event will also draw on the publication of the European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) report to emphasize the importance of guiding EU Member-states towards enhanced resilience and safety.
► Press release
- 22-24 April: Conference on Tomorrow's Chemicals Policy: Perspectives and Challenges
Bringing together experts, scientists, members of civil society, and industry representatives, this event will explore the current landscape of chemicals policy to identify existing challenges and opportunities at European and global level.
► Press release
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23-24 April: Informal EPSCO
On 23 and 24 April, the informal Council meeting on Health will take place in Brussels. This Council meeting will take place in the Egmont Palace over the course of the two days, combined with a dinner and cultural visit to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts on the evening of the 23th. The discussions during the informal EPSCO will concentrate on health workforce, pharmaceutical legislation and the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.
- 11 April: High Level Event on Regenerative Development
- May
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- 16 May: Threads of Change : Systemic Transformation of the Textile Sector
In view of the high impact on the environment of the global textile sector, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Belgian Presidency want to shed light on the importance of circular economy and just transition in this sector. Discussions will be centred on the priorities and needs that policies can help address and global policy solutions to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable textile value chain.
► Press release
- 16 May: Threads of Change : Systemic Transformation of the Textile Sector
- June
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- 7-8 June: High Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change (Pre-UNOC)
This high-level event in Costa Rica takes place in the run-up to the third UN Ocean Conference in June 2025 in Nice. The meeting aims to be a platform for the exchange of best practices and successful experiences related to ocean management and health. Eight international panels will discuss fish stocks, the blue economy and plastic pollution, among other topics.
- 17-21 June: OEWG3 on a Science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention
Belgium will coordinate and support the European position during the third session of the ad-hoc Open Ended Working Group (OEWG 3) that prepare proposals for the creation of a science-policy panel, which will contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution.
- 18-21 June: 24th United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea
This UN informal consultation process was established to facilitate the General Assembly's annual review of developments in ocean affairs and the law of the sea in an effective and constructive manner. This time the meeting will revolve around the theme "The ocean as a source of sustainable food".
- 7-8 June: High Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change (Pre-UNOC)
Focus on a key event:
6-8 May: Conference on antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest public health threats of our time. The Presidency will focus its efforts on combating antimicrobial resistance in a cross-sectoral way, embracing the "One World One Health" approach, including human, animal and environmental health. This fight will be marked by a high-level conference organised in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Sciensano from 6 to 8 May 2024.
All information related to the Presidency is available on the Presidency website. This website is the official source and essential reference for all activities carried out by Belgium during its Presidency of the Council of the EU.