The program of ambassadors of the European Union in Brussels

After the galvanizing words of the chief diplomat (1), the various ambassadors of the European Union who meet, all in Brussels, on Thursday and Friday will have a busy schedule, judging by the copy which has been distributed to them. First meeting, this Thursday morning, in the auditorium of the Breydel building (2).

This Thursday morning, breakfast will be accompanied by two prestigious guests: José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament. Then we will move on to things a little more concrete (no doubt) with an "interactive" debate with the two heads of the diplomatic service, the secretary general, Pierre Vimont, and the deputy administrative director (chief operating officer), David O'Sullivan. .

This will be followed by speeches (in order) by Fokion Fotiadis (for DG DevCo > development for the uninitiated), Patrick Child, director of the External Service, and Peter Zangl (DG Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection). No less than four commissioners will also come to work in the afternoon: Kristalina Georgieva (humanitarian aid), Karel de Gucht (trade), Connie Hedegaard (climate), Stefan Fule (enlargement). At 19 p.m. when the session is closed, the ambassadors will have understood the message. But there is no question of going for too long nights on the Grand-Place. Because the program the next day.

The next day, rebelotte, With a note from his Excellency Herman (Van Rompuy). And the rather eagerly awaited speech by Hervé Jouanjean, Director General of the Budget (crucial point at the moment). The subject will then slide towards a delicate diplomatic point: European representation in UN bodies with the head of the task force on the resolution, Fernando Andressen Guimaraes, and the head of the delegation in New York, Pedro Serrano de Haro. After lunch, it will be the turn of the permanent representative ambassadors of the two rotating presidencies (current and future), the Belgian Jan De Ruyt and the Hungarian Péter Gyorkos. Then the numbers 2 of the diplomatic service, Helga Schmid and Maciej Popowski will come to present the issues in their sector.

And... that will be all, after a small interactive forum/discussion, allowing to compare the different experiences in the delegations. It will be time for everyone to return to their respective embassies with a small viaticum and a special gift from the High Representative (a poster...).

(1) The diplomatic service was “born”. Ashton gathers his ambassadors. And that's all !

(2) A place well known to Brussels journalists for having been their favorite press room when the European Commission sat there, during the long years of work at the Berlaymont and which is located at 45 avenue d'Auderghem for those who do not know, opposite the Parc du Cinquantenaire