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  On 1 July Belgium assumed the presidency of the EU, taking over from Spain. For six months, the main task of the country which holds the presidency is to organise and manage the work of the Council of the European Union where the member states are represented.
  The Spanish Presidency coincided with the beginning of a new phase for the EU, with a renewed Parliament and Commission and a new treaty in effect since 1 December. With this outlook, Spain, Belgium and Hungary have drawn up a work programme for the 18-month period (January 2010 to July 2011) during which they will hold the Presidency in succession, according to the new regulations which apply in Europe.
  It will be the first ‘trio’ of presidencies to be formalised and perform its functions in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon. The aim of this new procedure is to provide the work and initiatives of the EU with more continuity.

Events

27 February 2007 - The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs held a press conference on Wednesday, 27 February at 12.00 noon in the Audio Visual Room at Leinster House to launch an Interim Report on the Lisbon Reform Treaty following a series of meetings which it conducted with the Social Partners on the Treaty in recent weeks.
Final Interim Report

13th December 2007 - The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs held a press conference at 12.00 Noon on Thursday, December 13, to announce details of a regional tour it will undertake in the New Year in relation to the Lisbon Treaty on EU reform.

11th December 2007 - The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, on Tuesday 11th December, to discuss Europe’s Social Reality Consultation
Click here for details
Meeting Transcript

6th December 2007 - The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., on Thursday 6 December to discuss the EU Reform Treaty and the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting.
Meeting Transcript