SECRETARIAAT-GENERAAL SECRÉTARIAT GÉNÉRAL
BENELUX REGIONAL ENERGY COOPERATION Titre
PENTA NSCOGI BEN!EX GASPLATFORM Benelux: 70 years and still young....
1944 : 1958 : BENELUX 1985: 2008 : CUSTOMS ECONOMIC SCHENGEN BENELUX UNION UNION UNION AGREEMENT TREATY The European context
« The provisions of this Treaty shall not preclude the existence or completion of regional unions between Belgium and Luxembourg, or between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands to the extent that the objectives of these regional unions are not attained by application of this Treaty.»
ARTICLE 350 TFEU 3 THEMES 2 OBJECTIVES 1 POLITICAL GUIDANCE
• INTERNAL MARKET AND • TO ENLARGE CROSS-BORDER AS APPPROVED BY THE 3 COUNTRIES: ECONOMIC UNION COOPERATION • A MULTIANNUAL COMMON WORK • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT • TO DEEPEN THE COOPERATION PROGRAMME (PRIORITIES) • JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS AS A LABORATORY FOR THE EU • ANNUAL PLANS (PROJECTS)
COOPERATION WITH OTHER STATES & ENTITIES
• POTENTIALITIES ARISING FROM 5 THE NEW TREATY institutions • NORDIC, BALTIC, VISEGRAD - - - - • NORTH RHINE – WESTPHALIA: BENELUX TREATY Political declaration 2008 THE 5 BENELUX INSTITUTIONS (2008 TREATY) + THE BOIP
B E N E L U X
Interparliamentary Committee of Court of Justice Consultative Council Ministers As a function of 49 the agenda 9 judges members
Council
Senior Officials
Benelux Office for Intellectual Property General Secretariat Complementary but different 3 SG + 51 members of staff
5 Committee of Ministers
A. Legal basis: Treaty of 17.06.2008 B. Composition • 1 minister per country – as a function of the agenda • Rotating 1-year presidency • 2016 presidency: Luxemburg C. Missions • Establish the annual plan, the annual report and the budget • Apply the treaty • Give instructions to the Council and to the General Secretariat
6 Council
A. Legal basis: Treaty of 17.06.2008 B. Composition • Senior Officials of the three countries • As a function of the agenda • Rotating presidency for 1 year C. Missions • Prepare the ministerial files • Create and dissolve the working groups/committees of independent experts • Implement the decisions of the Committee of Ministers
7 General Secretariat
A. Legal basis: Treaty of 17.06.2008 • Intergovernmental organisation • Headquarters agreement B. Composition • Management: Board of Secretaries-General • Workforce in personnel 51 FTE C. Missions • It initiates, supports and assures the collaboration • Secretariat of the Committee of Ministers, of the Council, of ministerial working groups
8 Structure of the General Secretariat
BOARD OF SECRETARIES-GENERAL Committee of the Personnel
Office of the Staff Management Service
Linguistic Service
Team Team Team Market Sustainable Development Justice and Home Affairs
9 Benelux Court of Justice
A. Legal basis • Treaty of 31 March 1965 (Protocol 15/10/2012 in the process of ratification) • International court B. Composition • 9 judges • Clerk´s Office at the General Secretariat C. Missions • Promote uniformity in the application of Benelux law
10 Benelux Parliament
A. Legal basis • Instituted by the Convention of 5 November 1955 • Officially: Benelux Interparliamentary Consultative Council B. Composition • 49 members of Parliament • President 2015-2016: Maya Detiège (Belgium) C. Missions • Advise the government, notably via recommendations.
11 Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP)
A. Legal basis • Convention of 25 February 2005 • Benelux Office for Intellectual Property: independent international organisation (The Hague) B. Composition • 3 bodies: Committee of Ministers, Management Board of the BOIP, BOIP C. Missions • Register trade marks, models and ideas.
12 THE MULTIANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2013 - 2016
ENVIRON- MENT ENERGY & TERRITORY
SOCIAL MOBILITY COHESION GROWTH INNOVATION SECURITY ECONOMY SECURITY & KNOWLED FRAUD GE PREVENTION
2016 ANNUAL PLAN BEN!EX
GASPLATFORM . Framework for regional cooperation in Central Western Europe (BENELUX-DE-FR-AT-CH) . Cooperation of ministries, regulators and TSO’s . Working towards improved electricity market integration and security of supply North Seas Countries’ Offshore Grid Initiative
“NSCOGI provides a framework for regional cooperation to find common solutions to questions related to grid infrastructure developments in the North and Irish Seas”
16 GASPLATFORM
• Consists of BeNeLuX+De+Fr • Exchange information L-gas supply in the region and planning the transition to H-gas • Coordinating Preventive Action Plans • Coordinating positions in EU Gas fora BEN!EX - Mission
The Benelux Energy Expertise Network aims to support the energy transition in the Benelux. Within the framework of European integration, it promotes the use of the Benelux as a laboratory for cooperation regarding energy transition.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Benelux General Secretariat Rue de la Régence 39 B-1000 Brussels www.benelux.int Tel.: +32 (0)2 519 38 11
06,04,2016