SECRETARIAAT-GENERAAL SECRÉTARIAT GÉNÉRAL

BENELUX REGIONAL ENERGY COOPERATION Titre

PENTA NSCOGI BEN!EX GASPLATFORM : 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 and , or between Belgium, Luxembourg and the 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 () 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 www.benelux.int Tel.: +32 (0)2 519 38 11

06,04,2016