Crisis? What Belgian crisis?

The diplomatic community in Brussels does not appear to be perturbed by the Belgian crisis, even though Belgium is scheduled to take control of the rotating presidency of the European Council on 1st July, reports Le Soir. The crisis has occurred "at the worst possible time for Europe" points out French business daily La Tribune, which adds that "hopes that the Belgian Presidency would make progress on budgetary issues, the formation of the European External Action Service, and a number of initiatives to regulate financial markets" have now been undermined. Le Soirtakes a more positive view: "The reality is that the European machine does not break down in the event of political instability on the home turf of the rotating presidency. For proof, you only have to look to the Czech Presidency in 2009, which went off without any major hitches." If that is not sufficiently reassuring, the Brussels daily also notes that "the appointment of a permanent European Council President (Herman Van Rompuy) and a High Representative (Catherine Ashton) has made the rotating presidency less important than it was in the past."