In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Belgian Permanent Representative to the European Union from 1987 to 1997, describes his two predecessors, ambassadors Joseph Van der Meulen and Paul Noterdaeme, and the role they played in the performance of their duties.

In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Belgian Permanent Representative to the European Union from 1987 to 1997, describes this post as being ‘the mouth and the ears’ of the government, and discusses the Permanent Representative’s influence in determining the stance adopted by Belgium, as well as his room for manoeuvre in negotiations at European level.

In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Honorary Belgian Ambassador and Belgian Permanent Representative to the European Union from 1987 to 1997, describes the diversity of Belgian Foreign Ministers and Prime Ministers with whom he worked. He also refers to the gradual rise in influence of the Heads of State or Government within the European system, but explains that in Belgium the Foreign Minister has retained a greater level of influence in this area given that the general coordination of European affairs still takes place within the Foreign Ministry.

In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Belgian Permanent Representative to the European Union from 1987 to 1997, emphasises the importance of the role of State Secretary or Minister for European Affairs, a post attached to the Foreign Minister, in taking on some of the Foreign Minister’s workload and also in ensuring a political equilibrium. He also emphasises the growing influence of the Finance Minister.

In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Director of the service for the coordination of European matters within the Belgian Foreign Ministry from 1976 to 1980 (service P 11, which later became the Directorate-General for European Affairs and Coordination — DGE) and Belgian Permanent Representative to the European Union from 1987 to 1997, considers the system for the coordination of Belgium’s position to be effective compared with that of other Member States, and believes that this system has been relatively successful in incorporating the country’s federalisation.

In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Belgian Permanent Representative to the European Union from 1987 to 1997, discusses the context of the negotiations and the scope of Article 146 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, which enables a Member State to be represented in the Council by a regional minister, and explains the practical implications of the system in Belgium, particularly for the Permanent Representation.

In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Honorary Belgian Ambassador and Belgian Permanent Representative to the European Union from 1987 to 1997, emphasises the long-term continuity of Belgium’s European policy, which particularly promotes the political dimension of integration, the Community method and enhanced cooperation.