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CC 515 2024
2 euro coin
BU Main coin Bank issue
2 Euro BU
Belgium · Presidency of the Council of the EU
Mintage2,000,000
Issue date15 Jan 2024
Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted
Market price€10.80
Issue occasion
The coin commemorates the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2024. The design shows 27 swallows as a symbol of the EU member states; one swallow flies at the front and symbolises Belgium’s leading role in the first half of the year. The design is complemented by the country code “BE”, the inscription “BELGIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2024” and the initials of the designer Iris Bruijns.
The design
The design depicts a flock of birds (swallows) as a symbol of the way the EU operates: moving as a group while allowing each member individual room for action, thereby creating a complex, dynamic entity. The group therefore primarily represents cooperation. In the formation of the flock, one swallow is always flying at the front and pulling the others along. Belgium assumes this role in the first half of 2024. The 27 birds represent the number of EU member states. The country code “BE” can be seen between the swallows in the upper right. The inscription “BELGIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2024” is located in an unoccupied area to the left below the flock. On the far left, the initials of the designer Iris Bruijns can be seen. As the coins are minted by the Royal Dutch Mint, the mintmark of Utrecht, a caduceus, is also placed on the far left, above which is the mark of the Belgian mint master, an aster before an Erlenmeyer flask.
The outer coin ring features the twelve stars of the European flag.
The outer coin ring features the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
The Council of the European Union, alongside the European Parliament, participates in EU legislation. In it, the specialist ministers of the Member States, such as the finance, environment or justice ministers, discuss and make decisions. It must not be confused with the European Council, in which the heads of state or government lay down the general political guidelines.
The presidency of the Council rotates every six months among the Member States. The country holding the presidency chairs most ministerial meetings as well as numerous meetings of committees and working groups. It organizes the discussions, mediates between differing national positions and represents the Council in negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission. An exception is, in particular, the Foreign Affairs Council, whose meetings are usually chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Several successive presidencies coordinate their work in so-called trio presidencies; Belgium worked together with Spain and Hungary in this arrangement.
The Belgian presidency fell during the final phase of the European legislative term before the elections to the European Parliament in June 2024. Consequently, the focus was often on completing legislative procedures that were already well advanced. Political priorities included defending the rule of law and democracy, the competitiveness of the European economy, the green and socially balanced transition, social and health policy, migration and border protection, as well as the Union’s capacity for action in foreign policy.
Belgium has a special institutional connection to European integration. It was one of the six founding states of the European Communities. Today, Brussels is home to key EU institutions; the Council and the European Council meet there regularly. A Council presidency therefore provides a comprehensible reason for a national commemorative coin: it marks the time-limited political and organizational responsibility of a Member State within the common European decision-making process.
The presidency of the Council rotates every six months among the Member States. The country holding the presidency chairs most ministerial meetings as well as numerous meetings of committees and working groups. It organizes the discussions, mediates between differing national positions and represents the Council in negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission. An exception is, in particular, the Foreign Affairs Council, whose meetings are usually chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Several successive presidencies coordinate their work in so-called trio presidencies; Belgium worked together with Spain and Hungary in this arrangement.
The Belgian presidency fell during the final phase of the European legislative term before the elections to the European Parliament in June 2024. Consequently, the focus was often on completing legislative procedures that were already well advanced. Political priorities included defending the rule of law and democracy, the competitiveness of the European economy, the green and socially balanced transition, social and health policy, migration and border protection, as well as the Union’s capacity for action in foreign policy.
Belgium has a special institutional connection to European integration. It was one of the six founding states of the European Communities. Today, Brussels is home to key EU institutions; the Council and the European Council meet there regularly. A Council presidency therefore provides a comprehensible reason for a national commemorative coin: it marks the time-limited political and organizational responsibility of a Member State within the common European decision-making process.
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