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Belgium

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Last reviewed: 15 April 2009

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with Neighbours

Belgium plays an active role in a number of international organisations, including the EU, the UN and NATO. Belgium has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2007-2009. As a former colonial power, Belgium also maintains close links to Central Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, although in 2008 there was disruption in diplomatic relations with the DRC after some statements of the Belgian Foreign Minister De Gucht.  Relations have now been restored.

Belgium's policy on Europe

Relations with the International Community

Belgium plays an active role in a number of international organisations, including the EU, the UN and NATO. Belgium has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2007-2009. As a former colonial power, Belgium also maintains close links to Central Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.

Belgian Foreign Ministry's website on international cooperation

Relations with the UK

Close links with the UK go back to trade with England in wool and cloth in the tenth century. Belgian neutrality was confirmed by the Treaty of London in 1839. During the Second World War, the Belgian Government in exile was based in London. During the 2 World Wars over 250,000 Commonwealth soldiers died in Belgium. As fellow members of the EU, the UK and Belgium enjoy good relations. There are approximately 50,000 British citizens living in Belgium, and a similar number of Belgians living in the UK.

The Belgo-British Conference is an annual event held alternately in the UK and Belgium. Formerly organised by the British Council and now by the 'four partners' i.e. the Belgian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Egmont, the British Embassy and the British Council, it brings together politicians, academics and professionals for high-level discussions on key issues affecting Belgium, the UK and Europe. The first was held in Bruges in October 2000 followed by London, Brussels, Edinburgh and Namur, London and Brussels. The 2007 conference  was held in London on 14-15 November 2007.  The 2008 conference was held in Brussels, November 12-13 on the theme of Natural Resources: Challenges and opportunities. (http://ukinbelgium.fco.gov.uk/en/working-with-belgium/belgo-british-conference)

Other UK representations in Belgium:
- the UK Permanent representation to the EU
- the UK Delegation to Nato
- the UK Permanent Representation to the WEU.

Cultural Relations with the UK

British Council: Belgium

Recent Visits

Inward

2008 - Defence Minister De Crem attended Cenotaph Ceremony in London.
2007 - November: Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht met with the Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Lord Malloch-Brown before attending the Belgo/British Conference with Dr Kim Howells.

Outward

2008 - Caroline Flint attended Belgo British Conference in Brussels
2008 - February: The Prime Minister held talks with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in Brussels.
2007 - November: The Foreign Secretary gave the commencement address to the College of Europe in Bruges
2007 - August 2007: The Advocate General for Scotland, Lord Davidson of Glen Clova and Scottish Executive Minister for Europe Linda Fabiani dedicated a memorial to the Scots who died during the First World War in Flanders.
2007 - July: HRH The Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh visited Belgium. This visit included engagements at the GSK Pharmaceutical plant in Wavre, Ieper, and the commemoration ceremony for the 90th anniversary of the battle of Passchendaele in the First World War.
2007 - June: Minister of State Maria Eagle attended a commemorative ceremony for the Irish killed in WW1 at Messines.

 

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