Issuu

Flanders is

inter natio nal

Responsible editor: Julie Bynens, Secretary General of Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office Government of Flanders Herman Teirlinck Building Havenlaan 88 box 100 1000 Brussels Coordination: Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office (Hilde Creten, Eline Franckaert, Koen Jongbloet) Layout: Hearts&Minds, Brussels In collaboration with: Flanders Investment & Trade, Visit Flanders, Flemish Peace Institute, VLEVA and “Flemish people in the world”. Date: January 2021 Depot number: D/2020/3241/319

Preface Dear Reader, For centuries, Flanders has been a hub for international politics, trade and culture. It remains so today. We host both the European Union and NATO. We are the 15th largest exporter worldwide. We are home to people of 191 different nationalities. And our cultural cities are a magnet for world-class arts events. Retaining our central place throughout the centuries is thanks in no small part to our native entrepreneurship, adaptability and ambition - tempered by our objectivity and realism. We recognise that we are dependent on the world around us for our prosperity and development. Then as now, Flanders must be international, or it is not Flanders. However, during the Covid pandemic, Flanders was confronted with the dependence and vulnerability that comes with an open economy. The impact of the crisis will be felt for a long time to come. In response, Flanders launched the recovery plan “Flemish resilience”, which will reinforce the prosperity of Flanders and the well-being of the Flemish people. Meanwhile, international solidarity remains the foundation for our active foreign policy. We represent our interests in various ways across multiple domains, always with a keen sense of the global interests at play. Because, ultimately, what is good for the world is also good for Flanders. Flanders agrees fully-fledged international treaties, organises diplomatic and economic services abroad, and manages its own foreign policy budget. Flanders’ foreign policy takes shape through the Chancellery and Foreign Office and is implemented in cooperation with the other departments and agencies. In this brochure you will read more about our goals and our approach to realising them. I would like to invite you to learn more about Flanders.

Julie Bynens Secretary General of Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office

Contents Flanders is international - Facts & Figures

1. Foreign Policy in five dimensions

Flanders as a diplomatic actor

Trade at the service of employment and prosperity

Cross-border relations through Culture, Tourism and Science

Global support for sustainable transition

Human rights, peace and security

Flanders’ Foreign Network

2. Foreign Policy Actors

Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office: Shaping and implementing policy

Flanders Investment & Trade: The Go-To organisation for international business

VISITFLANDERS: Putting Flanders in the spotlight as top destination

The Flemish Peace Institute: Monitoring peace and security

Liaison Agency Flanders-Europe (VLEVA): Building bridges between Europe and Flanders

Flemish people in the world: Treasuring the bond with the homeland

3. Legal framework Legal context and background

46 46

5 According to the KOF Globalisation Index, Flanders is one of the most globalised economies in the world.

Number of inhabitants (2017)

Surface:

6.516.011

13,522 km2

GDP in Flanders:

GDP per capita:

EUR 270 billion

EUR 37,600

FLANDERS IS INTERNATIONAL

Facts & Figures Brussels is: 3 Capital of Flanders and Belgium

Flanders: logistics centre of Western Europe

3 Capital of the EU 3 Headquarters of NATO

London

Amsterdam

3 2nd-largest diplomatic hub in the world

Frankfurt

4 ports

4 airports

916 km of motorway

1,607 km of railway

Paris

60% 4% 3%

Flanders

USA

Germany

Finland

Denmark

Sweden

Japan

Antwerp’s P.P. Rubens is known as a baroque painter by 20 to 40% of the population in India, Japan, China, the US and Brazil.

of the European consumer market within a radius of 500 km

Flanders invests 2.92% of its GDP in research and development (2018), holding the 9th place worldwide for R&D expenditure.

Development cooperation

3 partner countries in southern Africa

EXPORT

EUR 325 billion (goods, 2019)

IMPORT

EUR 313 billion (goods, 2019) IMPORT

Malawi

South Africa

Mozambique

Top 5 export destinations (2019) GERMANY

EUR 58,3 billion

NETHERLANDS

EUR 41,6 billion

FRANCE

EUR 39,9 billion

FRANCE

EUR 25,8 billion

USA

EUR 18,2 billion

Top 5 investors (2019) USA

45 projects (17,44%)

NETHERLANDS

40 projects (15,50%)

28 projects (10,85%)

Foreign investments in Flanders 2017 EUR 2,08 billion 2018 EUR 4,24 billion 2019 EUR 5,20 billion 2017 2018

new projects

5384 new jobs

3,3%

With job seekers, unemployment in Flanders is among the lowest in Europe (2019)

9% a offoreign Flanders’ residents have nationality 2/3 from the EU 1/3 non-EU

GERMANY

22 projects (8,53%)

Top 5

2019

258

23 projects (8,91%)

international migration to Flanders (2019)

NETHERLANDS

POLAND

ROMANIA

MOROCCO

ITALY

7 In 2019, Flanders spent more than

EUR 51 million

on development cooperation

Main export sectors

Flanders is the

15th exporter

worldwide (WTO)

Chemistry and pharma

EUR 74,5 billion

Every year

6037 students go abroad through the Erasmus+

Transport equipment

EUR 44,0 billion

programme. That is 80% more than 10 years ago

Machines and electrical equipment

EUR 36,1 billion 4

Mineral products

EUR 28,9 billion 5

Plastic and applications

EUR 26,4 billion

7 in 10

Flemings are positive about EU membership

191 different nationalities

People of live in Flanders

In total, the Government of Flanders spends more than EUR 150 million annually on foreign policy in all its facets

International institutions in Brussels employ approximately

49.000 people

In 2019 there were over

26 million overnight touristic stays in Flanders

‘Flanders Trainee Programme’

annually sends about

80 trainees to multilateral organisations

Foreign policy in five dimensions

Flanders as a diplomatic actor Flanders engages proactively in foreign policy at multiple levels: the European level; bilateral level (in relation to individual states or federated states); and at the multilateral level.

European Union: The Fulcrum of Our Foreign Policy The added value of the EU for every citizen’s daily life can hardly be overstated. In scores of policy areas, European decisions are the foundation on which member states and regions build. For these reasons, the EU is the fulcrum of our own foreign policy.

Diplomatic Ties with the EU Flanders represents its values and interests within the EU on two tiers: through direct contacts with the EU institutions, and on behalf of Belgium. This last activity is based on an intra-Belgian framework ensuring a cohesive approach to EU positions, and representation for our region in negotiations within European institutions. This framework provides Flanders and the other federated states a large degree of direct involvement and representation, unparalleled in other Member States. Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office is responsible for the coherence of Flemish input into European decision-making processes. As the diplomatic link between Flanders and the EU, its role is chiefly one of coordination: of the Flemish position on issues such as trade policy, the European budget, cohesion policy, European Semester, public governance and Brexit; and on the adoption of EU legislation into Flemish law.

The Errera House in Brussels, the official residence of the Government of Flanders.

The Representation of Flanders operates within Belgium’s Permanent Representation to the EU. Its autonomous team of more than twenty staff members (seconded from all policy areas of the Government of Flanders) negotiates daily within the European institutions.

MORE about the General Representation of Flanders to the EU can be found at www.flandersineu.be

A Guiding Vision for the Future

The Government of Flanders’ 2016 Vision Statement on the future of the EU functions as a touchstone for the Government of Flanders services when it comes to evaluating European policy and legislative proposals. The Vision Statement identifies 10 core interests with respect to the EU: • Safeguarding our shared fundamental values, standards and freedoms; and championing them across the world.

21 September 2020 – Michel Barnier, the chief negotiator on behalf of the EU for Brexit, was received at the Flemish Parliament by Chairwoman Liesbeth Homans and Ministerpresident Jan Jambon. © Flemish Parliament

• A reinforced Schengen zone, with properly-functioning external border controls. • Providing specific support for socioeconomic reforms in the Member States and federated states. • Generating a reinvigorated investment framework that adheres to the Stability and Growth Pact. • Fostering effective social policy, particularly addressing social dumping and fiscal shopping. • Broadening the European Monetary Union, with the completion of the Banking Union as a priority. • Expanding the internal market to include an energy, transport and digital union. • Effecting a breakthrough for the most strategic trade agreements with state-of-the-art investment protection. • Expanding the European Research Area through research programmes to catalyse the knowledgebased and low-carbon economy of tomorrow. And, this as part of an ambitious and effective sustainability policy including the whole implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement. • A powerful foreign and security policy, especially in Europe’s neighbouring regions.

Flemish EU Diplomacy: Three Core Interests Trade Policy: Creating Sustainable Opportunities for Enterprises The Government of Flanders is strongly committed to the Common Commercial Policy, in line with the specific interests of the Flemish economy. The EU has exclusive competence for the Common Commercial Policy. When the European Commission participates in negotiations on multilateral trade liberalisation within the World Trade Organization and when it negotiates bilateral free trade agreements with major markets

outside the EU, it does so with a mandate determined by the Member States. Flanders is responsible for its own export promotion and policy, and therefore also for supporting Flemish companies in their international activities (more on p. 14 ff.). Multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements also create structural and sustainable trade liberalisation, which in turn creates more opportunity for our companies on the international stage.

VISION STATEMENT

VISION OF THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Vision for the Future of the European Union bit.ly/2DrRLZ3

EU budget: Investments with Added Value The EU subsidises a wide range of projects within Flanders’ areas of competence (including research, development, innovation, education, transport, cohesion, agriculture and the environment). In its turn, the Government of Flanders also contributes resources to European projects and is responsible for managing them in cooperation with the European institutions (examples include cohesion policy and rural development policy). Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office represents Flemish values and interests in the negotiations on the European (multi-annual) budget, the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument, cohesion policy and InvestEU Fund.

A new partnership with the UK The United Kingdom’s departure from the EU poses a significant challenge for Flanders. As our fourthlargest trading partner, the UK is of particular economic importance. Brexit has consequences in many areas, from everything related to trade, fisheries, transport and research. Flanders regrets the UK’s departure from the EU and acknowledges that this departure will certainly change the current relationship. Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office and Flanders

Investment & Trade will continue to provide information and monitor stakeholder needs and concerns across a variety of topics and sectors linked to Brexit. Issues are raised with decision-makers in EU and Belgian institutions. At the same time, Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office will continue to build on the strong ties between the UK and Flanders. The UK remains a neighbour with whom Flanders shares important trade, cultural and historical ties. Brexit will not change this.

30 august 2020 – Secretary-general Patricia De Clercq representing Flemish Minister for Agriculture, Hilde Crevits, during the Informal Meeting of Agriculture Ministers in Koblenz, Germany. © BMEL

11 Bilateral Dialogue with Countries and Regions The international role played by the Government of Flanders is not limited to EU matters. The Government of Flanders maintains close ties with other national governments and federated states. Trade issues, such as cooperation between ports or research and development, are often high on the agenda when engaging with countries outside the EU. Ultimately, many of our policy goals necessitate direct consultation and/ or cooperation with those countries.

Working with neighbouring countries often involves transport connections or other issues related to logistics, infrastructure, energy or the environment. One such agreement, with the Netherlands, is for the deepening of the Scheldt river or the joint construction of a new sea lock. Another example is the treaty that Flanders concluded with France and Wallonia regarding the Lys Mitoyenne.

Of equal importance are culture and education, as well as future EU regulations. Flanders has concluded numerous treaties with neighbouring countries for cooperation in these areas. Flemish development cooperation is also predominantly bilateral and has taken form through discussions and negotiations with the governments of South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi.

Focus on the North The Coalition Agreement of the Government of Flanders (2019- 2024) deliberately focused on the North of Europe for inspiration, benchmarking and international cooperation. “My government will draw inspiration from and connect with the northern countries of Europe for its policies. I am working on a strategy to strengthen links with the North Sea and Hanseatic countries, and look towards Scandinavia and the Baltic to forge strategic alliances.” The main focus will be on economy and innovation – with special attention to technology and Research & Development. Flanders also intends to build stronger alliances with Northern countries in the EU-decision making process.

14 October 2019 – Minister-president Jan Jambon is received by Minister-president of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte at Catshuis in The Hague. © Belga Image

As of 2018, Flanders is party to 39 exclusive bilateral treaties and 211 Memoranda of Understanding

Autonomous regions Flanders maintains long-standing cooperation with autonomous regions and federated states.

30 November 2019 – Minister-president of the Catalan Government, Quim Torra, received Minister-president Jan Jambon at the Palau de la Generalitat in Barcelona. © BELGA Nicolas Maeterlinck

To facilitate these agreements, the Government of Flanders has bolstered Flemish diplomacy by establishing bilateral diplomatic missions in The Hague, Berlin, London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, Warsaw, New York, Pretoria and, from 2021, Copenhagen. More information about these can be found in the final section of this brochure.

All this results in a busy international agenda. Members of the Government of Flanders meet annually with their counterparts in more than 30 missions abroad. Conversely, more than 30 foreign ministers or official delegations are received in an average year at the political level by the Government of Flanders.

12 December 2018 – neon-artwork referring to the work of Belgian artist René Magritte, on display during the signing of the cooperation programme specifically aimed at young artists and youth theatre between Flanders and Quebec.

MORE about Flanders’ bilateral relations with other countries and regions is at bit.ly/2FscEWn 25 November 2019 – Minister-president Jan Jambon met the Austrian Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein in Vienna during his mission to Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

25 - 27 September 2015 – UN Headquarters in New York, USA, during the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015. (© UN Photo)

13 November 2019 – Minister-president and Flemish minister for Culture Jan Jambon at the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, France.

Multilateral Cooperation In addition to its cooperation with and within the EU, and its direct cooperation with countries and regions beyond the EU, Flanders also participates in many multilateral organisations.

This involves two-way traffic between the Flemish and the international levels. Flanders influences international policy and regulations by actively participating in forums and administrative bodies.

Flanders has gone on to sign cooperation agreements with these and other large UN organisations, such as UNAIDS, ILO and WHO, in which specific financing mechanisms are provided.

Multilateral partnerships are particularly effective for setting specific policy targets like ensuring dignified work, children’s rights and gender equality.

Flanders also uses international regulations and international recommendations from the multilateral institutions to shape its own policy.

Today, Flanders is a reliable donor to UN agencies such as UNESCO and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and is the largest subnational donor to the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund. The Government of Flanders also enjoys active partnership in the Council of Europe, OECD and UNWTO, as well as with the WTO and the World Bank group. To streamline the cooperation between the Government of Flanders and these institutions, two multilateral posts were set up within the Flemish diplomatic network: one in Geneva and one in Paris.

16 January 2020 – Flemish Minister for Home Affairs, Public Governance, Civic Integration and Equal Opportunities, Bart Somers, at the OECD Ministerial and Policy Forum on Migration and Integration in Paris, France

Trade at the Service of Employment and Prosperity International trade is part of Flanders’ DNA. Just think of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp - cities that rose to prominence centuries ago as major trade centres in Western Europe. Today, the total value of what Flanders exports per year equals that of our region’s GDP. In absolute terms, Flanders is the 15th largest exporter in the world, exporting three times as much per capita as Germany. Even so, we are always looking to further enhance our position because markets never stand still. We continuously invest in infrastructural improvement, and in developing our wide range of tools for stimulating international trade and promoting free trade agreements.

Flanders’ international trade policy objectives:

International Trade and Foreign Investments

• Improve market access • Remove trade barriers

Export Promotion for Our Companies Flanders autonomously promotes export and supports Flanders-based companies that are active in and export to foreign markets. A network of 97 offices in 76 countries helps companies market their goods and services to every corner of the world. Furthermore, the network also guides foreign investors to Flanders.

Trade Agreements and Free Trade Competence for trade agreements and free trade is shared between Flanders and the federal government. Flanders’ trade interests are represented directly by Flanders, or in a coordinated Belgian position, depending on the forum. Free trade agreements can only be approved with Flanders’ consent.

The importance of foreign trade can scarcely be overstated. As a centrallylocated region, at the heart of a prosperous and productive Western Europe, foreign trade is the main artery of Flanders’ economy. Exports increased year on year reaching 325.1 billion euros in 2019. Similarly, imports of foreign goods achieved a new record of 312.6 billion euros in 2019. Flanders’ export ratio and export per capita are among the highest in the world. Within the European Union, it is the common market that ensures the free movement of all goods and services, capital and people. The EU internal market is very important and positive for trade within and beyond Europe. 71.1% of Flanders’ exports go to the European Union, with the most important markets for goods located in neighbouring countries.

• Liberalise services and investments •O pen market for public procurement • S afeguard intellectual property rights • Include SMEs •C onsider the multilateral framework • Protect sensitive sectors •P romote sustainable development

Flemish exports of goods outside Europe amounted to € 75.4 billion in 2019. Here again, the European Union plays an indispensable role as its European Commission Directorate-General for Trade represents all Member States in all trade agreements with third countries.

Influencing EU policy Flanders plays a proactive and positive role in the development and implementation of European trade policy. Specific areas of attention include: the interests of SMEs; further liberalisation of the trade in services; the reduction of non-tariff barriers to trade; the importance of flexible labour mobility; and the potential for trade as a tool for sustainable development.

The European Trade and Investment Protection Policy Working Group is responsible for the permanent monitoring of European trade policy and coordination between Flanders’ policy departments. It also represents Flemish trade positions in federal, European and international contexts. Civil servants and representatives of the Ministers of the Government of Flanders come together in this working group.

Due to the comprehensive and diagonal nature of the trade and investment policy, all entities and powers of the Government of Flanders can take part. Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office coordinates the tasks of this working group. Via the General Representation of Flanders to the EU, a finger is also kept on the pulse of the European Commission, and European trade contacts are maintained.

Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) is the region’s specialised agency for promoting export and investment. Its mission is to support Flanders-based exporters and to attract foreign investments to Flanders. The Trade Barriers Hotline – accessible via the FIT website – helps companies address their specific trade problems in markets outside Europe. In cooperation with the European Commission, FIT and Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office aim to resolve these trade

Flanders Accelerates! To keep performing when it comes to internationalisation of the Flemish economy, FIT has developed and conducts the internationalisation strategy ‘Flanders Accelerates’ in cooperation with its partners, which include companies, civil society partners, knowledge institutions and government actors.

barriers, for instance, by discussing these issues in the Market Access Advisory Committee of the European Commission, EU Member States and European business federations. Consequently, FIT’s dedicated hotline solves problems for the companies involved, and provides strategically important information about the needs of Flanders-based companies. This information also contributes to defining the position of the Government of Flanders in trade negotiations.

This co-creation initiative has resulted in the formulation of the following objectives, which are part of the ‘Flanders Accelerates!’ internationalisation strategy: • Offering a clearer range of support services for companies operating internationally. • Examining how start-ups can be supported more efficiently in their internationalisation plans.

Export Lion – Annual award of Flanders Investment & Trade for Flemish companies with exceptional export figures.

• Optimising services for international companies based in Flanders. • Maximising Flanders’ economic strengths: pharma & biotech; food & beverage; engineering & technology; smart logistics; and sustainable (raw) materials & chemistry. Beyond these initiatives, FIT has set up the ‘Export Lion’ annual award for Flemish companies with exceptional export figures. FIT is organising a biennial Export Fair. With ‘Tech makes Flanders Tick’ new efforts are bundled to sharpen the focus of Flanders as a science and technology hotbed. The aim: offer Flemish tech companies a competitive edge abroad, attract foreign tech players and connect companies and research centres.

Flanders International Economic Summit 2019

17 Maintaining and Improving Infrastructure Easy accessibility is the single most important requirement for trade, not least because three-quarters of export continues to be goods. As a centrally-located region with a strong trading spirit, the transport and traffic infrastructure in Flanders is traditionally very dense. In fact, Flanders has the second densest rail and road network in Europe and has four airports. The logistics sector is responsible for no less than 9% of Flanders’ GDP. Given the importance of a welldeveloped infrastructure for the competitive position of Flemish companies, the Government of Flanders is constantly investing in maintenance and improvement of the infrastructure. In recent years, special attention was paid to the accessibility of the Flemish ports (Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ghent and Ostend) by conducting, among other things, dredging works, organising new locks and focusing more on faster transit times.

In one of the most denselypopulated areas of the world, inland waterways offer sustainable, reliable and environmentally-friendly connections between large industrial zones and service centres. This is why upgrading the Seine-Scheldt connection has been a top priority in recent years. It is an exciting investment for Flanders, as it is for France and Wallonia, because so far, the two river basins have never been optimally connected. The project is one of the 30 priorities of the European Ten-T initiative (TransEuropean transport network). The 3RX project is another emblematic, cross-border project. For years, Flanders has been making the case for a rail connection for goods between the port of Antwerp, the Netherlands and the German Ruhr area. In this ‘missing link’, selected by the European Commission as a Ten-T project in 2015, the Government of Flanders cooperates through diplomatic channels with the relevant authorities in the Netherlands, Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia.

19 May 2020 - Flemish Minister for Mobility and Public Works, Lydia Peeters, pictured during a new phase in the works for the Oosterweel Connection in Antwerp. © BELGA Jasper Jacobs

Flanders also promotes its water expertise internationally, among otherways, by participating in the Mekong River Commission. This platform for regional cooperation focuses on the management of shared water resources and the sustainable development of the Mekong River region. As a development partner, Flanders will be closely involved in water diplomacy in the Southeast Asian region. The intended collaboration also creates opportunities for Flemish business and its expertise in an area that is geostrategically gaining in importance. The technical approach of the organisation makes it possible to focus on water-related and environmental themes where Flanders shows itself to be a global player.

CURRENT INFORMATION on major infrastructure and mobility sites can be found on the Department of Mobility and Public Works website bit.ly/2RZLZlf

Shrine of St. Ursula by Hans Memling, 15th century

Cross-border Connections through Culture, Tourism and Science Flanders’ foreign policy focuses on culture, science, education and tourism. Hardly surprisingly considering Flanders is known across the world for its ancient and contemporary culture, as well as for being an innovative knowledge area.

Cultural Diplomacy In Flanders’ foreign policy, a special place is reserved for culture. Flanders has a rich cultural tradition. It is world famous for its fine arts - like the Flemish Primitives - and the work of leading contemporary artists and art centres. It has a solid reputation that creates opportunities for emerging Flemish artists abroad, and is also a valuable tool for strengthening Flanders’ international position and image. Involvement in major international exhibitions, festivals or publications keeps our arts in the spotlight.

Flanders has one cultural centre abroad: ‘de Brakke Grond’ in Amsterdam. It is founded on the belief that an inspirational environment for artists and art publics is fostered through collaboration and exchange. Language unites Flanders and the Netherlands. With respectively 6.5 and 17 million Dutch-speaking citizens, Dutch is the eighth largest language group in Europe. The language alliance was formally ratified in 1980 with the Dutch Language Treaty.

But the connection is not limited to language alone. Flanders and the Netherlands also have close historical, cultural, political and socio-economic ties. Cooperation in the areas of culture, education, science and welfare was embedded in the Cultural Treaty FlandersNetherlands in 1995.

Through the export of culture, Flanders positions itself as it has traditionally been known in the world: as a trading and maritime nation, as a crossroads of culture, heritage and innovation. Innovative ideas are being exported – for example to the Lithuanian city of Kaunas, the European Capital of Culture in 2022, where Designregio Kortrijk will show small and mediumsized enterprises how to integrate design thinking into their business operations. In West Flanders, the creative industries have been successfully matched with SMEs for more than ten years, resulting in forty new product and business model innovations.

Cultural diplomacy is not limited to exporting culture and ideas, however. There is also a focus on cultural diversity and recognition of the added value and effectiveness of cultural cooperation and the crossborder exchange of ideas, values and traditions. Cultural cooperation leads to mutual understanding, recognition and détente. By supporting projects that enhance intercultural dialogue, Flanders aims to protect an open and free society against the dangers that arise from polarisation, fear and division. Flanders acknowledges the power of artists and performers in transition processes towards more democracy and self-development. In other words, culture draws attention to a number of fundamental values and norms of our foreign policy.

Brussels Philharmonic performing at Carnegie Hall, New York. © Véronique Bossaert

29 January 2020 – Minister for Tourism, Zuhal Demir, at the opening of the exhibition “Van Eyck. An Optical Revolution” in MSK, Ghent. © IDAgency/ Frederiek Vande Velde

Flanders participates in European and international cultural networks through membership in international organisations like EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) and UNESCO. The Flanders UNESCO Trustfund (FUT) ensures Flemish support for many UNESCO heritage projects. Expanding capacity and expertise with special regard to intangible cultural heritage like dance, rituals and music - to ensure safeguarding world heritage is the main focus.

Rosas & TG Stan QUARTETT (© Herman Sorgeloos).

21 Tourism directly employs 6.5% of the workforce, or 250,000 Flemings.

Promoting Flanders as a Tourist Destination Year on year, more than 30 million tourists stay overnight in Flanders and Brussels. The tourist sector in Flanders directly employs 250,000 people (6.5% of the workforce). And studies show that the ‘value-seeking tourist’ market segment has yet more growth potential. Quality and sustainability are paramount in the further development of the sector. Fortunately, Flanders has a powerful instrument for this in VISITFLANDERS, the tourism agency charged with garnering foreign attention for Flanders’ many attractions.

In 2017, VISITFLANDERS organised a large-scale reputation survey. In it, 13,000 travellers responded to questions about experiences with Flanders, overall satisfaction with their visit to Flanders and how much time they spent in Flanders. The survey also produced a wealth of insights into how we can maximize our strongest tourism assets. VISITFLANDERS also conducted a large-scale survey on familiarity with the Flemish masters abroad, mapping out the market potentials, both in neighbouring countries and in more distant markets like Asia and America.

Flanders is represented in European institutions (Tourism Advisory Committee) and organisations like the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and NecsTour. The latter is a network of more than 30 European Regions for sustainable and competitive tourism. Within UNWTO, Flanders represents the associated members in the Executive Council and in the Programme and Budget Committee. In 2020, Flanders will host the UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism. Flanders is also working on the development of ethical guidelines for tourism in conflict-affected areas.

Flanders is a true cycling destination The Tour of Flanders, first held in 1913, is an annual road cycling race with international standing. Fun fact: every year, thousands of cycling tourists follow the lead of professional cyclists and cycle the Tour of Flanders route themselves.

18 October 2020 - The sprint for victory of the Tour of Flanders 2020. © BELGA Eric Lalmand

Flanders aspires to strengthen its position as a world reference for innovative technologies and as a hotbed of digital transformation. 1 October 2020 - Flemish Minister for Economy, Innovation, Work, Social Economy and Agriculture Hilde Crevits attends the presentation of the Volvo XC40 Recharge p8, at the Volvo Car plant in Gent. © BELGA Kurt Desplenter

A knowledge region like no other With few natural resources and a dense population, Flanders has nurtured for centuries a strong focus on education, innovation, science and knowledge. Over the past decades, the Government of Flanders has rolled out several campaigns to sharpen this focus and to adapt it to the everchanging economic and international environment. The coalition agreement of 2019, marked technological innovation as the overarching theme for the years to come. Flanders aspires to strengthen its position as a world reference for innovative technologies and as a hotbed of digital transformation. This involves constant dialogue and cooperation between government, knowledge institutes, citizens and

companies. The effort will not only focus on Research & Development but will also widen the scope to areas as diverse as mobility, education, social services and healthcare. Equal attention is paid to both the roll-out of digital infrastructure and to the development of human digital skills. Education plays a key role in this effort. It is the firm intention of the government to preserve and strengthen Flanders’ higher education quality and reputation, especially as far as innovation and digital skills are concerned. Climate and sustainability are vital benchmarks throughout this work. In its policies, Flanders puts great emphasis on digital technologies (artificial intelligence, cybersecurity,

smart cities, industry 4.0…) and the transition to a sustainable economic model (circular economy, bio-economy, water innovation, hydrogen, energy research, etc.). In 2020, the city of Leuven received the European capital of Innovation Award from the European Commission for its excellence in applying innovative governance models. MORE ON: www.ewi-vlaanderen.be/en

Strategic research centres

23 December 2020 - The Pfizer production plant in Puurs (Antwerp) where the Covid-19 vaccine of Pfizer-BioNTech for the EU market is produced. © BELGA Jonas Roosens

As a result of close cooperation between the private sector, universities and the government, the so-called triple helix model, four strategic research centres are now operating in Flanders. IMEC (nanotechnology and ICT), VIB (biotechnology), VITO (cleantech) and Flanders Make (manufacturing industry) are world class research centres. Leuven’s IMEC is a good example of how research and

development in a niche area can become a worldwide success story, as well as a hotbed for growth locally. IMEC, a spin-off of the University of Leuven, was founded in 1984 as a research centre for nanotechnology and nanoelectronics. Today, it forms a bridge between science and industry and turns mobility, health, industries, cities, energy, education, infotainment and agrofood into smart sectors.

23 Towards a circular economy Evolving towards a circular economy will be one of the key challenges in the decades to come. This means: responding better to the needs of society with a much smaller ecological footprint. Flanders has a long and successful track-record when it comes to circular economy research and practice. Its research centres are among the highest ranking in Europe, as illustrated by their role in the Horizon 2020 programme. The transition towards a circular economy is an opportunity for Flanders, going well beyond its expertise in recycling and also covering knowhow on circular manufacturing, building and the transition to an integrated and sustainable food and agricultural policy. European programmes, such as Food 2030 and Horizon Europe are the framework for this effort. ‘Circular Flanders’ is a partnership between government departments, companies, civil society and the knowledge community and acts as an incubator for change when it comes to transitioning to a circular economy. MORE ON: www.circularflanders.be

Development cooperation and innovation Innovation plays a central role in Flemish development cooperation work as well. VITO and its South African counterpart CSIR started a demonstration project on battery technologies, aiming at supporting the introduction of electrical storage to accelerate the shift towards renewable energy in South Africa and offering companies and knowledge organisations the opportunity to learn and collaborate in the field.

Flanders UNESCO Trust Fund To help strengthen global scientific cooperation within UNESCO programmes, Flanders created the Flanders UNESCO Science Trust Fund (FUST). Flemish scientific expertise on water management contributes to UNESCO projects to make water management more resilient to the adverse effects of climate change.

Hydrogen technology Hydrogen plays an important role in the vision of the Government of Flanders on the energy transition that takes shape under the European Green Deal. Hydrogen will play an important role in the future for the decarbonisation of the Flemish industry for both industrial processes and as a feedstock for sustainable chemical products, and to further decarbonise our mobility sector. Large offshore windpower farms off the Flemish coast generate green electricity, which can be used for producing green hydrogen that can be

stored and used later for multiple applications with no carbon emissions. The hydrogen community in Flanders is organised in the “Waterstof Industrie Cluster”, a strong collaboration of companies, research institutes and government agencies and coordinated by WaterstofNet, the Flemish hydrogen knowledge centre. They join forces on pilot projects, studies and project consortia along the hydrogen value chain to establish a complete hydrogen ecosystem in Flanders.

MORE ON: www.waterstofnet.eu/en

Pilot project with a waste collection vehicle running on hydrogen. © Waterstofnet

Flanders has the ambition to become European leader in hydrogen technology.

Global Support for a Sustainable Transition The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations has as its main aims: putting an end to extreme poverty, protecting the earth, ensuring inclusive and peaceful societies and pursuing fair prosperity for everyone. The Government of Flanders uses all seventeen Sustainable Development Goals to guide its international operations. To this end, Flanders finances programmes in the areas of agriculture, health care, climate and green jobs in southern Africa, while also supporting civil society organisations and local governments in Flanders. All with the goal of actively supporting change that has an impact at an international level. Flanders has also grown into a valued partner and donor of multilateral and international organisations. An explicit thematic and geographical focus as well as an innovative approach are key aspects of Flemish participation.

Innovative Donor with Maximum Impact The Flemish approach was well received in the OECD 2018 study on decentralised development cooperation. In particular, the thematic and geographical focus that Flanders consistently applies was praised. This focus enables a long-term strategy, a high level of aid predictability and the full potential for expertise building and capacity strengthening.

The new forms of cooperation in which Flanders and other donor states enter into partnerships with multilateral organisations, national ministries and parastatal institutes were also seen as a positive evolution. These multi-actor partnerships increase the long-term commitment and the effectiveness of development cooperation.

In addition, Flanders was appreciated by the local partners as a flexible donor who has the courage to focus on innovation, new technologies and experiments. Flanders is consciously committed to this role as an innovator and incubator. When a pilot project proves to be successful and larger donors become involved, Flanders looks for scale-up opportunities.

Investment in Sustainable Agriculture and Health Care

The Farmer Warehouse Chilanga, Malawi

The partner countries of Flanders’ development cooperation are Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. For each country, a distinctly thematic focus is applied, based on a considered analysis of the greatest needs and challenges.

In fact, the latter is always relevant in situations with deprivation or poverty, for which solving immediate local challenges is key. In the upcoming years, focus in South Africa will shift to socio-economic cooperation.

With respect to Malawi, the focus is on agriculture and food security. Cooperation with Mozambique revolves around the theme of health. For South Africa the emphasis is on adaptation to climate change, job creation and the green economy.

For example, the Government of Flanders decided to support a project by Tradeline Corporation Limited in Malawi to promote the market access for small-scale farmers and farmers’ organisations through the development of a favourable business climate.

A budget of 1.6 million euros was made available for this. In Malawi, Tradeline Corporation strives to develop a private sector driven by a flourishing and competitive agribusiness which contributes to economic growth and the creation of dignified work in the country. Through the provision of technical assistance and financial support and the development of commercial partnerships, Tradeline Corporation is strengthening the capacity of 30 emerging marketing organisations in the focus districts of Kasungu and Mzimba. At the end of the project, the companies will be able to assume their market function independently and will have the skills, tools, network and resources to maintain a sustainable trading relationship

with the small-scale producers on the supply side, as well as the large national or regional buyers on the demand side.

In addition, it attempts to change the attitude towards harmful social norms and practices in a positive way.

A similar focus on a specific target group features in a programme supported by the Government of Flanders as regards reproductive health in Mozambique.

ICRH-Mozambique is a partner of ICRH-Global, founded at the initiative of the University of Ghent, with the support of the Government of Flanders. Funding of 1,119,810 euros has been provided for the 2018-2022 period.

The cooperation between the Government of Flanders and the International Centre for Reproductive Health in Mozambique aims to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents (boys and girls aged between 10 and 18). The focus is on reducing teen pregnancies, unsafe abortions, new HIV and STI infections, as well as gender-related violence.

25 August 2017 – Information stand of ICRH-Mozambique at the high school of Nhongonhane, Mozambique, on sexual and reproductive health.

The Fight against Climate Change Beyond the significant challenge it poses to humankind, climate change is a reality that threatens to increase inequality in the world. Developing countries from the South are more directly dependent on natural resources to provide for livelihoods and incomes. Therefore the human impact of climate change is at its most outspoken here.

From 2016 until 2020, Flanders committed 14.5 million euro annually for this objective within a framework of cooperation with southern Africa. In the upcoming years, this commitment will be continued. The distribution of these funds according to organisation, recipient country and sector can be consulted online: www.fdfa.be/en/climate

This has prompted agreements within the UN to reserve 100 billion dollars annually for international climate finance by 2020.

The aim is to enable the partner countries to adapt to the effects of climate change and to pursue a low-carbon development path.

Basic principles of Flemish Development Cooperation STIMULATE INNOVATION

ADOPT A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH

FOCUS ON COOPERATION

EVOLUTION OF TOTAL ODA: BREAKDOWN BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION POLICY AND OTHER ODA € 70

80%

€ 60

70%

€ 50

60% 50%

€ 40 € 30,8

€ 28,9

€ 24,9

€ 27.8

€ 23,8

€ 30,7

€ 34,4

40%

€ 30 30% € 20 20%

MILLION

€ 10

10% € 24,5

€ 24,9

€ 30,6

€ 22,0

€ 24,0

€ 20,8

€ 32,7

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

€0

A five-year country programme is being drawn up in cooperation with the partner countries in southern Africa. The country strategy outlines the supported sectors, the objectives and the available budget. To achieve this, Flanders works together with governments, non-governmental partners and multilateral organisations, and increasingly in mixed partnerships also.

Expenditure for development cooperation Other ODA % development cooperation policy on total ODA (right axis) Expenditure qualifies as ODA (Official Development Assistance), when it meets the following criteria: Official - the expenditure comes strictly from government funds. Development - economic and social development is the prime goal. Assistance - it is aid (i.e., it is not a commercial transaction subject to market conditions). The assistance is going to a country (or group of countries) or an international institution on the DAC list.

Development Cooperation through Multilateral Channels With respect to development cooperation, Flanders liaises with multilateral organisations that support and propagate the established Flemish policy priorities. For the health sector these are UNAIDS and WHO, for agriculture and climate change FAO, WFP, ICRAF and UNEP and UNDP to support

resilience programmes in relation to humanitarian aid. This operational support feeds Flemish input at the policy level of multilateral organisations, while at the same time, the international standards and recommendations from the multilateral institutions feeds into the country programmes.

Country Strategy Paper South Africa bit.ly/2OO6wHC

Country Strategy Paper Mozambique (NL) bit.ly/2DTHIwT

Getting the North in Motion In Flanders, development cooperation promotes a fair and sustainable growth and solidarity.

This is achieved through education and media and by supporting innovative projects and volunteer initiatives.

Country Strategy Paper Malawi bit.ly/2QPVB20

Human Rights, Peace and Security For Flanders, human rights constitute not only a legal and ethical commitment towards its own citizens, but also a lodestar for foreign policy. A pro-active, international human rights policy indisputably contributes to Flanders’ long-term interests, since respecting human rights ensures more peace, security and economic and social progress in the world. The First World War played a decisive role in the creation of this awareness.

“There is no peace without development, there is no development without peace and there is neither lasting peace nor sustainable development without respect of human rights and the rule of law.” Former Deputy Secretary General of the UN Jan Eliasson

29 4 human rights priorities in international policy

Our ‘Human Rights and Flanders’ (international) Policy’ brochure provides a detailed summary of past achievements and future challenges in this area.

•R ESPECT FOR THE PHYSICAL INTEGRITY OF EVERY PERSON • COMBATING ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION • RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD • THE RIGHT TO DECENT WORKING CONDITIONS Fundamental rights in developing countries is also an area of particular focus.

DOWNLOAD the brochure here: bit.ly/2zfqQwI

Human Rights as a Touchstone and an Objective

2014 - “The graves are nice this time of year”: The photo book and the exhibition of Jimmy Kets provide a surprising view of the contemporary memorial landscape of “The Great War”.

The Government of Flanders has regarded human rights as a touchstone of foreign policy for a considerable time. Underpinning Flanders’ international efforts for sustainable development is the belief that these efforts are only meaningful if they take place in a context that acknowledges and protects the freedom of the individual. There can be no progress without human rights. This ethos manifests itself in the accession to several important human rights treaties, a thorough assessment of arms exports against safety and human rights criteria, and the use of human rights as a key criterion in the selection of development cooperation partner countries.

In addition, grants are regularly made to organisations or projects abroad with a clear human rights focus. For example, the subsidy to the Human Rights Office of UNAMI in Iraqi Kurdistan to strengthen human rights, citizenship, intercultural and other norms in the educational curriculum of public education. Or in Europe with the grant to the Human Rights Centre “Public Legal Aid” in Belarus. Flanders supports the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) in Pretoria. With this grant, the CHR, an academic institution for the promotion of human rights in Africa, organises advanced courses for African participants. The courses are the result of a close collaboration between the CHR and the universities of Antwerp, Ghent and Leuven.

26-30 August 2019 – Flemish participation at the 5th Conference of State Parties of the Arms Trade Treaty, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Strategic Goods Control Flanders is without doubt a region whose history is steeped in armed conflict, so there is a natural predisposition for continuous high vigilance in respect of trade in firearms and weapon systems. Flemish legislation places a strong emphasis on ethical criteria such as

conflict management and respect for human rights. And Flanders uses these criteria as an instrument of its responsible export control policy for combatting illegal arms flows that threaten peace and stability in the world.

Control of the international trade in strategic goods is entrusted to Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office and is monitored biannually by the Flemish Parliament.

strengthening of cooperation and convergence. Examples include the EU Council Working Group on the export of conventional arms and the Conference of States that are party to the UN Arms Trade Treaty. Flanders takes a leading and proactive role in these forums. In relation to increased transparency, Flanders not only pro-actively participates, but also chairs the relevant working group under the UN Arms Trade Treaty.

Day-to-day, the Department’s experts participate in assistance programmes, mainly under the auspices of the European Union, supporting other countries as they set up their own arms trade control systems. Flemish experts are active in the neighbouring countries of the EU, the Western Balkan countries, Northern Africa, and beyond.

Arms Control In addition to analysing licence applications for trade in strategic goods, Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office is internationally active in the pursuit of globallyeffective arms trade control and increased transparency on the import and export of weapons. The Department represents Flanders in various European and international forums dealing with agreements on arms trade control, exchange of information, and the

Flanders is the leading subnational donor to the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF).

8 December 2017 – CERF thanks Flanders during the Annual High-level Pledging Conference 2018 in New York, USA.

When Disaster Hits: Humanitarian Aid With its annual budget reserves for humanitarian aid, Flanders shows solidarity with regions that are affected by natural disasters or conflicts. Flanders has made a substantial contribution to CERF, and has for some time been the leading subnational donor to this fund. The Fund ensures that humanitarian organisations have the necessary resources for agile responses at the onset of crises.

Flanders also provides direct grants to humanitarian organisations responding to disasters or conflict. If conditions permit, innovative technologies, such as digital cash transfers, are used to promote

self-reliance of the victims, without disrupting the rebuilding of local economy. Finally, Flanders attaches importance to supporting partner countries Malawi and Mozambique with their disaster avoidance or mitigation measures. After the devastating passage of cyclone Idai in Malawi and Mozambique in 2019, the Government of Flanders immediately made 250,000 euros available for emergency aid. The contribution was primarily for meeting the most urgent needs but also for supporting the climate-related disaster preparedness of the region.

Flanders’ foreign network The Government of Flanders has an extensive network of foreign representation offices. Flanders Investment & Trade offices abroad

Flanders Investment & Trade offices abroad in cooperation with Awex and Brussels Hub VISITFLANDERS offices abroad Diplomatic representations of Flanders

Representations of Flanders to Multilateral organisations

Country offices

Country offices development cooperation Flanders’ Cultural House ‘de Brakke Grond’ in Amsterdam

For the latest information on our Representations abroad, visit www.fdfa.be, www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com and www.visitflanders.com

Flanders’ Foreign Policy Actors

Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office: Shaping and Implementing policy What? Since its inception, the Government of Flanders has conducted a foreign policy. Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office is responsible for coordinating Flanders’ international and European activities and is therefore in charge of the relations between Flanders and foreign governments, the European Union and international organisations. This includes: • International and European trade policy; • Development cooperation; • Controlling the import, export and transit of dual use products, arms and other strategic goods from Flanders;

• Establishing and implementing European regulations, and concluding and ratifying international treaties. Furthermore, the Department functions as Chancellery for the Government of Flanders and is responsible for: • Better regulation policy; • Communication and reputation policy; • Evidence informed policy by statistics, strategic analysis and policy research; • Long-term strategic vision of Flanders.

Why?

Where?

As an open society and economy, Flanders balances its commitment to the Flemish people, companies and organisations, with being a committed player in the world, including the strong influences that come with international involvement and partners. This interrelatedness serves to underscore the crucial role played by Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office.

How?

•m onitoring and implementing more than 230 treaties and partnerships: trade agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, EU regulations and bilateral and multilateral treaties; • s upport for numerous initiatives, projects and organisations - from cultural events and international conferences to financing development projects and funds for UN agencies; • development, implementation, coordination and evaluation of Flanders’ foreign policy in all its aspects, from cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries to arms trade control.

• diplomatic representation at 14 missions for strong cooperation with our international partners; • organising more than 30 foreign missions and 30 domestic receptions per year;

• The Department is centrally managed in Brussels and has about 250 staff members. • Diplomatic representations with approximately 45 staff members across Brussels (EU), Berlin, The Hague, London, New York, Warsaw, Vienna, Pretoria, Madrid, Paris, Geneva and Rome. In 2021 a new post was opened in Copenhagen. In addition, there are also offices in Prague and Budapest. The offices in Lilongwe (Malawi) and Maputo (Mozambique) facilitate development cooperation.

For an OVERVIEW of all cooperation agreements, conventions and Memoranda of Understanding per country, please see: bit.ly/2S4UP1n

www.fdfa.be www.vlaanderen.be Facebook: @FlandersDFA Twitter: @Flanders_DFA

Flanders Investment & Trade: The Go-To Organisation for International Business What?

Why?

In 2005, the Government of Flanders launched Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) to support Flemish companies in their export activities, while also promoting Flanders as an ideal investment location for foreign businesses.

Internationalisation fuels Flanders’ economy. To maintain and strengthen the region’s global competitiveness, internationalisation is a must for Flanders-based companies.

FIT’s mission is: • to advise and support Flandersbased companies with their export and/or international aspirations; • to connect Flemish producers and foreign buyers; • to provide information, advice and support for foreign companies looking to develop economic activities in Flanders. • to promote and represent Flanders as an innovative region with an open and vibrant industrial ecosystem.

For a robust regional economy, Flanders also requires sustainable foreign investment inflows. Foreign companies represent significant added value in this respect. They are catalysts for productivity, job creation, knowledge building and technology links between local companies and their employees. All of this has a clear and positive impact on the competitiveness of local companies as well.

To highlight and recognize this continuous investment and dedication, Flanders’ Minister-President Jan Jambon presented Nike with the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Trophy at FIT’s Foreign Investment Trophy event.

How? FIT provides four main services: supporting and advising; organising events like trade fair participation and group business travel; providing financing; and sharing market knowledge. In 2017 alone, FIT organised 124 business trips, attended trade fairs and hosted seminars worldwide. The agency also facilitated 4,443 B2B contacts between Flandersbased and foreign entrepreneurs, and developed 257 trade proposals and 85 market studies. Additionally, FIT advised 4,443 Flanders-based companies on exporting, while 2,729 companies received a subsidy to boost their exports. FIT proactively approaches foreign investors through roundtables, seminars, trade fairs and targeted meetings.

FIT has developed an extensive international network of representatives who promote Flanders as an economic partner and enhance the region’s reputation as a hotbed of knowledge and strongly innovative economy. Flemish companies and organisations looking to conquer new markets even faster and more sustainably have also benefitted from FIT’s support. As FIT works to fulfil its mandate, it contributes to attracting more foreign direct and indirect investments into Flanders, building and evolving a strong network of local and international contacts as it does so.

Where? Although headquartered in Brussels, FIT maintains closer links with Flanders-based companies through its network of 5 provincial offices. Beyond the borders, FIT keeps abreast of significant economic market developments around the world via its network of 97 representation offices spread across 76 countries.

Since 2017, FIT has collaborated with Flanders-based companies, federations and specialists to coordinate the ‘Flanders Accelerates!’ strategy for internationalisation.

www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com Facebook: @flandersinvestmentandtrade Twitter: @FlandersTrade and @InvestFlanders LinkedIn: Flanders Investment & Trade and Invest in Flanders Instagram: @InvestFlanders

VISITFLANDERS: Promoting Flanders as Top Destination What? VISITFLANDERS is a Government of Flanders agency for the development and international promotion of Flanders and Brussels as tourist destinations. VISITFLANDERS is tasked with: • making tourism in Flanders more attractive to (international) visitors through targeted investments and support;

• actively promoting Flanders as a tourist destination to attract more cultural value seekers and business travellers; • facilitating full participation in tourism for every Flemish resident; • stimulating the further professionalisation of the sector to ensure a high-quality offer for visitors.

Why?

How?

Where?

The tourism sector employs 6.5% of the population. VISITFLANDERS invests in the sustainable development and promotion of Flanders and Brussels as top tourist destinations to increase profitability, employment and well-being, and to heighten visitor satisfaction.

VISITFLANDERS works closely with Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office and with tourism sector stakeholders, including: • provinces, cities and municipalities • tourist and non-tourist enterprises • organisations active in the areas of tourism, mobility, heritage, culture and education.

VISITFLANDERS is headquartered in Brussels and has an international network of foreign offices spread around the world. In total, the agency employs around 200 staff members, one quarter of whom are based abroad. The agency is active in some thirty international markets.

www.toerismevlaanderen.be and www.visitflanders.com Facebook: @toerismevla and @visitflanders Twitter: @toerisme_vla and @visitflanders LinkedIn: Toerisme Vlaanderen

The Flemish Peace Institute: Peace and Security Monitoring What? The Flemish Peace Institute was established in 2004 as a paraparliamentary institution at the Flemish Parliament. Although funded by the Flemish Parliament, the Flemish Peace Institute works independently and impartially. Its Board of Directors - whose members reflect parliamentary factions, civil society organisations and academia - has advisory and management responsibilities. The Institute also has a Scientific Council, comprised of international experts, that supervises and evaluates the Institute’s research. The Institute has four tasks: • To study- Policy-oriented research is the main task of the Institute. The Peace Institute publishes its research in Dutch and English and issues background reports and fact sheets. • To advise- The Peace Institute supports the Flemish Parliament with recommendations. The Institute formulates evidence-based advice on arms trade, foreign policy, and dealing with conflict and violence in society.

• To inform- The Peace Institute organises and stimulates debate by organising events, lectures, scientific conferences and policyoriented seminars, for Flemish and international audiences. The Institute also provides thorough and impartial information to journalists and policy makers. • To document- The Peace Institute manages its own collection of publications, in collaboration with the Flemish Parliament’s Parliamentary Information Centre. A catalogue is available online and the collection is accessible to all. The Institute’s areas of interest include: arms trade and use; the development and production of weapons, as well as export control; radicalisation; dealing with polarisation in the classroom; urban violence; and commemorating victims of violence.

Why?

How?

Where?

Striving for a more peaceful society, both in our country and throughout the world, requires a thorough understanding of peace issues. Policy-oriented research has a critical role to play in this. The aim is not to prescribe decisions, but to inform public debates, to enrich conversations with knowledge and to formulate measures. The Peace Institute delivers thorough and impartial analyses with these aims in mind.

The Peace Institute conducts scientific research on peace issues. The Institute uses the results of that research to support the work of the Flemish Parliament, and the work of policy makers at other levels.

The Scientific Secretariat of the Peace Institute is located at the Flemish Parliament in Brussels. The Secretariat currently has thirteen staff members: a director, nine researchers, two part-time office managers and a communications manager.

Beyond this work, Institute staff are often invited to speak at international conferences and the Institute regularly hosts events in the Flemish Parliament that bring together policy makers and researchers from across Europe. The Peace Institute produces information, documentation and also formulates recommendations based on its research. The target audience is not only policy makers, but also civil society organisations, professionals, journalists and the general public.

www.vlaamsvredesinstituut.eu Facebook: @vlaamsvredesinstituut Twitter: @Vredesinstituut LinkedIn: flemishpeaceinstitute

Liaison Agency Flanders-Europe (VLEVA): Building Bridges between Europe and Flanders

What? The Flanders-Europe Liaison Agency is a membership organisation that builds bridges between the European Union, Flemish (local) governments and civil society. VLEVA promotes more Europe in Flanders and more Flanders in Europe. It was founded in 2006 and is structurally subsidised by the Government of Flanders. VLEVA’s four key tasks are: • Monitoring- VLEVA filters, analyses and processes European policy documents and initiatives into ready-to-use information for stakeholders in Flanders.

• Bridging- VLEVA works to create a basis for information exchange and advocacy by following and building networks within Flanders, and with European partners and institutions. • Supporting Lobbyists- VLEVA does not take positions, but supports its members and governments in their lobbying activities, so that the right information reaches the right person at the right time. • One-stop Shop- VLEVA is a free guide to questions about European contacts and initiatives and provides up-to-date information on European funding and jobs.

Why?

How?

Where?

Europe is increasingly our homeland, meaning that Flanders must be closely involved in European policy. Both the Government of Flanders and society-at-large play an essential role in this.

VLEVA has over thirty members (governments, interest groups and companies) and its team of 10 staff members works closely with the General Representation of the Government of Flanders to the EU. The members and the Flemish authorities determine the content of the VLEVA’s annual agenda. VLEVA’s information sessions and website are open to everyone.

VLEVA is located in the heart of the European district of the City of Brussels.

Flemish civil society organisations and local authorities can gain better access to European policy through VLEVA’s information platform and network. These resources enable VLEVA members and the Flemish authorities to represent their European interests in a timely and informed manner.

www.vleva.eu Facebook: @vlevavzw Twitter: @VLEVA LinkedIn: VLEVA

Flemish People in the World: Treasuring the bond with the homeland

What? Flemish people in the World Foundation (VIW) assists Flemish emigrants and expats whether they have international aspirations, or are already abroad. With more than seventy representatives serving their local compatriots across the world, it’s a global community, spearheaded by its Brussels secretariat.

While VIW is not a government agency, it has been structurally supported by the Government of Flanders since its launch, and can also call on the expertise of a number of reliable partners for its work.

Why?

How?

VIW’s vision stems from the conviction that a community is also responsible for its members abroad. The administrative hurdles involved in an international move are often complicated. Whether you are an expat, emigrant, recent graduate or retiree, you can quickly and easily find the information you need for your move abroad.

Personal Service VIW supports Flemish people with international plans by offering information and contact resources. Various initiatives, like the VIW information day, simplify the emigration process. The VIW employees advise and refer people to the appropriate official bodies when necessary. Thanks to a wellorganised online emigration guide, interested users can quickly find the information they need. Global Network The Foundation regularly communicates with tens of thousands of expats via the website, the electronic newsletter and the VIW magazine.

www.viw.be LinkedIn: Vlamingen in de Wereld

Representative VIW and its board members lobby the authorities and public services for projects that improve the lives of Flemish people worldwide, and that strengthen the bond with Flanders. VIW is a recognised resource regarding the needs and aspirations of Flemish expatriates. One of VIM’s current initiatives is working to ensure that there are sufficient facilities to teach the Dutch language and Flemish culture, and to expand voting rights.

Where? The Foundation is not only active in Brussels, but also worldwide. The widespread network of VIW representatives means that you can connect with Flemish people in forty-six different countries.

Legal Framework

Legal Context and Background Juxtaposition, not Hierarchy Flanders enjoys a considerable number of powers at the international level. The Belgian Constitution provides for a juxtaposition, rather than a hierarchy, between the federal government and the subfederal governments. The Constitutional Amendment of 1993 includes the principle of “in foro interno, in foro externo” (art. 167 Belgian Constitution). In this context, it means that all governments have control over domestic issues as well as over foreign issues.

Considering the substantial shifts in power that have been ceded to the federated states since 1993, the impact of this principle cannot be overstated. Flanders acts internationally in all areas for which it has internal jurisdiction like economy, employment, the environment, agriculture, mobility, public works, education, culture and health policy. Flanders has the constitutional right to conclude internationally-binding treaties in these areas, and can appoint diplomatic representatives abroad.

This authority extends to the Government of Flanders. Every minister is responsible for domestic, European and for international initiatives falling within their ministerial remit. The same applies to departments and agencies. Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office, for example, monitors international policy coherence and is responsible for the coordination between the various policy areas. It is also the first point of contact for foreign embassies and diplomatic representations.

Treaty Law in Practice Flanders concludes treaties with third countries or with international institutions. An overview of the hundreds of treaties with Flanders (with a convenient search filter per country and theme) is available on the website of Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office: www.fdfa.be/en/treaties-and-mous A few examples: • Treaty of the Council of Europe concerning the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse; • the Scheldt treaties; • Agreement between the Flemish Community and the Netherlands regarding the accreditation of tertiary educational degree programmes; • Amendment to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal; • Treaties on cultural cooperation with third countries; • Double taxation treaties. Concluding treaties on matters where federated states have exclusive competence (‘exclusive treaties’) requires formal disclosure to the federal government. This is done by means of a letter from the Flemish Minister of Foreign Affairs to the federal minister of Foreign Affairs.

‘Mixed treaties’ relate to matters for which the federal government and the federated states are both partly competent. The 1994 Cooperation Agreement between the federal government, the communities and the regions sets out detailed rules for the conclusion of mixed treaties. The Inter-Ministerial Conference on Foreign Affairs (ICBB) is a forum for consultation on foreign policy between the federal level and the federated states. This body determines the mixed nature of the convention, based on advice from the Working Group on Mixed Treaties. The conclusion of treaties involves the following steps: negotiating, signing, questioning of the advisory councils concerned and Council of State, obtaining parliamentary approval and ratifying and promulgating the treaties. Approval by the Government of Flanders is required at every step of this process. Treaties are adopted into Flemish law by means of a decree of endorsement in the Flemish Parliament. EU treaties, like the EU-Canada [CETA] Free Trade Agreement, are also discussed and approved in the Flemish Parliament. As a party to a number of human rights treaties, Flanders regularly reports on compliance with these treaties in our domestic policy.

Intrafederal Cooperation Agreements Flanders also has full powers at EU level. The Maastricht Treaty, which came into force in 1992, empowered Flemish ministers to participate in the EU Council of Ministers on issues such as the environment, education, culture or fisheries. In a 1994 Cooperation Agreement, the federal state, the communities and the regions confirmed the process and authorisations for representation at the EU level. The Agreement details six categories for representation at the EU Council of Ministers: from exclusive federal representation (e.g. council configuration for justice and home affairs) to exclusive representation by the federated states (e.g. education or culture councils), with a number of gradations in between.

However, this EU Cooperation Agreement has now become outdated. It is in urgent need of amendments that reflect the significant institutional changes in Belgium and in Europe spanning the last 25 years, in particular since the Treaty of Lisbon (2009) and the sixth Belgian state reform of 2011. In addition to the EU Cooperation Agreement, there are similar intrafederal cooperation agreements regulating accords between the federal government and the federated states. These pertain to diplomatic representatives of the federated states, representation in international organisations, the conduct of proceedings and attracting foreign investment.

MORE INFORMATION on the policy framework of Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office (regulations, cooperation agreements, strategy notes, the coalition agreement and policy notes) is available at: www.fdfa.be/en/policy-framework