Belgium is a federal state with two types of entities: the communities (the Flemish, French and German-speaking Communities) and the regions (the Flemish and Walloon Regions and the Brussels-Capital Region), which each have their own government and parliament. In the case of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region these have been combined into one Flemish Parliament and one Flemish Government. Read more about the state structure of Belgium and Flanders...
The Belgian federated entities (including Flanders) can also act internationally for their own competences. They are active at international and at European level and can conclude treaties. This sub-statal right to conclude treaties is unique in the world. Flanders thus also has its own foreign policy and playsan important part in the Belgian EU Presidency.
Flanders and the European Union
The European Union has a significant impact on Flemish policy. Flanders, after all, also holds responsibility for the ratification of European treaties (such as the Lisbon Treaty) and the transposition of European Directives, which pertain to Flemish competences. It is therefore important that Flemish Ministers also have a seat within the Council of the European Union where decisions are made about new EU legislative acts.
A federal or regional minister can thus represent Belgium in the Council, depending on the division of competences or powers within Belgium. The regions and communities therefore also play an important role during Belgium’s EU Presidency of the Council.
Flanders proactively follows up on European policy. Like the other regions and communities, Flanders has its own Flemish representation within the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the European Union . This is led by a diplomatic Representative of the Flemish Government. Flemish attachés take part in the various council working groups and follow up dossiers that are relevant for Flanders.
Flemish foreign policy
There is indeed a Flemish Representation to the European Union (NL/FR). Next to this, the Flemish Government has its own diplomatic representatives in The Hague, Paris, London, Berlin, Vienna, Pretoria, Warsaw, Madrid and representatives to the international organisations in Geneva. Flanders also has ninety representations for tourism and international entrepreneurship worldwide.
Flanders’ foreign relations thus have a broad scope. Flanders maintains bilateral relations with its neighbouring countries and regions. It also signs treaties and maintains an active bilateral cooperation with select partners within and outside of the EU. For development cooperation Flanders focuses on cooperation with its partner countries, South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi.
The control of the international trade in strategic and military goods is also a regional competence.
Finally Flanders also emphasises cooperation with multilateral organisations such as UNESCO, the OECD, the Council of Europe, UNAIDS, the International Labour Organisation and the World Health Organization.
Read more about the state structure of Belgium and Flanders...
Read more about Flanders’ tourism and economic assets...