Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office

(EN below) 🎯 De Vlaamse Regering heeft haar prioriteiten voor de Europese agenda van 2025 vastgelegd, op basis van het werkprogramma voor 2025 van de Europese Commissie en het Europese Competitiviteitskompas. De inzet is helder: Vlaanderen competitiever, veiliger en veerkrachtiger maken door proactief in te spelen op prioritaire EU-initiatieven.   📌 15 initiatieven werden aangeduid als prioritair: - Circulaire economie - Innovatiewet - Biotechwet - Clean Industrial Deal - Chemische industriepakket en herziening REACH - EU-havenstrategie - Strategie voor de interne markt - EU-klimaatwet - Unie van Vaardigheden - EU visie voor landbouw en voedsel - Europese Waterweerbaarheidsstrategie - Toekomst van de Europese Defensie - Open, duurzame en eerlijke handelsrelaties - Meerjarig Financieel Kader - Omnibussen Betere Regelgeving 📣 De Diplomatieke Vertegenwoordiging van Vlaanderen bij de EU zal de belangen van Vlaanderen proactief behartigen bij de EU en zorgen dat Vlaamse belangen hierin worden meegenomen. Naast deze prioritaire dossiers blijven we uiteraard ook voor de nodige opvolging en behartiging van de andere voor Vlaanderen relevante dossiers zorgen. 📎 Lees de volledige nota hier: https://lnkd.in/eDfYvVTn /// 🎯 The Government of Flanders has outlined its priorities for the 2025 European agenda, in line with the European Commission's work programme and the European Competitiveness Compass. The objective is clear: to enhance Flanders' competitiveness, safety, and resilience by proactively addressing key EU initiatives.   📌 15 initiatives have been identified as priorities:   - Circular Economy - Innovation Act - Biotech Act - Clean Industrial Deal - Chemical Industry Package and REACH Revision - EU Ports Strategy - Strategy for the Internal Market - EU Climate Law - Union of Skills - EU Vision for Agriculture and Food - European Water Resilience Strategy - Future of European Defence - Open, Sustainable, and Fair-Trade Relations - Multiannual Financial Framework - Omnibus Better Regulation   📣 The Diplomatic Representation of Flanders to the EU will actively promote the interests of Flanders and ensure that these interests are represented within the EU. In addition to these priority initiatives, we will of course continue to follow up and represent other matters that are relevant to Flanders. #FlandersinEU #EuropeanAgenda #VlaamseOverheid

On 3 April, Minister-President of Flanders Matthias Diependaele met with a number of key German business leaders and decision-makers.  Germany is a leading economic partner for Flanders. Topics of discussion included the Clean Industrial Deal, international trade and entrepreneurship, industrial innovation (battery technology), the Einstein Telescope, circular economy and talent development. It is vital for Flanders to continue the Clean Industrial Deal and strengthen cooperation with Germany in order to remain competitive in the future.   Minister-President Diependaele: “The Clean Industrial Deal is an opportunity to combine climate action with economic power. An opportunity to anchor the industry in Europe and cooperate across borders. Flanders is able, ready and willing. Let’s build this future together.”  #Flanders #DKBUZA #grensdoorbrekers #International

Visibility for #Flanders during State Visit to #Vietnam 📍 A State Visit led by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde highlighted the close ties between Flanders and Vietnam. From 29 March to 4 April, Minister Cieltje Van Achter, on behalf of the Vlaamse Regering / Government of Flanders, took part in the visit, which builds on more than 50 years of Flemish-Vietnamese relations. Flanders has been active in several Vietnamese sectors for quite some time, ranging from the green economy to the health, agri-food and biotech industries.  🤝 Fifteen companies and eight knowledge and academic institutions shared their (technical) expertise with Vietnamese partners during valuable political, diplomatic, economic and cultural meetings in Hanoi, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City, spread over four intensive days. This allowed Flanders to position itself as a reliable and committed partner in areas such as trade, infrastructure, logistics, sustainable development and climate adaptation. New partnerships, collaborations and enriching insights are the tangible result.  🚢 Vietnam and Flanders also share a long-standing tradition in water management, transport and ports. Secretary General Julie Bynens, on behalf of the Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Construction to reinvigorate existing collaboration on sea and waterway infrastructure.  #international #DKBUZA #grensdoorbrekers FIT - Flanders Investment & Trade Toerisme Vlaanderen - VISITFLANDERS

UNESCO has implemented the impressive Revive the Spirit of Mosul reconstruction campaign in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Together with 15 partners, including the United Arab Emirates, the European Union and #Flanders, UNESCO has rebuilt Mosul. Mosul is an ancient city, a symbol of multicultural dialogue, where various ethnic and religious groups live together. During Daesh's occupation from 2014 to 2017, 80% of the inner city, buildings and rare books and manuscripts were destroyed. UNESCO not only focuses on the city’s material reconstruction but also on reviving Mosul's cultural and intellectual life. The US$115 million investment facilitated:  ▫️the rebuilding of 4 major religious monuments and the rehabilitation of 124 heritage houses  ▫️the renovation of 404 classrooms  ▫️the creation of 7,700 local jobs  ▫️the organisation of training for thousands of Iraqis  UNESCO expects to complete work on Mosul's most iconic sites in 2025. The Flanders/UNESCO Trust Fund, managed by the Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office, funded an innovative methodology for assessing damage to religious heritage and determining its restoration needs.  Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, emphasises the importance of collaboration and international efforts: "This is a collective victory, demonstrating just how useful multilateralism can be, in concrete terms and through action." Read more about it on our website: https://lnkd.in/ekqwd53Q Or watch the video on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eDxpicFZ #International #DKBUZA 

▫️ Minister-President of Flanders Matthias Diependaele visited the HANNOVER MESSE, one of the world's largest and most prestigious industrial technology trade shows. ▫️ Flanders had a strong presence at the Hannover Messe with stands by FIT - Flanders Investment & Trade, Flanders Make, WaterstofNet and Startup.Flanders, as well as a joint stand with the Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia and Wallonia on the Einstein Telescope (https://lnkd.in/ezt4wwpr). ▫️ Among the visit’s highlights was the joint press conference by the Minister-President of Land Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, and the CEO of imec, Luc Van den hove, announcing the establishment of 'Imec Germany' in Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg. This Advanced Chip Design Accelerator (ACDA), made possible thanks to an investment from THE LÄND, will focus on advanced custom-made chip technology for the automotive industry. ▫️ In his speech, Minister-President Diependaele mentioned that imec has built a rock-solid reputation worldwide in the field of digital technology and nanotechnology research. The collaboration with Baden-Württemberg is essential to maintain this leading role and to strengthen the economic fabric of both regions. ▫️ Flanders and Baden-Württemberg are among the top in Europe when it comes to R&D investments. The success in Hannover built on bilateral agreements between Flanders and Baden-Württemberg to intensify collaboration on semiconductors, hydrogen, biotechnology and other areas where innovation plays a major role. ▫️ Minister-President Diependaele had a brief meeting with Hubert Aiwanger, Minister for Economy, Energy and Regional Development and Deputy Minister-President of the Bavarian government. They discussed the high trade figures between Flanders and Germany and the relations between Bavaria and Flanders, among other things.   ▫️ Our General Representative of Flanders in Berlin, Bart Brosius, and his team worked together intensively with Flanders Investment & Trade, the Baden-Württemberg administration, as well as with colleagues from the Dutch administration and North Rhine-Westphalia ministries to prepare this visit. #Flanders #BadenWürttemberg #HannoverMesse #international #DKBUZA #grensdoorbrekers Vlaamse Regering / Government of Flanders Vertretung von Flandern in Deutschland Petra Olschowski

State Visit to Vietnam offers opportunities for #Flanders From 29 March to 4 April, Minister Cieltje Van Achter, on behalf of the Government of Flanders, will take part in a State Visit to Vietnam, led by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. The State Visit builds on more than 50 years of Flemish-Vietnamese relations and previous reciprocal visits. Flanders’s significant contribution to this State Visit’s programme underlines these close ties. Therefore, many different political, diplomatic, economic and cultural meetings are scheduled in Hanoi, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City. The visit not only offers the perfect opportunity to consolidate lasting relationships, but also to showcase Flanders’s expertise. Through their technical expertise, Flemish companies and knowledge institutions sustainably contribute to Vietnam’s economic growth. They have been active there for quite some time in various sectors, ranging from the green economy to the health, agri-food and biotech industries. Vietnam and Flanders also share a long-standing tradition in water management, transport and ports. On 31 March, Secretary General Julie Bynens, on behalf of the Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Construction to reinvigorate existing cooperation around sea and waterway infrastructure. To underline the extensive collaboration between Flemish and Vietnamese knowledge institutions, the State Visit will include academic activities as well. Flemish knowledge institutions will sign as many as 15 agreements. VITO, for instance, will sign an agreement with The Vietnam Institute for Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (imhen) on the impacts of climate change in cities. Vlaamse Regering / Government of Flanders FIT - Flanders Investment & Trade Toerisme Vlaanderen - VISITFLANDERS #International #DKBUZA #grensdoorbrekers

Flemish-Dutch summit in Ghent - agreements on nitrogen, innovation and border regions ▫️ The seventh Flemish-Dutch summit took place in Ghent on Tuesday 1 April. Minister-President of Flanders Matthias Diependaele welcomed the Dutch delegation to the iconic Boekentoren of UGent. ▫️ The summit was dedicated to strengthening European competitiveness, sustainable industrial policy and practical cooperation in the border regions. Other topics of discussion were cultural cooperation and the role of language in the digital transformation. During the summit, a memorandum of understanding on nitrogen was signed and the multi-year plan of the Nederlandse Taalunie was presented. ▫️ In a context of growing geopolitical tensions and economic pressure, Flanders and the Netherlands want to stand stronger together, within the European Union and beyond. “Flanders and the Netherlands demonstrate that real progress is made through consultation, cooperation and mutual respect”, said Minister-President Diependaele. The previous summit in 2023, for example, led to tangible results: the opening of the new sea lock in Terneuzen, the approval of the Benelux Union estuary shipping decision and the establishment of the Schakelpunt Grensbelemmeringen Vlaanderen-Nederland. In doing so, the Flemish-Dutch summit illustrates that our diplomacy stands for cooperation, preparation and results💡. ▫️ Intensive work was done behind the scenes over the past few months. Many colleagues within the Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office, in close collaboration with our Delegation of Flanders to the Netherlands, helped prepare this summit with expertise, precision and dedication. #Flanders #Netherlands #international #DKBUZA #grensdoorbrekers Photos: Mirco Buyls

The annual report on Flemish official development assistance (ODA) was published on 26 March 2025. The latest report compiles all spending that meets the OECD’s official development assistance criteria. Some remarkable trends from the report:   - In 2024, ODA amounted to €59 million.    - 46% of spending is managed by the Development Cooperation Team of the Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office and is in line with the policy objectives set out in the Policy Memorandum on Development Cooperation. Spending is maximally concentrated on the partner countries (Malawi, Mozambique and Morocco) and sectors and has increased compared to the previous year.   - Development cooperation with South Africa was completed in 2024. At the same time, the Country Strategy Paper with the new partner country Morocco entered into force.   - The number of emergencies worldwide is on the rise. Flemish spending on humanitarian actions amounted to a total of almost €2 million in 2024.     More information about ODA is available on our website: https://lnkd.in/e2kqtxm7 The 2024 ODA Report: https://lnkd.in/eQQ3yaNp #Flanders #DKBUZA #International

💪 Rights. Equality. Empowerment. #ForALLWomenandGirls   This year, the United Nations theme for International Women’s Day is “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” It’s been 30 years since world leaders took a pledge at the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. A pledge for equal rights, opportunities, power and security for women and girls everywhere. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action anchored that pledge and is one of the most comprehensive plans to achieve equal rights for girls and women.   Unfortunately, at the current rate, it will take another five generations or so before there is full gender equality (source: World Economic Forum). Women around the world still too often encounter barriers, both at home and at work. Past time, then, to shift things up a gear.  Our colleagues from both Brussels and the Delegations of Flanders enthusiastically took photos to raise awareness of the issue. In the familiar 💪 pose, they show that we stand strong together. The world cannot wait another 30 years to achieve the promise of gender equality. Let us be the first generation to deliver on that promise and achieve true equality.   Read more about our Delegations of Flanders’ other initiatives in the context of International Women’s Day: https://lnkd.in/eYJKN-Rn #ForALLWomenandGirls #IWD2025  

The Flemish and, by extension, the European industry is under pressure, and European cooperation is needed to tackle this challenge. Today, 400 business leaders, industry representatives, and workers from across Europe gathered in Antwerp to discuss the newly published #CleanIndustrialDeal (CID) with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This Clean Industrial Deal is a crucial element in the European Commission’s focus on competitiveness, as emphasized in the Draghi Report and the priorities of the Von der Leyen II Commission. At the Flemish level, competitiveness is also a key priority, as reflected in the Flemish coalition agreement, the Flemish position paper on the Draghi Report, and the recently published Flemish Productivity and Competitiveness Agenda. Minister-President Diependaele attended the event and highlighted in his speech the constructive role that Flanders aims to play in realizing the ambitions of the CID. The overarching message today was clear: #DeliverTheDeal. To restore Europe’s prosperity, we need urgent action to:  ✅ Restore the business case for investments in Europe  ✅ Implement the EU Green Deal   ✅ Safeguard high-quality jobs  New EU policies must be assessed against a simple test:  🔹 Do they attract investment to Europe?  🔹 Do they keep Europe safe & autonomous?  🔹 Do they lower energy costs?  🔹 Do they create markets for sustainable products?  🔹 Do they secure quality jobs? 🚀 European industries are ready to contribute and call on EU leaders to take action. Departement WEWIS – economie, wetenschap en innovatie #Flanders #EU