Flanders

What is Flanders

Flanders is the Dutch-speaking northern region of Belgium and is home to more than six million people. As part of Belgium's federal system, Flanders has its own Parliament and Government, which exercise legislative and executive powers in a wide range of policy areas. Belgium comprises three Regions, namely Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels-Capital Region, as well as three language-based Communities: the Flemish, French, and German-speaking Communities. Within this federal framework, the Flemish Government has extensive autonomous powers and is responsible for areas such as economy, innovation, culture, education, environment, and international cooperation.

Foreign Affairs Policy

International Policy of Flanders

Flanders plays an active role on the international stage. Within Belgium's federal structure, the Flemish Government exercises authority in its areas of competence and develops its own international partnerships. Through bilateral cooperation with countries worldwide and active participation in multilateral organisations such as UNESCO, UNIDO, the ILO, and the OECD, Flanders promotes sustainable development, innovation, economic growth, and international collaboration.

SOUTH AFRICA

In 1994, following the first free democratic elections, the Government of Flanders opened a trade office in South Africa. Four and a half years later, on 14 February 1999, the first General Representative of Flanders took up their function in Pretoria.

Cooperation with South Africa initially focused on assistance towards the building of a new, democratic South Africa, but this was subsequently extended to include culture, science and innovation, economy and trade, youth policy and education.

Since then, Flanders and South Africa have enjoyed a rich history of bilateral relations and of cooperation. Over time, this partnership has evolved into a strong political and economic relationship, focusing on trade, science and innovation, academic cooperation, culture, human rights, climate action, and the green economy. We work with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including government departments and agencies, political actors, civil society, cultural organisations, research institutions and universities.

FLANDERS CHANCELLERY AND FOREIGN OFFICE

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.