Belgo-British Conference
Encyclopedia
The Belgo-British Conference is an annual conference each October or November organised by the British Council
and the Belgian
EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations (EGMONT), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
and the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs. The Conference is currently chaired by Sir Stephen Wall
(former EU adviser to Tony Blair
) and Ambassador (Hon) Lode Willems (Director External and Government Affairs, BNP Parisbas-Fortis), who preside over an independent Board which decides the themes of the conference. Previous chairs include Andre Villeneuve, Count George Jacobs, Baron Paul Buysse and Lord Simon of Highbury. The patrons of the Conference are HRH The Prince of Wales
and HRH Prince Philippe of Belgium. Attendance at the conference is by invitation only and draws around 60 British and Belgian participants from politics, journalism, media, academia, arts, science and business for two days of informal discussion.
The Belgo-British Conference was first held in 2000, and it takes place under the Chatham House Rule
, having been an idea discussed by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt
and British Prime Minister
Tony Blair
, when they met for the first time in Downing Street
in November 1999.
The location of the conference alternates annually between Great Britain and Belgium, with a different theme and range of subjects discussed on each occasion.
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
and the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations (EGMONT), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
and the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs. The Conference is currently chaired by Sir Stephen Wall
Stephen Wall
Sir Stephen Wall, GCMG, LVO is a retired British diplomat who served as Britain's ambassador to Portugal and Permanent Representative to the European Union.-Biography:...
(former EU adviser to Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
) and Ambassador (Hon) Lode Willems (Director External and Government Affairs, BNP Parisbas-Fortis), who preside over an independent Board which decides the themes of the conference. Previous chairs include Andre Villeneuve, Count George Jacobs, Baron Paul Buysse and Lord Simon of Highbury. The patrons of the Conference are HRH The Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and HRH Prince Philippe of Belgium. Attendance at the conference is by invitation only and draws around 60 British and Belgian participants from politics, journalism, media, academia, arts, science and business for two days of informal discussion.
The Belgo-British Conference was first held in 2000, and it takes place under the Chatham House Rule
Chatham House Rule
The Chatham House Rule is a core principle that governs the confidentiality of the source of information received at a meeting. Since its refinement in 2002, the rule states:...
, having been an idea discussed by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt
Guy Verhofstadt
Guy Verhofstadt is a Belgian politician who was the 47th Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.- Early career :...
and British Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, when they met for the first time in Downing Street
Downing Street
Downing Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
in November 1999.
The location of the conference alternates annually between Great Britain and Belgium, with a different theme and range of subjects discussed on each occasion.
- 2000 -
- held in BrugesBrugesBruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
- 2001 -
- held in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
- 2002 -
- held at Château de Val Duchesse, BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
- 2003 - "Changing Europe in a Changing World"
- held at the Royal Society of EdinburghRoyal Society of EdinburghThe Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
- The Regions and Europe: Partners or Rivals?
- The EU Economic Future: Competitiveness or Complacency?
- European Security in Flux: Is Partnership Possible?
- Ethnic and Religious Diversity in Europe
- 2004 - "Ensuring Europe's Prosperity - Building Bridges”
- held in NamurNamur (city)Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
, Belgium- Future Prosperity: investing in science, research and higher education
- Enabling Prosperity: how Europe can help secure a better future for Africa
- Sharing prosperity: working with Asia
- Maintaining Prosperity: can we sustain the European social model?
- 2005 - "2020 – A new horizon for Europe"
- held in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
- The shape of Europe in 2020
- Environment and climate change 2020: what really is our future?
- Will we still need a manufacturing industry in 2020?
- What role for Europe in the world in 2020?
- 2006 - "Globalisation and the Citizen"
- held at Château de Val Duchesse, BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
- Future energy supplies and the citizen
- Global Healthcare and the citizen
- Integration and Diversity – How can the public and private sectors respond to public concerns?
- Citizens’ access to information in a globalised world.
- 2007 - "Bridges Across The Channel"
- held at Lancaster HouseLancaster HouseLancaster House is a mansion in the St. James's district in the West End of London. It is close to St. James's Palace and much of the site was once part of the palace complex...
, in London- Economy: can the EU hold its own as global competition intensifies?
- Politics: a voice for Europe on the international scene?
- Education – a driver for growth?
- Culture & Identity
- 2008 - "Natural Resources: Challenges and Opportunities"
- Held in Brussels
- 2009 - "Innovating our Way out of the Crisis " held at the British Council offices in London
- 2010 - "Player or Spectator? Europe in Tomorrow's World " held at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels