Belgo-British Conference


The Belgo-British Conference is an annual conference organised by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, the British Council and EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations.
The aim of the Conference is to enrich bilateral relations by bringing together around 100 politicians, business people, academics, journalists, and other opinion-formers to debate themes of common and crucial importance to Belgium and the United Kingdom. In recent years themes have included ‘Natural resources: challenges and opportunities,’ 'Employment and Growth,' and ‘Two countries, how many Europes? A Belgo-British dialogue.' The 2013 Conference will focus on 'History and Reconciliation: Engaging a New Generation,' and comes at a time when states involved in the First World War are preparing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its outbreak.
The Conference is currently chaired by Sir Stephen Wall and Ambassador Lode Willems, who preside over an independent Board which agrees the theme 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 The Prince of Wales and Prince Laurent of Belgium. The location of the conference alternates annually between the United Kingdom and Belgium and takes place under the Chatham House Rule.

History

The Belgo-British Conference was first held in 2000, 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.

List of Conferences and Themes

2000
2001
2002
2003 Changing Europe in a Changing World
2004 Ensuring Europe's Prosperity - Building Bridges
2005 2020 – A new horizon for Europe
2006 Globalisation and the Citizen
2007 Bridges Across The Channel
2008 Natural Resources: Challenges and Opportunities
2009 Innovating our Way out of the Crisis
2010 Player or Spectator? Europe in Tomorrow's World
2011 Employment and Growth
2012 Two Countries, How many Europes? A Belgo-British Dialogue
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2013 History and Reconciliation: Engaging a New Generation
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