Flemish Brabant in Europe

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There are a number of good reasons for looking at Flemish Brabant in a European light. It has so much more than just a favourable geographical location. As is generally known: the big black hole, which can be seen from a bird's-eye view on any map of the 65 united communities, is Brussels. The rest is us. Arranged all the way around the capital city of the Kingdom - which also happens to be the capital city of the Union, we have no need to wait for LiRa - "With the light rail you would already be in Brussels" - to be able to find your way to the European institutions for all kinds of projects.

The Europeans of the Year

A leading publication gives out extravagant awards at the end of every year to personalities of lesser and greater shine from the European spectrum. These men and women - in an unequal ratio - pluck the public relations fruits of their efforts for the common good. In the selection, potential candidates from Flemish Brabant are systematically overlooked. Together with you, the reader, we want to change this. So take heed of the go local appeal from the European information and communication offensive and let us finally make this irrepressible drive for cooperation a reality. Then we will happily nominate ourselves as united to the prize committee.

Vacuum

In the autumn of 2001, the province of Flemish Brabant was already clearly nourishing the ambition to carve itself an even stronger reputation on the European forum. In order to fully utilise all the opportunities that Europe has to offer, the department for European affairs was set up with a three-fold task:

• to bring not only provincial employees, but also other participants, around the table to take part in European projects in the framework of European programmes such as Interreg A (cross-border), Interreg B (transnational) and Interreg C (interregional). The project managers distil new project proposals, also from contacts with the latest member states;
• supported by the European rural development programme, to protect our delicate rural areas so that they remain attractive and habitable, thanks to cooperation between the Flemish, provincial and local policy levels;
• to help citizens further with their questions about the European Union, referring them if necessary to more specialised authorities, making publications available and distributing them, putting plans into action, making contacts easier: there is a great deal on offer from Europe Direct.

Results

The provincial government has therefore also expressly invested in those employees that offer the province itself, as well as other participants from the region, better chances of participation in various European programmes and projects. The results of these efforts are: knowledge-sharing with partners in an extended Europe, working more in an international perspective and extra money for new realisations. As a starting point, participation in the programme for rural development and for the cross-border cooperation between Dutch and Flemish provinces within the Euregio Benelux Middengebied (Interreg A/cross-border) was chosen. Other horizons have also been explored: North-West Europe (Interreg B/transnational), Europe as a whole (Interreg C/interregional), and the new member states.

Rural counter

For the practical implementation of the programme for rural development, our province has had a rural counter since 2002 that works closely with the Flemish management authorities for this programme. For rural communities or local associations active in the countryside, this is the only correct point of contact for submitting projects that request European, Flemish and/or provincial financial support.

Hungry: want to know more?

Would you like to find out more about the future plans for Flemish Brabant in Europe? Be guided by the mouse: you will find the cheese on the bread at www.europa.eu