Even before the state reform of 1993, which gave extensive foreign competences to Flanders, the Flemish Government had considered Central and Eastern Europe as a priority area within Flanders’ foreign policy.
European programmes like Tacis and Phare served as a good example for the development of the Flemish cooperation programme in Central and Eastern Europe. The implementation of cooperation agreements with States in Central and Eastern Europe took the form of projects, for which Flemish promoters (institutions, organizations, companies, …) could receive a financial contribution from the Flemish authorities for setting up a project with partners in this region.

The new policy is based on three pillars:
* Pillar I: Flanders will try to build on previously established contacts and networks and concentrate on those sectors where it has a comparative advantage. In this context the Flemish democratic social model, a dynamic knowledge society and a model for administrative policy, can be propagated and transmitted through projects that lead towards a win-win situation. In 2008 a budget of 1,170,000 euros will be spent on activities in the new member states.

* Pillar II: the pre-accession support should contribute to the countries' accession process to the EU and facilitate their successful integration into the European Union. The available budget in 2008 amounts to 500,000 euros for Croatia, 250,000 euros for Macedonia and 750,000 euros for the other countries on the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia-Kosovo).

* Pillar III: also with the countries called 'new neighbours' Flanders will try to set up cooperation wherever it is possible and meaningful. This cooperation will take the form of capacity building, institutional, democratic and economical backing, conflict prevention and community structuring. In 2008 the Flemish authorities wish again to limit the cooperation to Ukraine. For the financing of projects under pillar III a budget of 250,000 euros is available

Click for the necessary documents here.

More information via:
Department of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs divison
Boudewijnlaan 30
1000 Brussel
E: projecten-bcoe@vlaanderen.be
T: +32 2 553 59 20