Estonia and Belgium
Belgium first recognised the independence of Estonia on 26 January 1921. After the end of the Soviet occupation, Belgium re-recognized the Republic of Estonia on 27 August 1991. Diplomatic relations between Estonia and Belgium were restored on 5 September 1991.
Estonia was represented in Belgium by Karl Robert Pusta from 1921-1932, first as Chargé d’Affaires a.i. and later as Ambassador.
The first Estonian Ambassador to Belgium after the restoration of Estonia’s independence was Clyde Kull, who began his work in September 1992. Jüri Luik was the Estonian Ambassador from 1996-1999. From 1999 to 2003, Ambassador Sulev Kannike represented Estonia in Belgium. Since October 2003, Malle Talvet has been the Ambassador of Estonia to Belgium.
In June 1992, Jacques Ivan D’Hondt, residing in Helsinki, became the first Ambassador of Belgium to Estonia after the restoration of Estonia’s independence. His successor was Louis Mouraux (2000-2002). From April 2003 until August 2004, Johan van Dessel residing in Helsinki was the Belgian Ambassador to Estonia. As of October 2004, Pierre Dubuisson has been the Belgian Ambassador to Estonia residing in Tallinn.
On 7 February 2005, Belgium officially opened its Embassy in Tallinn at 2 Rataskaevu.
Estonian-Belgian friendship group
On 7 June 2005 on the initiative of Riigikogu member Ela Tomson a 9-member Estonian-Belgian parliamentary group was formed in the Riigikogu. Ela Tomson was elected the chairman of the group; Tõnis Lukas became deputy chairman. Members of the group: Margi Ein, Nelli Kalikova, Elle Kull, Urmo Kööbi, Urmas Reinsalu, Siiri Sisask, Mai Treial.
Bilateral relations between Estonia and Belgium are very good politically, economically, culturally and in the education sector. The good relations are reflected by frequent visits, which are one of the most noticeable and most important components of bilateral relations. The understanding of each other is simplified by the fact that both countries are small European states.
Visits to Belgium
- January 1996:
Prime Minister Tiit Vähi
- March 1996:
President Lennart Meri
- March 1997:
Chairman of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi
- September 1997:
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves
- February 1999:
Foreign Minister Raul Mälk
- February 2001:
Minister of Social Affairs Eiki Nestor
- June 2001:
Prime Minister Mart Laar
- December 2001:
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves
- March 2002:
Prime Minister Siim Kallas
- November 2003:
The Riigikogu's Foreign Affairs Committee
- March 2004:
President Arnold Rüütel
- May 2004: President Arnold Rüütel
- January 2005: Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland’s meeting with Belgium’s Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht
- May 2006: Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
- December 2006: President Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Visits to Estonia
- March 1996:
Flemish Prime Minister Luc Van den Brande
- October 2000:
Belgian permanent representative to the OSCE Ambassador Danielle del Marmol
- October 2000:
Senators Guy Moens, Jacques Devolder, Josy Dubié, Freddy Matton
- November 2000:
State Secretary of Belgian Foreign Trade Annemie Neyts
- February 2001:
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt
- April 2001:
Minister of Communications and Transport Isabelle Durant
- June 2001:
Minister of Interior Antoine Duquesne
- August 2001:
Minister of Finance Didier Reynders
- October 2001:
Secretary of State in Charge of EU Affairs Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroek
- November 2001:
Head of the Foregn Affaires Commission of the Chamber of Representatives
Pierre Chevalier
- May 2002:
Minister of Defence André Flahaut
- July 2002:
The Minister-President of the Government of the French Community in Belgium
Hervé Hasquin and the Minister-President of the Walloon Region of Belgium Jean-Claude van
Cauwenberghe
- October 2002:
Armand De Decker, President of the Senate of Belgium
- November 2003:
Secretary of State for European Affairs Jacques Simonet
- February 2005: Belgium’s State Secretary for European Affairs Didier Donfut
- September 2005: Parliamentarians of Brussels, the capital and of the region of Brussels Donfut
- October 2005: Flemish Minister for Foreign Trade, Foreign and Cultural Affairs, Tourism and e-Government Geert Bourgeois
Agreements
In addition to Estonia and Belgium's bilateral agreements Estonia has concluded multilateral agreements with the Benelux countries.
- Co-operation Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of Flanders (came into force 29.01.97);
- The agreement on the readmission of persons staying illegally in the country (signed 03.02.99);
- The agreement between Estonia and Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg on the abolition of mutual visa requirements (came into force 01.07.99);
- The agreement between Estonia and Belgium on the avoidance of double taxation (came into force 15.04.2003);
- Co-operation agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the region of Wallonia and Belgium's French-speaking community (came into force 07.08.03).
Economic relations
Estonia has close contacts with Flanders and dynamically developing contacts with the Walloon Region.
The business contacts between the two countries are flourishing. Almost every year since 2000, exchanges of business delegations have taken place; delegations from both Flanders and Walloon have visited Estonia. The Walloon Region sent its latest delegation to Estonia in April 2003, while an Estonian trade mission visited Belgium in 2001.
In March 2002, the Chamber of Commerce of the region of Walloon and the Baltic States was opened. The Walloon export agency arranged a seminar dedicated to the Baltic States in May 2001 in Namur. A business seminar was also arranged jointly by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce, the Belgian Foreign Trade Board and the Estonian Embassy.
In April 2004, Export Vlaanderen in co-operation with Unizo International arranged a multi-sector business trip to the Baltic States. Also in April 2004, a Flemish delegation visited Estonia. The event was a part of the Estonian-Flemish co-operation programme project "Support for SMEs in Estonia".
On May 11, 2005 an event introducing Estonian food took place in the Estonian Embassy in Brussels. Ten Estonian enterprises were present, representing producers of milk, meat, fish, apiculture products, beer and alcoholic beverages. About ten Belgian companies had come to make the first acquaintance, Delhaize and Colruyt and several retail and wholesale companies among them.
- Agreement Between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg on International Road Transport (came into force 01.12.94)
- Agreement Between the Republic of Estonia and the Belgian-Luxemburg Economic Union on the Protection and Promotion of Investments (came into force 23.09.99)
- Aviation Agreement Between Estonia and Belgium (came into force 01.06.03)
In 2005, the total trade turnover between Estonia and Belgium amounted to 231,5 million EUR of which 79,9 million EUR comprised of Estonian exports and 151,6 million EUR imports. The trade balance was negative by 71,7 million EUR for Estonia.
In 2005, Belgium was Estonia’s 15th largest export partner accounting for 1.3% of total exports and Estonia’s 16th largest import partner, 1.9% of total imports.
- Estonia’s main export articles in 2005:
- Metals and metal products - 30%
- Glass and glass products - 17%
- Vechicles and means of transport - 15%
- Wood and wood products - 7%
- Estonia’s main import articles in 2005:
- Machinery and equipment - 24%
- Chemical products - 18%
- Textile and textile products - 13%
- Plastics - 9%
- Vechicles and means of transport - 7%
All economic figures originate from the Statistical Office of Estonia
Investments
Total Belgian direct investments in Estonia as of 31 December 2005 equalled 34,6 million EUR representing 0.43% of total direct investments. For the most part, Belgian companies have invested in the wholesale and retail sectors. Total Estonian direct investments in Belgium as of 31. December 2005 equalled 102,5 thousand EUR.
Defence co-operation
In 2002, Estonian Defence Minister Sven Mikser and Belgian Defence Minister André Flahaut signed a Bilateral Agreement on Defence Co-operation.
Estonia and Belgium's defence co-operation is directed towards the navy (the BALTRON project) and minesweeping. Belgium also supports the work of the Baltic Defence College, offering the students of the defence college accommodation during their visits to Brussels.
Co-operation in internal affairs
The co-operation of Estonia and Belgium's Ministries of Internal Affairs began with the Schengen project in September 1999. In the framework of the project, expert aid was offered, while consultations took place to analyse Estonia's need for training in implementing the EU acquis communautaire requirements, in preparing training programs and carrying them out.
During the visit of Belgium's Minister of Internal Affairs Antoine Duquesne in 2001, an Agreement on Police Co-operation between Estonia and Belgium was signed, on the basis of which operational co-operation and the exchange of information between the Estonian and Belgian police will be developed, and joint police operations and seminars will be arranged.
Educational and Scientific Co-operation
Flanders has offered scholarships to Estonian students for studies at the European College in Warsaw. Both the Estonian and Flemish parties have set aside scholarships and exchanged students within the framework of summer courses.
In the area of science and technology, direct contacts have been established between the Estonian Ministry of Education and the Flemish science and innovation administration. Information exchange has also taken place between the universities and scientific institutions of both countries.
Youth related co-operation with Belgium started in 1997 within the framework of the Benelux-Baltic co-operation. Every year the joint schooling of youth leaders has been arranged as well as mutual visits. In 2000, an excursion for Estonian experts was arranged to Flanders on the theme "Giving the youth information in a general context, youth work at the local level".
In 2001, Flemish experts visited Estonia; the theme of the visit was "Implementing youth policies at the local level". A similar themed excursion for Estonian and other Baltic representatives took place in Flanders in 2001.
In 2002, Jüri Engelbrecht, President of the Academy of Sciences and Jaak Aaviksoo, Rector of the University of Tartu were in the region of Walloon and Brussels visiting various universities in order to acquaint themselves with the problems of technology transfer, the level of science and industry relations, and means of solving the financing of scientific work.
Co-operation protocols in the field of Youth
As of 2004 the Ministry of Education and Science has concluded bilateral co-operation protocols in the field of youth with 6 countries. Those countries are Finland, Germany, Russia, Belgium (more precisely Flanders), Latvia and Lithuania. The purpose of co-operation is to inform both countries of the developments in the field of youth and to support co-operation between the countries in the field of youth at different levels. On the Estonian side the co-operation protocols of the field of youth are co-ordinated by the Estonian Youth Work Centre.
- Estonian - Belgian (Flemish Community) Co-operation Protocol in the Field of Youth
On 5 - 8 February 2000 the first co-operation protocol in the field of youth between Estonia and the Flemish Community was concluded in Brussels. The main fields of co-operation were the implementation of local youth policy, the improvement of the quality of youth work training and of informal education, as well as the transfer of youth information at the local level.
On 13 - 16 April 2002 in Riga the next co-operation protocol was concluded. The parties to it were the Youth Service of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Estonia, Department of Sports and Youth of the Ministry of Education of the Flemish Commune, the State Council on Youth Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and the Latvian State Youth Initiative Centre. The goals that had been set included the introduction of the system of hobby education in Estonia and the development of international co-operation on the local level.
On 12 - 15 July 2004 a co-operation protocol for the years 2004 and 2005 was concluded in Vilnius, pursuant to which the major activities are directed at the involvement of young people in the decision making processes and the recognition of informal education.
Cultural relations
Cultural co-operation between Estonia and Belgium is effected mainly on regional level. Co-operation with Flanders is effected in the framework of the Estonian-Flemish Co-operation Program for the years 2004-2005.
On 16 November 2004 a co-operation protocol was signed between the Estonian Government and the Walloon Region and the Belgian French Community, which offers a possibility to develop cultural co-operation between Estonia and the Walloon Region and the Belgian French Community. In the framework of the Co-operation Agreement signed in 2001 there has been a lecturer of the French language and literature as of the same year at the University of Tartu.
A series of art exhibitions have taken place, Estonian musicians have repeatedly performed in Belgium with independent concerts, as well as in the framework of other events. Estonian choirs, ensembles and theatres have toured in Belgium.
- Some examples of cultural co-operation across different periods:
- 2001 in late autumn, Estonian culture was widely introduced in Flanders and Brussels
- 2002 from June to August, the exhibition “Treasures of Walloon Art from the 20th Century “ was presented in Tallinn, visited also by minister-presidents of the Walloon Region and of the Belgian French Community. The exhibition was one of the most presentable among those exposed across different periods in Estonia.
- 2002 in the summer, the Goeyvaerts Consort (together with the Seto ensemble "Kuldatsäuk") performed contemporary Flemish music and works by Veljo Tormis
- 2002 in the autumn, Priit Pärn's personal exposition was opened in the "Felicien Rops" Museum in Namur
- 2003 in the middle of November, the Estonian Embassy in Belgium held an open house, where a piano-oboe concert was held, and Jüri Kask’s painting and graphics exhibit was displayed.
- 2004 in April and May, the Flemish Radio Choir performed in many Flemish towns. Their programmes comprised of the works of Baltic composers, including those of Urmas Sisask.
- 2004 in December, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir gave a Christmas concert at the Dominican Church in Brussels conducted by Toomas Vavilov. Villu Veski and Tiit Kalluste performed at the Brussels Jazz Club. A concert with Arvo Pärt’s music took place in the Brussels Royal Conservatory.
- 2005 a night dedicated to Jaan Kaplinski and his creative work at the Théâtre Poème'is of Brussels.
- 2005 in the framework of the open-door days of the EU institutions Eve Randvere's photo exposition of Estonian landscapes and rural scenes and the performances of the Brussels's Estonian choir and of the national dance ensemble.
- 2005 Mayor of Tallinn Tõnis Palts opened the miniature Great Coast Gate of Tallinn in the Mini-Europe theme Park in Brussels. For a whole week the exhibition of Tallinn's Maritime Museum on the history of Tallinn's Great Coast Gate and on the history of the Maritime Museum was open for visitors, as well as the exhibition of panorama photos of Tallinn and the exhibition compiled by the Estonian Institute “12 Questions concerning Estonia” in French, as well as in the Dutch language;
- 2006 Exposition of Estonian artists Mare Vint, Andres Tolts and Maara Vint in Galerie 34 in Brussels.
- 2006 Concert of Aile Asszonyi and Heli Kapten, interpreting Veljo Tormis' music in Brussels Townhall.
- 2006 Christmas concert in the Estonian Embassy (A. Mustonen, I. Sillamaa).
- 2007 From 20 January - 29 April at the Félicien Rops museum in Namur, the capital of the Walloon region, as of autumn an exhibition of Eduard Wiiralt's work is open.
- 2007 February - Soprano Laure Delcamp (Belgium) and pianist Marje Lohuaru (Estonia) performed chamber songs by Estonian, Belgian, French and German composers.
- 2007 April - The book exhibition at the Estonian Embassy in Brussels presents 25 best designed Estonian books of 2006.
The students of the Netherlands’s University of Groningen supervised by their teacher Estophile Cornelius Hasselblatt have translated Estonian literature into the Flemish language. The poetry of Paul-Eerik Rummo and Viivi Luik has partly been translated, published by the Flemish literature journal NWT.
Another literature journal Deus ex machina published in 1999 a Finnish-Estonian special issue, in which Estonia was represented by the poetry of Viivi Luik and Jaan Kaplinski, as well as by the prose of Helju Rebane and Andrus Kivirähk.
- Estonian culture in Belgium in 2005:
- 15.02.05 - a night dedicated to Jaan Kaplinski and his creative work at the Théâtre Poème'is of Brussels;
- 16.02.05 – presentation of a collection of Estonian poetry in the Flemish language at the Passa Porta literature centre of Brussels;
- 30.04.05 – in the framework of the open-door days of the EU institutions Eve Randvere’s photo exposition of Estonian landscapes and rural scenes and the performances of the Brussels’s Estonian choir and of the national dance ensemble;
- 5.05.05 – Mayor of Tallinn Tõnis Palts opened the miniature Great Coast Gate of Tallinn in the Mini-Europe theme Park in Brussels. For a whole week the exhibition of Tallinn’s Maritime Museum on the history of Tallinn’s Great Coast Gate and on the history of the Maritime Museum was open for visitors, as well as the exhibition of panorama photos of Tallinn and the exhibition compiled by the Estonian Institute “12 Questions concerning Estonia” in French, as well as in the Dutch language;
- 7-8.05.05 – Estonian Handicraft Union introduced the Estonian folk art and taught simpler handicraft skills to the visitors in Mini-Europe and Bruparck.
- 8-24.06 - Exposition of Estonian artists Mare Vint, Andres Tolts and Maara Vint in Galerie 34 in Brussels.
- 14.09 - Concert of Aile Asszonyi and Heli Kapten, interpreting Veljo Tormis' music in Brussels Townhall.
- 13.12 - Christmas concert in the Estonian Embassy (A. Mustonen, I. Sillamaa).
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