Today, Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) and the Minister-Presidents of the four Federated Entities, Matthias Diependaele (Flanders), Adrien Dolimont (Wallonia), Élisabeth Degryse (Wallonia-Brussels Federation) and Oliver Paasch (German-speaking Community), signed a protocol agreement marking the start of a new structural cooperation.
With this protocol agreement, Defence and the Federated Entities commit for the first time to meeting on a structural basis to discuss what is needed to rebuild the armed forces and make our society more resilient. This is a practical working relationship, with clear agreements and a fixed consultation structure.
The Federated Entities play a crucial role in Defence's growth
In order to grow, Defence very concretely needs the Federated Entities. Authorisations relating to infrastructure, spatial planning, mobility, education and training, and employment largely fall within the competences of the Regions and Communities.
Within the new consultation platform, these files will be prepared jointly, so that obstacles are removed more quickly and Defence's investments can be implemented efficiently on the ground.
Liaison officer with the Minister-Presidents
An important new element of the agreement is the appointment of a Defence liaison officer with the Minister-Presidents. This officer will act as a permanent point of contact between the cabinets and administrations concerned.
A permanent seat within the DIRS and innovation platforms
The signatory Regions gain a full seat within the Defence, Industry and Research Strategy (DIRS) and related structures. This allows them to help determine priority projects, make optimal use of research budgets, and maximise business participation in European and NATO projects.
Defence can in turn make use of instruments already put in place by the Federated Entities in the fields of innovation, incubation and acceleration, so that defence projects fit better into the regional economic and industrial strategy.
Working agreements
Defence Minister Theo Francken stated: “Defence is now also placing itself at the service of the Federated Entities, illustrating interfederal cooperation. We need the Federated Entities to rebuild our armed forces: for authorisations, infrastructure, mobility, training and recruitment. In exchange, we are granting them a permanent seat at the negotiating table. This way, we guarantee faster results, both for Defence and for the Federated Entities.”
"For the first time, the Federated Entities are closely involved in Defence's most crucial competence. This cooperation framework can therefore be called historic, especially in these particularly difficult geopolitical times. It is a win-win situation for all parties involved. Thanks to our own expertise and competences, particularly in spatial planning, education, mobility, innovation, industry, and so on, Flanders is contributing to a particularly important chapter in defence history. Thanks to this framework, the federal partner now has a direct line to the federated entities. Moreover, this new framework will speed up the activation of the Flemish defence plan", added Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of Flanders.
"In a rapidly changing geopolitical context, marked by a growing need for security and resilience, it is essential that Wallonia be fully integrated into the national defence strategy. This protocol marks a new step towards structured cooperation, serving our security, innovation and employment", said Adrien Dolimont, Minister-President of Wallonia.
"The geopolitical situation facing Europe, and of course Belgium, requires closer cooperation between the federal government and the Federated Entities in the field of defence. For the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, this protocol agreement will enable the joint development of higher education programmes geared towards the challenges facing Defence, particularly in security and crisis management. It will notably encourage partnerships between higher education institutions and Defence. It will explore the possibility of integrating internships, work-study training and certification for military (student) members of the reserve corps into education structures. More generally, it will increase the involvement of the Federated Entities in civil-military cooperation on health policy. With this protocol agreement, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and Defence are now establishing a structural cooperation framework", explained Élisabeth Degryse, Minister-President of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
Oliver Paasch, Minister-President of the German-speaking Community, said: "The new platform gives the German-speaking Community, for the first time, a permanent and equal role in security consultations between the Federal State and the Federated Entities. Close involvement in various aspects of Defence also strengthens our regional development and ensures that national resilience also takes concrete shape here."
Starting point for long-term cooperation
With this protocol, Defence clearly shows that it wants to be a reliable partner for the Regions and Communities. The agreement thus becomes the starting point for a long-term, results-focused cooperation around a shared goal: modern, effective armed forces and a resilient society.