Belgium and the United Kingdom have issued a joint statement confirming an expanded programme of bilateral work across security, migration, trade, research and energy. The document, published by the UK Government, situates cooperation within the EU‑UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Renewed Agenda for EU–UK Cooperation agreed on 19 May 2025.
The statement recognises institutional differences between the two systems and notes the involvement of Belgium’s federal, regional and community governments. Both sides commit to sustained dialogue and to exchanges between sub‑state entities in line with their respective competences.
On security and defence, the two NATO Allies reaffirm long‑term support for Ukraine and continued participation with partners in the Coalition of the Willing. Existing cooperation such as joint exercises and exchanges will continue, with regular consultations on international security challenges and disruptive threats, including cyber and electronic warfare.
To protect North Sea infrastructure, the governments plan to build on the NorthSeal Platform and to work through the JEF+ mechanism alongside bilateral, regional and multilateral defence‑industrial partnerships. The emphasis is on deterring malign activity around offshore assets and subsea links.
Law‑enforcement cooperation will be taken forward under a Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement, which the parties intend to sign in 2026. Agencies will continue to cooperate in EUROPOL, INTERPOL and Prüm contexts, exploring options to deepen data sharing and joint disruption of organised crime, including human trafficking, drug trafficking and illicit finance.
The statement highlights port and logistics security and signals closer coordination between law‑enforcement, security and customs services. As International Maritime Organisation Council members, the UK and Belgium will work together on safety, security and decarbonisation. Commitments also include crisis preparedness, resilience measures and strengthened judicial cooperation to support investigations and prosecutions.
On irregular migration, the governments set out plans to strengthen returns and readmissions strategies, improve information exchange and deploy security technology and operational enhancements, with Zeebrugge identified as a focal point. Bilateral, regional through the Calais Group, and wider multilateral dialogues will continue, in coordination with EU Member States and countries of origin and transit.
Both sides underscore work to disrupt smuggling networks upstream, including communications campaigns in source countries and, where appropriate, joint investigations. The statement reiterates commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights while arguing that legal frameworks must deter system abuse, prevent exploitation and operate in the public interest in concert with like‑minded partners.
Economic cooperation will focus on reducing frictions in bilateral trade under the TCA and the Renewed Agenda, with collaboration across defence, life sciences, biopharma, energy, technology and agrifood. The two governments acknowledge the role of temporary mobility for business and research and will examine ways to lower barriers, including closer cooperation between ports and exploration of autonomous shipping.
Both governments will expand dialogue on economic security, reviewing foreign direct investment screening in strategic sectors, supply‑chain diversification and protection of critical infrastructure. Cooperation on fiscal and tax matters will continue through information exchange while recognising the autonomy of the central banks. Customs authorities will seek to simplify procedures and provide targeted guidance to stakeholders, including SMEs.
Research, innovation and health security feature prominently. The governments intend to deepen links in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, semiconductors, AI and engineering biology; support higher‑education and university collaboration; and use programmes such as Horizon Europe and bilateral schemes to maintain excellence, openness and research integrity.
Health security measures include cooperation to reinforce medical supply chains and manage critical medicines shortages, building on the UK’s membership of the EU Critical Medicines Alliance. The statement commits to continued collaboration on pandemic resilience and vaccines in support of the World Health Organization, and to closer work on clinical trials, medical devices, digital health and AI to improve system accessibility and sustainability.
On energy, the governments will update their February 2022 Memorandum of Understanding and ensure the smooth operation of existing interconnectors while continuing discussions on Nautilus, a proposed new UK–Belgium electricity interconnector, subject to domestic legislation and regulatory roles. Annual exchanges on security of supply and biennial bilateral energy dialogues will be maintained.
Further priorities include cooperation under the North Sea Summit to reinforce energy security and the net‑zero transition; exploring joint approaches to low‑carbon hydrogen; and establishing green shipping corridors between UK and Belgian ports. The parties aim in the first half of 2026 to conclude a bilateral arrangement under the London Protocol to enable cross‑border transport of CO2 for permanent geological storage, and will also explore cooperation on nuclear energy.
Implementation will proceed within existing constitutional arrangements. For Belgium, the statement confirms the involvement of the federal government as well as the governments of Flanders, Wallonia, the Brussels‑Capital Region, the French Community and the German‑speaking Community, without altering the division of competences.
For policy and operational teams, the near‑term watchpoints include preparation for the planned 2026 signature of the Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement, the Nautilus interconnector discussions and regulatory processes, and the targeted first‑half‑2026 London Protocol arrangement on CO2 transport. Port operators and logistics hubs, notably at Zeebrugge and on the UK side, should expect continued coordination on security upgrades and potential pilots linked to autonomous shipping and green corridors.
Universities, research institutes and health agencies have clear routes for engagement via Horizon Europe and bilateral schemes, alongside joint work on clinical research, devices and digital health standards. Firms in strategic sectors should monitor developments on foreign‑investment screening and supply‑chain expectations as economic‑security dialogue advances.
The statement reiterates a shared commitment to long‑term cooperation grounded in NATO obligations, the TCA and the Renewed Agenda. Delivery will be shaped by annual and biennial review points in energy and by cross‑border operational groups in security, migration and economic security.