On 21 and 22 May, Belgilum received the directors of the crisis centres of the foreign ministries of EU countries and of certain like-minded countries. Representatives of EU institutions involved in these issues were also present. With this initiative, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU wanted to establish even more effective cooperation between the different countries and a better understanding of the respective modus operandi.
The 21st of May was devoted to workshops on lessons learned from past crises, and conferences that allowed for joint reflection and discussion on consular crisis cooperation between countries in the EU and beyond. These workshops and conferences were interspersed with short speeches by several experts on regional security.
On the 22nd of May, representatives of FPS Foreign Affairs, the directors of crisis centres of EU foreign ministries and some like-minded countries, as well as representatives of the EEAS, the Commission and the Council of the EU, participated in the large-scale evacuation exercise Storm Tide 24, organised in cooperation with the Belgian Ministry of Defence. This participation took place as part of the ‘Distinguished Visitors Day’. The aim of this exercise is to prepare the Belgian military and the FPS Foreign Affairs’ operational teams for evacuation operations in difficult circumstances, such as armed conflicts.
These two days combined discussions on important issues in the current context with practical exercises. They inscribed themselves perfectly within the three main pillars of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU; by bringing its partners together and participating in Storm Tide 24, the Belgian Presidency wants to improve the protection of all citizens, strengthen relations with European and international colleagues and prepare for scenarios in which cooperation with these partners is essential.
David Jordens, spokesperson – woordvoerder – porte-parole
TEL: +32 478 92 09 37
EMAIL: david.jordens@diplobel.fed.be
Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Rue des Petits Carmes / Karmelietenstraat 15
Brussels 1000 – Belgium
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