Estonia and Belgium

15.06.2010

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.

During the period between the two world wars from 1921 - 1932, Estonia was represented in Belgium at first by chargé d'affaires a.i. and afterwards by Ambassador Karl Robert Pusta, who resided in Paris. Upon Estonia's regaining of independence, Estonia has been represented in Belgium by ambassadors Clyde Kull (1992-1996), Jüri Luik (1996-1999), Sulev Kannike (1999-2003) and Malle Talvet-Mustonen (2003-2008). From 14.10.2008 – 7.10.2009 the Estonian Ambassador to Belgium was Karin Jaani.

Belgian ambassadors in Estonia resided in Helsinki from 1992-2004. Belgium opened its embassy in Estonia on 7 February 2005. Pierre Dubuisson, who was the first Belgian ambassador to reside in Tallinn, was ambassador from 2004-2008. On 3 October 2008 the current ambassador Nicolaas Buyck presented his credentials. Estonia has 2 honorary consuls in Belgium: Antoine (Tony) Vuylsteke in Flanders and Alain van Bellingen in the Walloon region.

The relations between Estonia and Belgium are very good in politics, economy, in culture as well as in education.

Visits

Belgium has during the last decade been visited by Estonian presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers as well as other high-level officials. Recently, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip (in June 2009) and President of the Estonian Parliament Ene Ergma (February 2008). The last high-level visit of Belgians to Estonia was in 2008, when King Albert II visited Tallinn.

Agreements

• Agreement on Road Transport between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands (entered into force 01.12.94);
• Co-operation Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of Flanders (came into force 29.01.97);
• Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments (entered into force 23.09.99);
• The Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation (came into force 15.04.2003);
• Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium on Air Transport (entered into force 01.06.03);
• Co-operation Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Region of Walloon and Belgium's French-speaking Community (came into force 7.08.03).
• The Agreement on the Readmission of Persons Staying Illegally in the Country (came into force 1.02.05);

Economic Relations

The business ties between the two countries are developing step by step, though, quite vigorously. The first economic consultations between Estonia and Belgium took place in 2000, almost every year the exchange of business delegations has taken place. Estonia has been visited by delegations from Flanders as well as from Wallonia.

In Brussels, the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Ciimerce has opened its representation (2001, http://www.epk.ee) and since autumn of 2006, the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also been represented in Brussels (www.koda.ee).

Trade

In 2009 total trade turnover with Belgium was 274.8 million EUR, of which export made up 121 million EUR and import 153 million EUR. The trade balance was in deficit by 32 million EUR. According to turnover, Belgium ranked as Estonia’s 14th trade partner (with 2.0% of total foreign trade turnover).

In the ranking of countries according to export, Belgium was Estonia’s 15th trade partner (with 1.9% of exports) and in the import ranking Belgium was 13th (2.1% of imports). Compared with 2008, exports increased slightly while imports decreased slightly.

Estonia's main export articles in 2009:

• Transportation vehicles - 22.6%
• Products of stone, cement, and glass - 20.6%
• Mineral products - 18.4%

Estonia's main import articles in 2009:

• Mineral products - 20.1%
• Chemical products - 20.1%
• Machinery and equipment - 15.3%

All economic figures originate from the Statistical Office of Estonia

Investments

As of 31 December 2009, Belgian direct investments in Estonia totalled 46.3 million EUR. This is 0.41% of all foreign direct investments made in Estonia. The investments have mostly gone to wholesale and retail trade (68.9%), real estate rental and business activity (23.7%), and also some to the manufacturing industry (2%).
Estonian direct investments in Belgium as of the same date totalled 1.2 million EUR, which were mostly made in wholesale and retail trade.

Defence Co-operation

The defence co-operation between Estonia and Belgium has been focused on the navy (the BALTRON project) and on mines countermeasures. Belgium is a participant in the BALTRON project as well as a member of the BALTRON Naval Working Group (NWG).

In addition, the Estonian Navy has for years already trained officers in the Belgian naval mine warfare school EGUERMIN, which is a NATO Centre of Excellence in that field. The courses for officers in EGUERMIN at Oostende are conducted with the duration from one week up to six months.

In addition, the regular participation of Belgian naval vessels in Estonia-led mines countermeasures operations (OPEN SPIRIT and MCOPEST) is worth mentioning.

Co-operation in internal affairs

Belgian experts have in the framework of the Schengen project helped to train officials of the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs. There has also been concluded an agreement of police co-operation between Estonia and Belgium (2001), based on which operational co-operation is developed between the Estonian and Belgian police, the exchange of information takes place and joint police operations as well as seminars are arranged. Also, co-operation is conducted in elaborating personal identification documents and in detecting false documents.

Educational and Scientific Co-operation

The educational and scientific co-operation is conducted in the framework of agreements between Estonia-Flanders and Estonia-Wallonia-Francophone community. Flanders has provided Estonian students with stipends for studies in the College of Europe in Warsaw. Estonia as well as Flanders have allocated stipends and exchanged students in the framework of summer courses. The Francophone community has sent to Estonia teachers of French and offered stipends for the language studies. Good co-operation also takes places between the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the Gembloux Research Centre.

Cultural Relations

The cultural relations between Estonia and Belgium are very tight, facilitated by the above mentioned co-operation agreements with Flanders and with Wallonia and Francophone community. A great number of events take place on the basis of reciprocity, e.g. the exhibition of works by Eduard Viiralt at Félicien Rops Museum in Namur and the exhibition of Félicien Rops in the Estonian Art Museum. In addition to the events arranged by the Embassy there are numerous undertakings based on the reciprocal ties between the museums, theatres, galleries, concert halls and musicians. In recent years, a series of art exhibitions have taken place; Estonian musicians have performed with independent concerts as well as in the framework of different events; Estonian choirs, ensembles and theatres have toured in Belgium.

In February 2009 a Tõnis Mägi concert and reception took place at the Estonian Embassy in Brussels and in April there was an Indrek Hirve poetry night; in November Sofi Oksanen’s discussion evening with Indrek Tarand in the Goethe Institute drew a substantial crowd. Within the framework of Estonia’s Independence Day, in February 2010 guitarist Heiki Mätlik gave concerts in Brussels and Antwerp. On 8 March 2010 a literary evening took place at the embassy with authors Jaanus Vaiksoo and Jaak Urmet, and on 19 and 20 May the work of Arvo Pärt was heard in churches in Brussels during the concert “Northern Lights”, performed by the Brussels Chamber Choir. Starting from the end of June, the Brussels Motor Show will include an exhibit of Estonian formula cars and in the Commission building in Berlaymont an exhibit of Song Celebration photos will be on display.

Estonians in Belgium

A great number of Estonians first went to live in Belgium during the Second World War. Similar to other places where many Estonians settled, there was an active Estonian social and cultural life in Belgium. For a long time the activities of the Estonian Society were led by Liis Dillie-Lindre. The new wave of Estonian immigration to Belgium was tied to Estonia’s accession to the European Union. In recent years, many more Estonians have gone to Belgium to work and live than did after World War II. Most of them work in the Brussels area (either in Estonian representations or in European institutions). The number of Estonians living here together with their families is currently estimated to be close to two thousand. The Estonian Society has been re-launched. Ragnar Mägi, an Estonian born in Belgium who was also a member of the former Estonian Society, has been elected as the president of the Society.

Estonians living in Brussels and in its outskirts have their own singing choir BEENE, folk dance group Naabri Mari, children's singing group, and aerobics, football and tennis trainings. There are Estonian history classes for school-aged children as well as a group for toddlers; there is also a children’s reading room. Midsummer Day and children's Christmas parties are celebrated together. In 2009 the brainstorming session “Let’s Do It!” was held in the embassy.

The Belgian Estonians have their own home page at:www.eestimaja.be. For more direct communication there is also a mailing list, which anyone can join by writing to the address bruest@yahoo.com.