The Netherlands and Belgium united in the fight against terrorism

The Netherlands and Belgium are going to step up their cooperation in relation to defence matters, the fight against terrorism, their embassies, security and energy – such was the outcome of the latest round of the Thalassa talks between the Dutch and Belgian governments.

Prime Minister Charles Michel and Prime Minister Mark Rutte

Talks between members of the Dutch and Belgian executives at the Dutch Ministry of General Affairs and the Mauritshuis in The Hague about issues including security and terrorism, employment and energy have wound up with the signing of four agreements setting out practical arrangements for stepping up the cooperation between the Netherlands and Belgium.

Among these agreements is one establishing provisions for joint policing of the two countries' airspace to counteract civil craft that may pose a terrorist threat. Under the terms of this agreement, signed by the Dutch and Belgian Defence Ministers, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Steven Vandeput, the Netherlands and Belgium have agreed to take turns in carrying out these duties. In this way the agreement also marks a step forward in the efforts to increase European defence cooperation.

Following the talks, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel stressed the importance of close cooperation in the fight against radicalism and terrorism, with the former pointing out that the international situation made these activities more crucial than ever and to how tackling terrorism was a shared challenge.

Fire-fighting helicopters, embassies, energy and defence

Another area in which the Netherlands and Belgium are going to work together more closely is that of fighting natural fires, with it being agreed that fire-fighting helicopters belonging to the Dutch Ministry of Defence can be deployed for large-scale natural fires in Belgium.

Furthermore, an agreement on bringing the Dutch and Belgian embassies in the Democratic Republic of Congo under one roof has been signed. This along with exchanges of personnel between the Netherlands and Belgium is of particular interest for small diplomatic missions. This agreement is the follow-up to a 2012 agreement between the Netherlands and Belgium to share more embassy buildings. The Dutch government has pledged to continue identifying areas where there is room for further integration in the cooperation between the two countries. A memorandum of understanding has also been signed to consolidate the existing cooperation in relation to energy matters.

Close ties

As neighbours, the Netherlands and Belgium maintain close political, cultural and economic ties. In 2013, trade between the two countries came to almost €90 billion, and they work closely together in international organisations such as Benelux, the European Union, NATO and the United Nations.

As well as the two prime ministers, in all 22 members of the Dutch and Belgian governments participated in this third round of the Thalassa talks, which take their name from the ship on which they were first held in 2003.

Commemoration of the Sierre Tunnel coach accident

On behalf of the Belgian government, Prime Minister Charles Michel invited Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to join him and the families of the victims at the ceremony on 13 March 2015 to commemorate the coach accident in the Sierre Tunnel (Switzerland) – an invitation which was accepted by the Dutch premier.