February 24, 2024
No. 071
The Brussels-Capital Region Parliament of Belgium passed a resolution on Taiwan’s status in the international arena after a plenary review on February 23, with 70 votes in favor, 10 abstentions, and none against. The resolution calls for the government of the Brussels-Capital Region to encourage the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation to support diplomatic work aimed at defusing tensions in the Asia-Pacific. It endorses Taiwan’s participation in such international organizations and mechanisms as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The resolution also supports commercial exchanges between Taiwan and the Brussels-Capital Region and encourages the European Commission to expand commercial and industrial cooperation, as well as stronger partnerships with Taiwan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) warmly welcomes the resolution, which is the fifth adopted by the Belgian federal and regional parliaments in support of Taiwan following similar resolutions passed by the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in July 2020, the Flemish Parliament and the Belgian Senate in March 2021, and the Wallonia Parliament in October 2022. It also marks the first time that the Brussels-Capital Region Parliament has expressed support for Taiwan-Belgium relations through a resolution.
Belgium has a unique constitutional system. The federal state was gradually established through a series of constitutional amendments. It is divided into the three regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital based on the language used locally—respectively Dutch, French, and German. Each region has its own government and parliament, and regional governments have the authority to sign treaties and develop bilateral relations with the governments of other countries. The Brussels-Capital Region Parliament’s overwhelming vote in favor of its first resolution backing Taiwan demonstrates that Taiwan and Belgium are like-minded partners sharing the values of democracy, freedom, and human rights. MOFA highly appreciates the resolution and will continue to deepen cooperation and exchanges and foster friendly relations with the parliament and government of the Brussels-Capital Region. (E)