Flemish Foreign Policy with regard to Central and Eastern Europe (1992-2003)

For some time now, the Central and Eastern European countries have formed a region, which can count on special attention in Flemish foreign policy. The roots of Flemish active policy with regard to the region go back to the beginning of the nineteen nineties. In that period, Flanders laid the foundation for its Flemish foreign policy. As far as Europe is concerned, international activities concentrated on the European union, on cooperation with the Netherlands and on the neighbouring countries and on the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Outside Europe, the focal point lay on relations with South Africa and Chile and cooperation with and via multilateral organisations (Bijdrage Vlaamse Administratie, 1999:4).