News and Events -----------

Save the date: on Saturday 8 June from 14h00 to 17h00 a Garden Party is being held just outside Brussels, in Rhode-St-Genèse, as a fundraiser the Songani Hope and Wellness Centre in Malawi that offers testing and counselling for HIV patients. The Centre is run by the UK-based charity Mbedza and needs ongoing support.

The Garden Party will take place at the residence of the Malawian Ambassador to Belgium and the EU, Dr Naomi Ngwira, and will feature good food, drinks and live music, as well as games for children, whilst supporting a good cause.

More information will be available soon, but to find out more contact Sue Bird via sue@mbedza.org

The trajectory of Franz Liszt resembles that of a hero from an epic tale that might have been written by his friend Victor Hugo. Both were men who embraced their century as much as they were enveloped by it. And Franz is the subject of the next International Study Group (ISG) talk on Monday 8 April.

After early beginnings as a child prodigy at the Vienna school of Schubert and Beethoven, young Liszt became the greatest piano virtuoso in Paris and, at the same time, one of the first stars in the contemporary sense of the term, combining success and scandal, celebrity, tumultuous loves, and incredible friendships. After an international tour of nearly eight years, he changed his life and transformed into a conductor, theatre director, promoter of the avant-garde, and composer of great symphonic works. He simultaneously developed a profoundly original aesthetic way of thinking about music.

Finally, propelled by his deep Catholic faith, he drew closer to the Pope, received minor orders, and composed masterpieces for the organ and religious music, while never forgetting to be a beloved professor recognized by his numerous students for his unwavering generosity. These are the main facets of this exceptional man, whom chance has made a genius, whose portrait will be painted in words, images, and music during this talk.

Our guide to Liszt’s life will be Hugo Rodriguez, the curator of the library of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. He has previously worked at the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR) and the Museum of Musical Instruments (MIM). He holds a doctorate in musicology from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, where he teaches.

Where and when

The talk will take place on Monday, 8 April 2024 with a welcome coffee from 10h00 and the talk starting at 10h30. The venue is Château Malou, Allée Pierre Levie 2, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and free parking is available around the Chateau. Public transport is also close by: Tram 8, stop Voot; Bus 28, stop Deportés or Parc Malou (easier). The talk is free to ISG members. Guests and non-members should pay €10 on entry.

For more information visit: https://isgbrussels.be/

Our friends at British in Europe (BiE) have launched a survey to get  some feedback on how well (or not) voter registration has gone for UK citizens in Europe who wish to (re)claim their right to vote in UK elections following the recent law change in the UK.

So, if you applied to register to vote, how was it for you? The survey can be accessed here and should take only a couple of minutes to complete.

The results will be used to help BiE to identify how to better encourage people to register early and any specific issues that need to be highlighted with UK authorities.

2024 is a year full of elections around the world. And Belgium is no exception. On Sunday 9 June elections will be held for the Belgian regional and federal parliaments as well as the European Parliament. And in the Autumn, on 13 October the polls will be open for Belgian municipal representatives. The BBCA has put together a quick guide to the how, what and when for voting in Belgium in 2024.

Who can vote?

If you are a Belgian citizen, you will be automatically registered to participate in all the elections - and participation is (at least in theory) obligatory.

If you are an EU citizen living in Belgium, you have the right to vote in both the European and municipal elections - but you need to make sure you are registered in advance.

If you are a non-EU citizen (and that include all ‘Brexit Brits’) living in Belgium for at least 5 years, you have the right to vote in the municipal elections - but again you need to make sure you are registered in advance.

More information here: https://www.commissioner.brussels/en/i-am-an-expat/elections-2024  

Why vote?

If you are a Belgian citizen, then voting is seen as a duty and obligation of good citizenship. In theory you could be fined for not voting – although in practise this is a very rare outcome.

Government in Belgium has three levels: the federal level, the regional level (e.g. Brussels-Capital region), and the local commune/ gemeente local level.

The local level is important as it is the level at which citizens and residents have the most contact with government and has arguably the most impact on the day-to-day life of all citizens.

Your commune/ gemeente looks after your papers (e.g. Identity cards and passports, driving licences, births, deaths and marriages), social infrastructure and well-being (e.g. crèches, schools, homes for the elderly, social housing and a wide range of social services), public infrastructure (e.g. roads, sewers, lighting and cleaning/ rubbish collection) and your local public sports and leisure facilities.

Who’s who in the commune?

The maire or the bourgmestre is the boss at your commune/ gemeente! He or she must be a Belgian citizen. L'échevin / l'échevine or wethouder manages specific domains of activity such as planning and mobility. Together, the bourgmestre and all the échevins/ wetbouders compose the ‘Collège’. Along with the ‘Collège’, all the elected councillors compose the Conseil Communal.

Can I vote locally?

All Belgian citizens over 18 are obliged to vote in local elections. Citizens of the EU and third-country citizens (including the UK) can vote, but they are not obliged to vote.

To vote in municipal elections, foreign citizens (EU and non-EU) must first register to vote before 31 July 2024. For EU citizens all you need to register is your Belgian national identity number. For non-EU citizens, you will also need your Belgian national identity number but must also be able to prove that you have been resident in Belgium for five years or more.

To register either go to www.inscription.elections.fgov.be or go to your commune/ gemeente to complete a form.

Voting day – Sunday 13 October

Having registered you will receive a ‘convocation’ (an invitation to vote) with the address of your place to vote – the polling station. Polling stations will be open between 08h00 and 14h00 for paper voting and open to 16h00 if the polling station uses electronic voting, which is the case in Brussels.

More information

You can download a BBCA leaflet on the 2024 elections with more information and useful links here.

On Wednesday 17 April The Arts Society Brussels presents a fascinating illustrated talk on Indian Modern Art.

At the birth of Indian Independence in 1947, a group of talented and determined artists set out to create a new art for a new country. They drew on ancient artistic traditions but also had a radical view of how Indian art could speak to its audience. This movement known as the Bombay Progressives Artists' Group, created an art very much for and of its time - acting as witness to a country in turmoil and relating the fascinating story of transition and growth of the new India. This talk will explore how art in the subcontinent threw off the yoke of colonial influence to create modern masterpieces and a thriving global business.

Who, what where

The talk will be given by Georgina Bexon, an art historian specialising in South Asian art, on the evening of Wednesday 17 April in the conference room, Maison Communale of Woluwe Saint Lambert, Tomberg. Complimentary drinks from 19h30 with the talk beginning at 20h00.

More information here: https://theartssociety.org/events/story-indian-modern-art

On the evening of Thursday 14 March 2024 discover the untold story of the Brontës in Brussels with Helen MacEwan, author of The Brontës in Brussels and founder of the Brussels Brontë Group!

You can delve into a hidden chapter of literary history at a free exclusive webinar hosted by the Brussels City Museum from 18h30.

Helen will unravel the captivating tale of Charlotte and Emily Brontë’s residence in Brussels from their transformative experiences at the Pensionnat Heger to the echoes of their love and longing in the heart of Brussels illuminating the profound impact of this enchanting city on Charlotte’s life and work.

More information and registration here: https://www.brusselscitymuseum.brussels/en/evenement/history-on-thursday-the-brontes-in-brussels

This month’s talk with the International Study Group (ISG), on Monday 11 March, is about the critical issues facing Europe with Klaus van der Pas,  a devoted European integration advocate. Klaus will address some of the problems that a Trump presidency could pose for Europe as well as the threats from expansive Russian aggression.

Nikolaus (Klaus) van der Pas, had a long career in the European Commission. In the many areas of his activity (including as spokesperson, EU enlargement, culture & education, and employment & social affairs) he has always been fascinated by an apparent contradiction: how come that a highly successful project for peace and prosperity among European countries is often portrayed as complicated, bureaucratic, remote from European citizens, undemocratic, and incapable of acting quickly and efficiently in response to crises. Think of dramas around the Euro, immigration, climate, the rule of law and, lately, Russian aggression.

In his presentation, he will give a look behind the scenes and try to give an answer to his own question, which might also be your’s: “Can the EU handle today’s critical issues?” He will be objective (warts and all) but he is a fervent European, convinced that if the EU didn’t exist, it would be urgent to create it.

Klaus was born in Munich in 1943 and has devoted almost his entire career to European integration. He had many assignments in the European Commission including foreign affairs counsellor for European Commissioner Willy De Clercq and Commission President Jacques Delors. He contributed to strengthening the relations between the EU and neighbouring EFTA countries. After a spell as Chief Spokesman for the European Commission, he started negotiations on the biggest EU enlargement in Eastern Europe, as well as Cyprus and Malta. Giving the EU also a “cultural face”, he promoted cultural cooperation, exchanges, and dialogue. Until his retirement in June 2009, he was Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. Following his retirement in June 2009, he chaired the EU Commission’s Ad Hoc Ethical Committee, and advised some Brussels think tanks. He’s still active in practical charity work, assisting Street Nurses, an NGO doing admirable work to improve the lot of homeless people in Brussels and Liège.

What, where when?

The talk is on Monday, 11 March 2024 at Château Malou, Avenue Pierre Levie 2, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. There is free parking around the Château the nearest public transport is Tram 8 (Stop Voot) and Bus 28 (Stops Deportés or Parc Malou).

Welcome coffee at 10.00 am with the programme starting at 10.30 am. Guests are welcome for a €10 fee payable on the door. For more information on the International Study Group (ISG) visit their website or Facebook page.

In collaboration with Waterloo Uncovered, the British Chamber of Commerce in Brussels is organising two special screenings of the documentary "Leave No One Behind" on 13 March at 13h00 and 18h00 at Cinematek Brussels  located at Rue Baron Horta 9, 1000 Brussels.

The "Leave No One Behind" documentary explores the work of veterans’ charity Waterloo Uncovered, highlighting their fascinating archaeological discoveries on the Waterloo Battlefield and the lives and traumas of the soldiers who made them while searching for peace.

Prior registration is required. To register for the lunchtime/ afternoon screening follow this link, and to register for the early evening showing, please click here.

Waterloo Uncovered is a registered UK charity that combines a world-class archaeology project on the battlefield of Waterloo with a support programme for veterans and the military community. Working in partnership with some of Europe’s top universities, and through the unique perspective of a team comprised of archaeologists, veterans, and serving soldiers, Waterloo Uncovered aims to understand war and its impact on people — and to educate the public about it.

For further information or any enquiries, please contact Elise Loncol at BritCham.

Anne Sherriff has been appointed as the next UK Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, succeeding Martin Shearman CVO, who will come to the end of his term during the summer. Ms. Sherriff is expected to assume her new responsibilities during September 2024.

Prior to her appointment as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Anne has served as the Interim Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe and Country Director France in Paris. Previously she held positions including Deputy Director in the Europe Directorate and the Head of the EU/Global Issues Section, both within the Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO.)

BBCA will be sad to say ‘au revoir/ tot ziens’ to Martin, but looks forward to working with Anne when she starts her role in Brussels.

Further details of Anne’s civil service career can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-his-majestys-ambassador-to-belgium-anne-sherriff

On the evening of Thursday 7 March 2024 the Royal Society of Chemistry Belgium Section is welcoming Professor Marc Van Ranst to the British School of Brussels (BSB) in Tervuren to give a talk entitled 'Beyond COVID-19: predictions for future pandemics'. The talk is open to the public, but requires prior registration (see form link below).

Prof. Marc Van Ranst is Professor of Virology at KULeuven and the Rega Institute for Medical Research. In 2007, he was appointed as Interministerial commissioner by the Belgian federal government to prepare Belgium for an influenza pandemic and was a prominent figure during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium and beyond.

The emergence of future pandemics is an important concern, given the unpredictability observed in past outbreaks. While pandemics are rare events, several quasi-certitudes can guide our predictions. There is a high likelihood that the next pandemic may originate in Asia, particularly in densely populated urban centres. The role of air travel in facilitating the rapid spread of infectious diseases cannot be underestimated. Furthermore, zoonotic transmission, where diseases jump from animals to humans, remains a significant risk factor for future pandemics. The likelihood that a next pandemic will be caused by a rapidly mutating RNA virus is high.

The mode of transmission through respiratory droplets is a key factor to consider when preparing for and responding to future global health crises.

By exploring these predictions and understanding the commonalities among past pandemics, we can better equip ourselves to mitigate risks, enhance preparedness strategies, and safeguard global health security in the face of future infectious disease threats.

How, what, where?

The venue for the talk is the Brel Theatre at the British School of Brussels (BSB) in Tervuren and the talk will start promptly at 19h30.

Prior registration is mandatory for this event via this form. Please note that to comply with BSB security arrangements you will need to provide the names of all members of your party and also vehicle registration numbers. Registration will close on Wednesday 6 March at noon.

The talk will be followed by a networking reception.