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

As you will be well aware, on 1 January 2021 British citizens in Belgium will wake up to a dramatically different relationship between the UK and the EU and this will have an impact on all our lives.

In 2017 the ‘Brexit and the Belgian Brits (BABBS)’ Facebook group was set up as a support network for individuals with common Brexit-related problems. Now with some 1500 members, BABBS members share tips on how to obtain EU citizenship and other administrative issues, as well as Brexit-related news.

In late November 2020, documentary filmmaker Anny Tubbs approached BABBS organisers with an idea to highlight how Brexit is affecting the ordinary lives of British people living in Belgium. She proposed to work with interested BABBS members on planning and crowdfunding the production of a short film to bring BABBS members closer together, give them a voice and use screenings to raise awareness of ongoing issues.

The reasons why we Brits came to be in Belgium are many: some came for work, others for love. But each one of us has benefited from the freedom, spontaneity and flexibility that EU membership gave us. By highlighting these stories, the film will document a historic moment and explore what the future holds.

BABBS is inviting Brits in Belgium to be a part of this community project by contributing to the fundraising for the film fundraiser. A dedicated fundraising webpage has been set up where you can choose to be an anonymous or recognised donor – see your name up in lights, or even spend half a day on set to experience movie-making ‘for reel’. The target for fundraising is EUR 10 000 and if the target is not reached then donations will be reimbursed.

New Year’s Eve Brexit wake

BABBS also invites you to a sombre occasion to mark the last day of the UK's transition out of the European Union. It will be a sad day and due to the COVID curfew the plan is for a short event from 7pm to 8pm on 31 December 2020 outside the British Embassy at Avenue d'Auderghem 10, 1040 Brussels (nearest Metro Schuman).

Suggested dress: Mourning Black with EU Facemasks or similar and please bring a candle to light (or similar illumination).

BABBS tell us that Ixelles police have limited the maximum number of people allowed for this event to 100 and COVID rules also restrict gatherings to no more than 4 adults in one group, so attendees will need to stand in groups of a maximum of 4 people (socially distanced of course).

If you are thinking of attending the vigil, please fill in this Google doc so BABBS can liaise with the local police. You do not need to include your email address and/or GSM if you do not want to. You can also use the form to arrange to join a 4-person group before the event.

The event will be filmed, so if you do not wish to appear in the film, please let the organisers know when you get there.

Hello, I am Tim Reynolds. I am vice chair of the BBCA and do most of the posts on our website and social media. I am also secretary of the Belgium section of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

2020 has obviously been a very strange year with COVID and associated lockdowns. Travel internationally has been difficult.

But looking back it also had some spectacular sunny weather in Belgium and we enjoyed new walks around Kraainem where I live and more generally in the Flemish Brabant countryside. There is lot of great walking out there to discover. Much of it very reminiscent of parts of the British countryside we all know well.

2021 will bring more challenges and anxieties to the British community in Belgium as the full implications of Brexit impact on our lives and those of friends and family both here in Belgium and back in the UK.

But the BBCA is here to help and as the COVID situation improves we hope to see more of the community getting together. The BBCA and its associated charities and societies have been supporting our communities in Belgium for decades - literally centuries in one case - and will continue to do so into the future.

So cheers – Happy New Year - and here’s to a much improved 2021!

Our third festive walk contribution comes from BBCA committee member Tracie Ryan who took these evocative images of dusk falling in Brussels on a walk close to her home.

“From Forest Park to Duden Park. A lovely chill mist descended as the evening approached. Lovely to have this on my doorstep,” she says.

Don't forget to send us your video or photos from a favourite festive walk and tell us why you like it and your thoughts on your life in Belgium.

Send your contributions to us via the BBCA.NewsAndEvents@gmail.com email address.

Thanking you very much and best wishes for the festive period and 2021!

Everyone at BBCA hopes you had a safe and satisfying Christmas experience. On to Boxing Day and our second 2020 Christmas walk video message is from BBCA Council Chair - Glenn Vaughan.

Don't forget if you fancy shooting a video of your favourite festive walk or sending in a few photos of a memorable meander do not hesitate to convey your contribution to us via the BBCA.NewsAndEvents@gmail.com email address.

Thanking you very much and Happy Christmas!

ICYMI, at long last the UK and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a draft Trade and Cooperation Agreement on Christmas Eve afternoon.

The deal covers a wide range of issues including trade in goods and services, fish, energy and retaliation rights. More details on the deal can be found here. The deal does not cover financial services.

A handy infographic outlining what is in the deal compared to membership of the EU can be downloaded here.

Now both sides have to read, check and implement the deal before the end of 2020. The European Commission is proposing a limited “provisional application” until 28 February 2021, meaning that initially only EU Member States and the UK need to give their consent to the existing text. The process is beginning today (Christmas Day) with a meeting of EU member States ambassadors at 10:30 a.m.

The European Parliament will scrutinize and hold a vote on acceptance at the beginning of 2021.

A very Merry Christmas to one and all! Our first 2020 Christmas walk video is with BBCA Council member and Editor of The Bulletin Magazine - Sarah Crew. 

If you fancy shooting a video of your favourite festive walk or sending in a few photos of a memorable meander do not hesitate to convey your contribution to us via the BBCA.NewsAndEvents@gmail.com email address.

Thanking you very much and Happy Christmas!

This week, the Belgian interior ministry is sending a letter to all registered British citizen with details of the steps they will be required to take after the Brexit transition period ends at midnight on 31 December 2020.

The letter comes in an envelope as above and the letter is signed by state secretary for migration Sammy Mahdi. It explains your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement and the process you will need to follow during 2021 to safeguard them. A pdf copy of the letter can be accessed here.

Essentially all UK nationals and their family members will have to apply for a special new residence status at their commune between 1 January and 31 December 2021. Throughout 2021, the rights of all UK nationals registered as living in Belgium before the end of the transition period will remain protected.

Once you have applied for the new status, you should receive a certificate confirming that the application and this can be used to prove your residence rights - including unlimited access to the Belgian labour market - until your application is officially approved.

Following approval, a new electronic residence card (M card) will be issued to you that is renewable every five years - or every 10 years if you have already acquired permanent residence here.

All current residence cards (E/E+/F/F+) for British citizens will cease to be valid on 31 March 2022.

The process

More information on the application process can be found here. The application must be made with the commune where you are currently registered as living on the national register. There will be an application form to fill in and you will need to also provide:

• A copy of your valid Belgian residence document (appendices 8, E or E+ card).
• A valid identity card or passport (valid is underlined and may indicate that passports with less than six months validity before the expiry date may not be accepted - this needs to be checked). 
• An extract from the criminal record which is not older than 6 months.

The criminal record extract can be a Belgian extract or an extract from the United Kingdom's criminal record (police records) or the country where you were resident before coming to Belgium. You will also need a legalized translation of this extract if it is not in Dutch, French, German or English.

The supporting documentation should be submitted at the time of application or, at the latest, within 3 months of the date of application. No decision - and therefore no issue of a new card - can be made for incomplete applications and excessive delay may result in your application being declared inadmissible.

Further information on the process and your rights in Belgium under the Withdrawal Agreement can be found on this dedicated Belgian government website.

Put your best foot forward this Christmas! The BBCA invites the community to send in festive video clips from their holiday walks. Join the Brussels British Community Association (BBCA) in sharing short video clips - or photos - from your favourite outdoor walks during the winter holiday period.

As 2020 draws to a close with Covid-19 confinement measures and travel restrictions impacting everyone’s lives, the BBCA wants to lift the community spirit over Christmas and New Year.

The seasonal campaign aims to highlight positive messages about the BBCA and the charities and organisations it works with.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, walking has been the easiest way to exercise for our mental and physical health. That’s why the BBCA is inviting individuals and groups involved with the association to record short video clips on a smartphone while out for a walk.

We will edit the videos and post them daily to our website and Facebook page over the holiday period. Here are some suggestions for the short clips, which are best recorded in landscape format. As we only need 20-30 seconds of video, you don’t have to include all these points!

1. Introduce yourself and any fellow walkers plus your connection to the BBCA
2. Tell us where you are walking and what you like about it
3. Share some information about your involvement with the BBCA, the importance of representing the interests of the British community and the need for a source of trusted information for all English-speakers
4. Express a short festive message on behalf of yourself and everyone at the BBCA

If you don’t fancy shooting a video, send us some photos. Ideally, we aim to start publishing the videos on 24 December, so please start sending in your contributions now.

Any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact, Glenn, Tim or Sarah at BBCA via BBCA.NewsAndEvents@gmail.com.

Thanking you very much and Happy Christmas!

Glenn Vaughan, Sarah Crew and Tim Reynolds

On behalf of the BBCA Council

Following the analysis of the epidemiological situation, Brussels region Minister-President Rudi Vervoort has decided to extend the restrictive measures in Brussels to 15 January 2021.

These specific measures are:

• The imposition of a curfew from 22h00 to 06h00.
• The obligation to wear a mask (covering the nose and mouth) in public places.
• The closure of all businesses at 20h00 - except from 14 December to 31 December when closing time can be extended to 21h00.
• A ban on alcohol consumption in public places.

With regard arrangements in the Christmas period, from 24 to 25 December, consultations are ongoing with the 19 municipalities and at federal level.

In addition, the moratorium on home evictions has been extended to 15 January 2021.

These measures have been taken to avoid an upsurge in the rate of COVID-19 infections, to reduce the pressure on healthcare staff, to allow the normal functioning of hospitals and the provision of care for all patients.

The primary objective is to preserve the health of all citizens and to avoid at all costs a third wave which would be catastrophic from a health, social and economic point of view.

For more information on COVID measures in Brussels visit the dedicated website (in English). Although be aware that the French and Dutch language versions of this site are more rapidly updated with news. 

Whatever the outcome of the UK-EU negotiations, UK Nationals in Belgium need to take action to continue living in Belgium, and to maintain their access to the rights and services they currently enjoy.

We hope that BBCA members, their family, friends and colleagues who are UK nationals will have already made the necessary arrangements, but if you haven’t or you know someone who hasn’t there are four key action that need to be addressed before 31 December 2020.

With the COVID situation many people have become isolated, so please help spread the word to everyone in the community.

The four main actions UK nationals need to take are:

Residency:

Register with your Commune/Gemeente as an EU resident before 31 December 2020. Visit gov.uk/livinginbelgium for more information.

Healthcare

Once you have registered as a resident, register for healthcare with a mutuelle or ziekenfonds. Visit gov.uk/livinginbelgium for more information.

Driving Licence

Exchange your UK driving licence for a Belgian one by 31 December 2020 to benefit from a simple exchange procedure. Visit gov.uk/livinginbelgium for more information.

Passports

Check your UK passport validity online. There will be new rules on travel to Europe from 1 January 2021.

Information sources

The latest information on living in Belgium for UK nationals can always be found on the gov.uk website: gov.uk/livinginbelgium.

In addition the Belgian Office for Foreigners website, and its FAQ section is a valuable source of information and this is where you will find information on the new residency system for UK nationals in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement. The FAQ sections also addresses the point of starting the residency registration process (if you are not already registered) before 31 December 2020 rather than having completed the process with a decision from the Commune by that date.

The Belgian Transport Ministry website contains the official guidance from the Belgian government that UK nationals resident in Belgium should exchange their UK driving licence for a Belgian one before 31 December 2020 to benefit from a simple exchange procedure. There is also an email address provided here should people have questions or concerns.

The UK based Money and Pensions Service gives guidance on banking, financial services and insurance changes after 31 December 2020. 

And, of course, the BBCA and its associated charities are here to support the UK community in Belgium. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you have questions, ideas or issues on your rights and obligations as we move into this new regime. If we cannot help directly, we will know someone who can.