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Upcoming events

Contact us if you want the BBCA to post a News Story or an Event that is strongly linked to the British Community in Brussels.  We reserve the right to select items for publication and to edit items as required for style and space.

Email    BBCA.NewsAndEvents@gmail.com


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

  • 3 Apr 2023 1:03 PM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    On the evening of Saturday 15 April the Staging Post, the English-language music club, is returning to GC De Kam in Wezembeek-Oppem with a Spring Show featuring blues, swing, jazz and plenty of dancing.

    The main act is the “Slinky & P’tit Loup Trio” from Aachen with support from “The Bluesy Cats” who are a top dance-band. 

    The Staging Post is run entirely by volunteers and provides stage opportunities for established and talented upcoming, amateur artists.

    Doors open at 19h30 and all profits will go to charitable causes. All details below. Be there - or be square.


  • 14 Mar 2023 12:06 PM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    On Monday 27 March 2023 from 12h00 noon to 13h30 the Expat Welcome Desk of commissioner.brussels is holding its third free webinar of the year for UK citizens. The topic of this webinar will be ‘Can I travel, work and retire in other EU countries?

    The webinar will explore the rules and frameworks for UK citizens based in Belgium who want to move around the EU. UK citizens residing in Belgium are now subject to the same rules as other non-EU citizens when it comes to traveling, working, studying or retiring in another EU country. This is the case for both post-Brexit arrivals living in Belgium with a Single Permit and pre-Brexit residents who have their rights in Belgium protected by their M-Card.

    Join the webinar to get the lowdown on intra-EU mobility for the British of Brussels!


    Issues addressed will include:

    • Time limits on travel outside Belgium and recommended documents for travelling
    • Practical differences between Schengen and non-Schengen countries
    • Things to consider if an employer sends a UK citizen on assignment to another EU country
    • Conditions and requirements for obtaining residence as an employee or student in another EU country
    • Possibilities and conditions for retiring in another EU country
    • Clarifications on the upcoming Entry-Exit System and ETIAS (Electronic Travel and Information Authorisation System)

    The webinar aims to provide both theoretical information and also concrete case studies to allow participants to gain a more practical perspective. After a brief presentation, there will be a Q+A session. Some of these issues will be explored in more detail through later webinars or via the Brexit Brief newsletter (see below).

    The webinar will be chaired by Amélie Bovy, Legal Adviser at the Welcome Desk, commissioner.brussels and the speakers will be Jo Antoons, Managing Partner, Fragomen Brussels, Andreia Ghimis, Immigration Manager, Fragomen Brussels and Ines Ramlau, Immigration Consultant, Fragomen Brussels.

    To register send an email to inscription@commissioner.brussels and a link to access the webinar will be sent to you in advance of the event. By registering, you consent to be added to the UK Citizens in Brussels newsletter.

    The Brexit Brief

    These webinars are part of a project funded by the EU’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve. In addition to the webinars the Expat Welcome Desk has developed a newsletter – The Brexit Brief – and a specific Brexit Helpdesk on our website. 

    Whether you already live and work in Brussels, or you are still planning your move, the Expat Welcome Desk is here to help UK citizens navigate the post-Brexit landscape. You can download the slides from previous webinar sessions on the project's news and events page.

  • 6 Mar 2023 11:36 AM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    On Monday, 20 March 2023 the International Study Group will be hosting a talk on ‘The system of Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Europe’, as an important part of the air transport industry.


    The talk will be given by Alexander Skoniezki and will include detailed explanations of:

    • Facts and figures of air traffic in Europe
    • The legal and organisational framework of air traffic management
    • The objectives of ATC and how air traffic is managed safely
    • The airspace structure
    • The job of air traffic controllers at different control units
    • The operational and technical environment
    • Financing of air traffic management
    • Outlook – future trends

    Alexander Skoniezki is an experienced Air Traffic Controller, senior ATM manager and university lecturer who has worked for more than 40 years in Aviation and Air Traffic Management at DFSDeutsche Flugsicherung, at Eurocontrol and international universities.

    Doors open at 10h00 with the programme starting at 10h30 at Château Sainte-Anne, Rue Du Vieux Moulin 103, 1160 Bruxelles. On street parking is available close to the venue, as is access to public transport. The talk is free to ISG members and €10 for guests.

    Find out more here: www.isgbrussels.be

  • 7 Feb 2023 9:34 PM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a system that will grant authorisation to travel to EU Members States and other European countries that belong to the Schengen Area from outside Area. ETIAS will allow pre-travel screening of travellers who currently enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen Area, and allow Member States to deny access travellers they consider to pose a security, health or other threat.


    Once ETIAS is implemented current visa-free travellers into the Schengen Area will need to have both a valid travel document (i.e. a passport or equivalent recognised ID) and an ETIAS authorisation. Currently, nationals of around 60 countries worldwide do not need a visa to enter the EU. Find out which countries need ETIAS travel authorisation. ETIAS is similar to the pre-travel authorisation systems that are already in place in the USA, Canada and Australia.

    The ETIAS Regulation entered into force on 9 October 2018 and is currently being implemented. It is due to become operational by the end of 2023. Travellers will be able to apply for an ETIAS via an official website and/or app for mobile devices prior to its operation and will have to pay a fee of €7.

    UK nationals who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (i.e., M or N card holders in Belgium) will be exempt from ETIAS: they are free to travel to other Member States of the Schengen area for a short-stay without an ETIAS travel authorisation. However, you should take your Belgian residence card with you as well as your passport.

    Find out more about ETIAS here.

  • 3 Feb 2023 5:30 PM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    On International Women's Day, Wednesday 8 March 2023, the Multinational Group of the Association Femmes d’ Europe will be presenting 'Classical Women – a Charity Concert'.

    The venue will be the Centre Cultural de Woluwe St Pierre, 93 avenue Charles Thielemans, 1150 Bruxelles and doors open at 19h30 with the concert from 20h00. The programme includes works by : Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, W.A. Mozart, F. Schubert, G. Rossini, F. Chopin, G. Gershwin


    This musical event is a wonderful example of generosity and solidarity, given that all of the musicians will be performing free of charge. This is their way of contributing to the financing of the Association's humanitarian projects.

    The Association counts on your presence at what promises to be a wonderful evening and don’t hesitate to encourage your family, friends and colleagues to join too!

    Further information on the concert is available on the Association’s website here and tickets, price € 30, can be purchased here.

  • 29 Jan 2023 4:49 PM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    An estimated 3.4 million UK citizens living overseas are disenfranchised and, in 2016, more than 60% of UK citizens living in the EU had no vote in the UK EU referendum that led to the removal of our EU citizenship rights and changed our lives forever.

    The British in Europe (BiE) campaigned for five years to protect our EU citizenship rights - and to reinstate lifelong voting rights in the UK. This was successful, and the UK Elections Act 2022 has restored lifelong voting rights for UK citizens living overseas. However, it needs to be implemented and implemented in a way that enables us to be able to use these democratic rights.


    BiE has recently secured funding for 12 months from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust to support their campaign to ensure that the secondary implementing legislation is delivered and that it works - so that we can reclaim our voting rights and be registered as voters in time for the next general election. Once that is done, BiE plan a further phase of work to raise awareness across the UK diaspora and encourage registration of these new UK citizen voters overseas.

    As part of this campaign, BiE has organised a survey for UK citizens resident overseas. The Voting Rights survey is now ready to collect data and you are encouraged to participate. By taking part, you will help build a picture of the global UK overseas community and their voting rights.

    You can find the survey here.

    The more respondents that participate, the stronger the arguments that BiE will be able to present to ensure a suitable, practical process is put in place to enable our voices can be heard again in the UK political scene. The survey should take around 10 to 20 minutes to complete.

    Who are BiE?

    British in Europe (BiE) is the largest coalition group of British Citizens living and working in Europe. With representation across the whole continent, the group actively campaigns for the rights of UK citizens in the EU and EU citizens in the UK.

    It was founded in early 2017 to give UK citizens living, working and studying across the EU a voice in the Brexit negotiations and since then has been recognised by the British government and the European Institutions as trusted interlocutors, meeting secretaries of state, ministers in EU Member States and key EU and British officials.

    BiE was forced to close its virtual doors in April 2022 through lack of funding. However, the support from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust is enabling it to resume its valuable work.

  • 29 Jan 2023 2:02 PM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    The next International Study Group talk will take place on the morning of 13 February 2023 at the Chateau Sainte Anne in Auderghem and examines Sustainable Consumerism.

    Sustainability is not just a trend. It is a must if we want our children and future generations to inherit a healthy planet on which to live. Every societal actor has a responsibility to bear. In this talk, Bruno Vermoesen will give some insights on how a major manufacturer of consumer goods deals with this issue.


    Bruno Vermoesen began as an engineer working for BSH Home Appliances (the people behind brands such as Bosch, Siemens and Neff) in 1995 in the marketing department. For the past 20 years he has been active as a lobbyist in the field of European legislation, focusing on energy efficiency, performance, waste and the circular economy.

    Bruno is also the President of Recupel, the Belgian recycling system for waste (electrical and electronic appliances), and a Board Member of the Dutch recycling system Wecycle. In addition, he is now the Sustainability Officer for the BSH sales area of Western Europe.

    See you at the Chateau?

    The meeting takes place at Château Sainte-Anne. Social distancing and mask wearing is at your discretion, but no longer obligatory.

    Date: Monday, 13 February 2023

    Welcome: From 10h00 with the programme starting from 10h30

    Location: Château Sainte-Anne, Rue Du Vieux Moulin 103, 1160 Bruxelles

    Parking: You can park within the grounds of the Château but not in spots marked for members. Parking can also be found in Rue Valduchesse to the left of the Château.

    Price: Free for ISG members, €10 for guests

    Webpage: http://isgbrussels.be/event/sustainable-solutions-consumerism

  • 9 Jan 2023 12:40 PM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    The Expat Welcome Desk (EWD) of commissioner.brussels is organising a series of 10 free webinars for UK citizens taking place throughout 2023. Whether you already live and work in Brussels, or you are planning a move to Europe’s capital, these informative sessions will help you navigate the post-Brexit landscape.

    The webinars are part of a project funded by the EU’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve, which also includes the development of a newsletter for UK citizens in Belgium and a specific Brexit element on the EWD website.


    M-Card – What next?

    The first of the webinars takes place on Tuesday 24 January 2023 from 12h00 to 13h30 and will cover what rights the M-card – the residence card issued to UK citizens already resident in Belgium before the end of the Brexit transition – conveys on the holder and what it does not.

    The webinar will clarify the exact status of UK citizens and highlight some important limitations compared to the pre-Brexit situation. The presentation will be followed by a Q+A session.

    Issues to be addressed include:

    • Residence rights, extended absence and return to Belgium
    • Access to the Belgian labour market
    • Family reunification
    • Eligibility for permanent residence and Belgian citizenship
    • Travel inside and outside the EU (Schengen Area), including business trips
    • Short-term postings and moving to another EU country

    The webinar will be chaired by Amélie Bovy of commissioner.brussels and the speakers will be Jo Antoons, Wout Van Doren and Andreia Ghimis of Fragomen Brussels

    To register send an email to inscription@commissioner.brussels and a link to access the webinar will be sent in advance. By registering, you will also be added to be added to the mailing list for the new UK Citizens in Brussels newsletter (see below).

    Moving to Belgium post-Brexit

    The second webinar of the series will be on Thursday 16 February 2023 from 12h00 to 13h30 and will cover the rules that now apply to UK citizens who move to Belgium and are therefore subject to the regulations applicable to non-EU nationals.

    This webinar will give an overview of the immigration options for UK citizens after Brexit and will present possible routes to residence and work rights for various categories of UK citizens, such as business travellers, employees, self-employed persons, frontier workers, and trainees. It will also explore the rights these residents hold after acquiring the right to live in Belgium, so the session will also interest UK citizens already living here who arrived after Brexit.

    Issues addressed to be addressed include:

    • The right to live and work in Belgium for UK citizens after Brexit
    • Extended absence and return
    • Family reunification
    • Social security coverage
    • Travel inside and outside the EU (Schengen Area)
    • Conducting business and work trips to other EU countries

    The webinar will again be chaired by Amélie Bovy from commissioner.brussels and the speakers will be from Fragomen Brussels

    UK Citizens in Brussels newsletter

    Alongside these webinars, commissioner.brussels is also launching a monthly newsletter for 2023. This new mailing will explore in detail some of the most complex aspects of post-Brexit life for UK citizens living in Belgium or planning to move here. Each edition will focus on a specific case study, starting from one tricky question and then exploring the detail that UK citizens should be aware of.

    The first edition will answer the question: “My children are UK citizens living in Belgium with an M-Card. Can they go study in the UK then return to Belgium?”

    The second edition will answer the question: “I live and work in Belgium on a Single Permit. What does this allow me to do? Can I change job? Can I bring family members over?”

  • 19 Dec 2022 2:33 PM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    Many thanks to all who helped to make the BBCA Christmas Reception 2022 on the evening of Tuesday 13 December such a roaring success. The sparkling event took place at the British Residence in central Brussels and was hosted by the UK ambassador Martin Shearman.


    This was our first Christmas event since 2019 due to the pandemic and it was really great to see so many of our community celebrating together – in fact the event was sold out! We certainly achieved our twin goals of bringing the British Community together and raising money for a very good cause!


    During the evening a cash raffle was held with some great prizes, including Pommery Champagne, Belgian Sparkling Wine and a hamper from Stonemanor, amongst many others, with all proceeds to be donated to the Belgian Child Focus charity. In total €1 600 was raised to support the valuable work of this charity.


    In addition, the evening saw our annual donations to BBCA associated charities. This year the Community Help Service (CHS) received €2 500 and the Brussels branch of the Royal British Legion received € 500.

    More pictures from the event can be viewed here.

    On behalf of the BBCA team of volunteers I wish you all a very fine festive season and hope to see you all again in the New Year. Keep an eye on our website as we will be organising more community events during 2023.

  • 8 Dec 2022 5:26 PM | Tim Reynolds (Administrator)

    The International Study Group (ISG) presents its next talk on 16 January 2023 with Lailuma Sadid speaking on the subject of Afghanistan:  Women’s Rights and the Taliban.


    Lailuma Sadid, originally from Afghanistan, graduated in 2002 from the University of Journalism in Kabul. She has also obtained a master’s degree in Political Science from ULB. She is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years of experience, six years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan, and also as a diplomat in Belgium. She is a women's rights activist and defender in Afghanistan and abroad. She is an assistant of formation at ULB and president of NADOE - the Network of Afghan Diaspora Organizations in Europe. Lailuma is also a facilitator for UNHCR in Belgium and a board member of Refugee Committees, Women Refugee Committees, and Secretary General for the Afghan refugee committee organization within UNHCR.

    Doors open for the talk on 16 January from 10h00 and the programme commencing at 10h30. The venue is Château Sainte-Anne, Rue Du Vieux Moulin 103, 1160 Bruxelles with parking available within the grounds of the Château and also in the Rue Val duchesse to the left of the Château. The talk is free for ISG members and €10 for guests.

    About ISG

    The ISG’s provides a series of monthly talks in English on subjects which are intended to be thought provoking and informative covering subjects ranging from the sciences, art, history, geo-politics and even space.  The group usually meets at the Chateau Sainte Anne in Auderghem on the 2nd Monday of the month. ISG members come from some 25 countries and nearly all continents.

    More information on the ISG website.

To contact us - Please Email to BBCA.members@gmail.com

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