16th Belgo-British Conference: Kwasi Kwarteng, UK Business and Energy Secretary and Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgian Minister for Energy, open the conference

Together with his Belgian colleague, the UK Business and Energy Secretary started the conference in front of influential leaders from the public sector, private sector, and academic community.

The 16th Belgo-British Conference was inaugurated in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London on July 1, 2022, by Kwasi Kwarteng, the UK Business and Energy Secretary, and Tinne Van der Straeten, the Belgian Minister for Energy.

The conference, which was co-chaired by Mr. Johan Verbeke, a former Belgian ambassador to the UK, and Sir Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House, brought together important figures from government, politics, business, academia, and civil society to discuss opportunities for the UK-Belgium relationship in a changing geopolitical and economic context, including energy security.

UK Business and Energy Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, said:

“Our long and close relationship with Belgium has rarely been as important as it is in today. In light of Putin’s continued atrocities in Ukraine, it is vital that we continue to work with allies like Belgium to boost energy security in the UK and across Europe.

“I was delighted to attend the Belgo-British Conference, which follows the signing of the Joint Declaration on bilateral cooperation by our Prime Ministers last December. Belgium is and will remain a key partner for collaboration on energy, trade, business, research and innovation.”

Belgian Minister for Energy Tinne Van der Straeten said:

“In today’s world, it is important to have good friends. Belgium and the United Kingdom are friends, close neighbours and allies. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia shows that this alliance stays more relevant than ever.

“We need to stand side by side, now and in the future, to defend democratic values, human rights, energy sustainability and security. The Belgo-British conference aims to do exactly that. Alone you go fast, but together we go further.”