Belgium’s Multilateral Policymaking put to the Test of the 21st Century
The evolving international system places significant pressure on Belgium’s multilateral policymaking. This Egmont Policy Brief advocates for a revamping of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ resources to enhance coordination, ensuring coherence in Belgium’s foreign policy and preserving the country’s international influence.
In the 21st century, Belgium’s multilateral policymaking suffers from the risk of incoherence. Successive State reforms have complexified the domestic cohabitation between federal and federated entities, sometimes leading Belgium to abstain at the international level. And while coordination mechanisms attempt to address decentralization, they lack resources to counteract the deepening political fragmentation. As a result, the delicate equilibrium of Belgium’s governance in multilateral policymaking is at risk. Revamping the coordination mission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is critical, to ensure the smooth harmonization of internal interests, and to prevent Belgium’s international influence from being impaired—a situation the Kingdom cannot afford in today’s uncertain context.
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(Photo credit: Nicola Lennon)