Europe Department: the link between Brussels and Europe
The Europe Department brings European policy to life in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Serving as a bridge between European decision-making and regional application, it ensures that Brussels not only keeps pace with Europe but also actively contributes to shaping it. From legislative proposals to concrete on-the-ground implementation, the Department closely monitors every European initiative relevant to Brussels.
To fulfil this mission, the Department is composed of two complementary units: the Delegation of the Brussels-Capital Region to the European Union and the European Coordination Unit.
The Delegation to the European Union: Brussels at the European table
The Delegation is part of the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the EU and represents the Region at the heart of European decision-making. Thanks to their strategic position, the Delegation’s attachés closely monitor sectoral negotiations. They inform Brussels institutions and stakeholders of relevant developments in a timely manner, allowing the impact of European proposals to be quickly assessed and addressed.
Even in the preparatory phase of new legislation, the Delegation actively defends the Region’s interests - both within Belgian coordination structures and by supporting regional ministers in the Council of the European Union. This gives Brussels a strong voice at the European table.
The European Coordination Unit: Policies tailored to Brussels
Within the Brussels Regional Public Service, the European Coordination Unit ensures the administrative follow-up of European dossiers. It oversees the correct transposition of European legislation into regional law and coordinates the implementation of key cross-cutting policy initiatives, such as the European Semester and the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
In addition, the Unit is developing a support service for regional administrations striving for European project funding and assists them in setting up projects. It also plays a key role in managing territorial cooperation programmes such as Interreg. This way, the Department helps turn European opportunities into tangible added value for Brussels.
In short:
In addition to its representation at European level, the Europe Department is the centre of expertise for European matters within the Brussels-Capital Region. It forms the daily link between the Brussels government and Europe, ensuring that the Region is well-informed, strategically positioned, and fully engaged in European policymaking.