Inspiring bilateral partners with sustainability and urban development projects in the Brussels-Capital Region
As part of its bilateral agreements, the Brussels-Capital Region welcomed several international delegations in the spring of 2025.
These visits and bilateral meetings ‒ with the City of Opens in new windowTerrebonne (Quebec) and Opens in new windowBerlin, among others ‒ led to constructive exchanges, paving the way for exciting projects in the future.
Focus on sustainability with the City of Terrebonne
On 25 April 2025, a large delegation of local councillors, members of the administration, and businesses from the City of Opens in new windowTerrebonne (Quebec) travelled to the Brussels-Capital Region (BCR). The aim of the visit was to learn more about the policies implemented in the BCR, more specifically by economic players, to facilitate the ecological transition and sustainability.
In addition to the programme for businesses, organised with the support of Opens in new windowhub.brussels, the delegation had the opportunity to discover sustainable citizens’ initiatives as part of the ‘Opens in new windowInspirons le Quartier (ILQ)’ call for projects. After a general presentation of its missions and the ILQ call for projects, Opens in new windowBruxelles Environnement handed the floor to several members of the Opens in new windowCarré Vert-Jean Van Lierde neighbourhood committee.
The Opens in new windowCarré Vert community food garden project is a place for people to meet and exchange ideas, serving as a green and welcoming space for the entire neighbourhood. It is also designed to educate and raise awareness of the environment, sustainability and waste sorting, particularly among local residents and schools. The project’s volunteers treated visitors to a tour of the plot of land where they are growing vegetables together, as well as the chicken coop. The many heart-warming conversations during the visit more than made up for the freezing temperatures.
Focus on urban development with a delegation from Berlin
On 15 and 16 May 2025, a delegation from Berlin – the CBR’s first ever bilateral partner – travelled to Brussels for a working visit on the topics of regional development and housing. Led by State Secretary Alexander Slotty, the Berlin delegation included several senior officials from the Opens in new windowSenatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung, Bauen und Wohnen (the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing).
The visit and discussions highlighted the many similarities between the BCR and Berlin, in terms of strengths, opportunities and challenges, paving the way for future collaboration.
The first day was devoted mainly to European policies. The delegation then visited the office of Opens in new windowAns Persoons, State Secretary of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Urban Planning and Heritage, European and International Relations, External Trade, and Firefighting and Emergency Medical Assistance. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss urban development projects in the BCR and Berlin, as well as the fruitful collaboration between the two partners that has been ongoing for over thirty years.
On the second day, the guests from Berlin headed to the North district with Opens in new windowperspective.brussels, where they visited several urban development projects. At the end of the visit, participants discussed major regional challenges during a working lunch.
