UK and Belgium deepen cooperation across security, trade
In a new joint statement, the United Kingdom and Belgium say they will deepen cooperation across security, justice, trade, research and energy. The work sits inside two larger frameworks: the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which sets the legal base for post‑Brexit ties, and the Renewed Agenda for EU–UK Cooperation agreed on 19 May 2025. Both sides also stress respect for each other’s institutions and the value of involving regional and community governments where they have powers.
If you teach or study politics, a quick explainer helps. The TCA is the main treaty that covers trade, policing and data‑sharing between the UK and the EU from 2021. The ‘Renewed Agenda’ is a 2025 plan to make practical collaboration easier in specific areas such as defence, science and mobility. In short, this UK–Belgium plan uses existing tools rather than inventing a new treaty from scratch.
On security and defence, the message is steady and long term. As NATO Allies, both governments reaffirm support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes” and promise regular consultations on new threats, including cyber attacks and electronic warfare. Expect continued joint exercises, exchanges between armed forces and coordination with partners often described as a ‘coalition of the willing’. A useful teaching point: NATO provides the shared umbrella; bilateral work like this adds extra capability, not a replacement.
A special focus is the North Sea, where cables, pipelines and wind farms keep homes lit and data flowing. Building on the NorthSeal Platform and using the regional JEF+ mechanism, the UK and Belgium say they will step up efforts to deter hostile activity and protect critical infrastructure, including through defence‑industrial partnerships with neighbours when needed. As members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, they also plan to push higher standards on maritime safety, security and decarbonisation.
Public safety commitments are detailed. The headline is a Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement (LECA) that both sides aim to sign in 2026. Agencies will keep working through EUROPOL, INTERPOL and the Prüm framework for matching DNA, fingerprints and vehicle records, while exploring new routes for secure data‑sharing. The statement also promises stronger customs and port security, better action against illicit finance and closer judicial cooperation to prosecute serious organised crime. Belgium and the UK will improve crisis preparedness and resilience together.
On irregular migration, the priority is to stop dangerous crossings and the smugglers who profit from them. The two countries say they will expand information exchange, use more effective security technology and tighten operations at key hubs, with Zeebrugge Port named explicitly. They will increase dialogue in the regional Calais Group and work with EU Member States and countries of origin to tackle root causes. Both restate their commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights, while arguing their legal systems must still deter exploitation and withstand present‑day pressures.
For growth, the aim is smoother trade within the TCA and the Renewed Agenda. The statement highlights the importance of temporary mobility for business and research visits, closer links between ports and exploration of autonomous shipping. Economic security is on the table too, from screening foreign investment in strategic sectors to diversifying supply chains and protecting critical infrastructure. Customs authorities will simplify procedures and provide targeted guidance for stakeholders, including SMEs. The two countries will continue to cooperate on tax matters via information exchange, while respecting the independence of their central banks.
Research and health security get a full chapter. The plan backs deeper ties across pharmaceuticals, life sciences, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and engineering biology, with universities central to delivery. Exchanges will grow through EU research programmes such as Horizon Europe and through bilateral projects that uphold academic freedom and research integrity. On health, the UK’s membership of the EU Critical Medicines Alliance supports joint work on shortages, while both governments back the World Health Organization on vaccines and pandemic readiness. Expect closer collaboration on clinical trials, medical devices and digital health to make care more effective and sustainable.
Energy cooperation comes with clear timelines. The February 2022 memorandum on energy will be updated; existing electricity interconnectors will be kept running smoothly; and talks continue on Nautilus, a proposed new UK–Belgium interconnector, subject to each country’s laws and regulators. There will be yearly exchanges on security of supply and a bilateral energy dialogue every two years, plus closer work at the North Sea Summit. The partners will explore low‑carbon hydrogen, aim to conclude in the first half of 2026 a cross‑border CO2 transport arrangement under the London Protocol, create green shipping corridors and explore scope for nuclear collaboration as both seek reliable, low‑carbon power.
A civics note for your classroom: Belgium is a federal state. This statement is backed by the federal government as well as the Governments of Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels‑Capital and the French‑ and German‑speaking Communities, each within their own competences. For students and teachers mapping the year ahead, mark these milestones: the planned law‑enforcement agreement (LECA) in 2026 and the CO2 transport arrangement targeted for the first half of 2026. Keep an eye, too, on Zeebrugge Port upgrades, IMO workstreams and any announcement on the Nautilus interconnector-practical checks on whether today’s pledges turn into results.],
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