Alexander Miesen, Karl-Heinz Lambertz, Willy Borsus, Armin Laschet, Oliver Paasch, Mark Speich – Picture by Land NRW, Stefanie Loos.
Friday, 19 October 2018, Representation of North Rhine-Westphalia to the German Federation, Berlin: The Premier of Wallonia (Belgium), Willy Borsus accompanied by the Premier of the German-speaking Community of Belgium (East Belgium), Oliver Paasch as well as the Parliament Speaker Alexander Miesen, and former speaker and incumbent President of the Committee of Regions of the EU, Karl-Heinz Lambertz were received by NRW Premier Armin Laschet and State Secretary Mark Speich. The high ranking delegation was in Berlin to celebrate the tenth year anniversary of the representation in Berlin of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels, of Wallonia and the German-speaking Community. It is currently being headed by General Delegate Alexander Homann.
The day before the representation’s tenth jubilee had been celebrated with a concert by the “Wirtschaftswonder Orchestra” at Berlin’s City Hall. Guest of honour was Berlin’s Senator for Culture and European Affairs, Dr. Klaus Lederer. Previously in the afternoon of Thursday, 18 October, Ambassador Baron Willem Van de Voorde received the delegation and other guests during an afternoon reception at the Belgian Embassy to Germany.
NRW Premier Laschet highlighted the fact that all Benelux countries are rather important for NRW as their economies are so intertwined with the Bundesland. Topics of discussion included regional mobility, the upcoming EU parliamentary elections as well as digitalisation and migration.
Belgium is like Germany a federal state comprising three regions and three communities. Official languages are Dutch, French and German.
Ca. 12,200 Belgians call North Rhine-Westphalia their home, in addition to round 6,000 cross-border workers. Approximately 1,000 Belgian enterprises are represented in NRW.
For further information:
- https://www.land.nrw/de/
pressemitteilung/ ministerpraesident-armin- laschet-empfaengt-die- regierungschefs-der-wallonie- und-der - Embassy of Belgium to Germany (HE Ambassador Baron Willem Van de Voorde): https://germany.
diplomatie.belgium.be/fr
