On the Picture Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague during the opening ceremony.   At the Global Conference on Cyber Space the conference hosts, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Bert Koenders and the State Secretary of Security and Justice, Mr Klaas Dijkhoff together with Mr. Jozias van Aartzen Mayor of The Hague  and more than 42 governments, intergovernmental organizations and companies, launched the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) in The Hague. ‘The GFCE is a key initiative to give political momentum to global cyber capacity building, make available technical expertise as well as new funding to strengthen cyber security, help fight cybercrime, better protect our data and support e-governance. We should all benefit from the potential a free, open and secure internet has to offer. The GFCE is a pragmatic, action-oriented and flexible platform for policymakers, practitioners and experts from different countries and regions. Goal is to share experiences, identify gaps in global cyber capacities, and to complement existing efforts in capacity building.’   Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in the GFCE initiative: ‘States can’t act on their own. They will have to rely on other stakeholders. It is vital to include different stakeholders in a debate that could prove to be the next key dilemma in international security. ‘The Netherlands has a lot to offer’, says minister Van der Steur of Security and Justice, ‘In the field of Cybersecurity and cybercrime we have good practices, tools and methods to share. Still we need to learn and improve. In the GFCE we will share our experiences and learn from participating nations and non-state actors. All will benefit from getting the knowledge and best-practices together in one platform. Cyberspace will get better with this initiative, paving the way for further international cooperation.’ Membership of the GFCE is open to all countries, intergovernmental organizations and private companies who subscribe to the Hague Declaration on the GFCE. Civil society, the technical community, think tanks and academia will also be encouraged to be involved in the GFCE, contributing to the development of best practices, sharing of knowledge and advising on capacity building efforts. Societies need to rapidly develop their capacity to take full advantage of cyberspace and to overcome evolving challenges in this field. GFCE-members can start or join specific Initiatives under the umbrella of the GFCE for capacity and expertise building. The four focus areas of the GFCE are: cybersecurity, cybercrime, data protection and e-governance. An annual high level meeting amongst members of the GFCE will evaluate progress made and discuss and formulate requirements as well as best practices in cyber capacity building. The Administrative Unit of the GFCE will be situated in The Hague. It will provide the necessary administrative and logistical support to GFCE members. Furthermore, it will maintain an overview of ongoing GFCE Initiatives and circulate the results of Initiatives among the GFCE members. The city of The Hague warmly supports the establishment of the GFCE, which further strengthens the role of The Hague as a central hub for cyber organizations.  

Launch Global Conference on Cyber Space 2015 in The Hague   Foreign minister Bert Koenders has welcomed 1,800 participants from over 100 countries to the Global Conference on CyberSpace in The Hague, which he is hosting. ‘The Netherlands champions a free, open and secure internet,’ said Mr. Koenders in his opening speech. ‘That’s what this conference is intended to promote. Free, so that everyone has access to the internet and the unprecedented opportunities it offers. Open, so that information can flow unimpeded from one user to another, in a single undivided cyberspace. Secure, so that personal data are protected and privacy is safeguarded.’ ‘Our dependency on cyber systems is outstripping our ability to safeguard and protect these systems from crime, espionage and infringements on our privacy,’ said the minister. ‘And this is where The Hague, as the international city of peace and justice, comes in. Because in the world we are creating, we cannot take peace and justice for granted. As the international community, we need to answer some fundamental questions: what are the terms of the social contract that governs the behaviour of citizens, corporations and governments in cyberspace? How do we find the right balance between freedom, security and economic growth in relation to cyberspace?’ ‘Today,’ said Mr Koenders, ‘cyberspace is so closely bound up with the way our society works, with the welfare and security of our peoples, that we initially feel governments themselves should take the lead in making multilateral agreements – agreements between states to the exclusion of the private sector and civil society. But given the nature of cyberspace, such an approach can never generate lasting solutions. Government, businesses and civil society should work together to develop and govern the internet according to a multi-stakeholder model, in which each party focuses on their own role.’ The minister expressed great concern at the fact that many people in the world still do not have access to the internet: ‘The gap between those who are connected, and those who are not, is growing by the day. And once you are a part of cyberspace, it’s becoming an ever more complex task to maintain safe and secure connections. We need to tackle this digital divide and its consequences.’ Mr Koenders went on to announce that the Netherlands would invest in capacity-building in countries that are unable to do so themselves, so they can keep their internet open and free. ‘There is much we can learn from each other,’ he said. ‘That’s why we are launching the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise this afternoon.’ During the two-day conference at the World Forum in The Hague, participants will discuss various aspects of cyberspace. The goal of GCCS 2015 is to further enhance international cooperation in the digital arena. Another item on the agenda is theestablishment of standards for responsible internet use. The Netherlands champions an open, free and secure internet. By investing in international cooperation between public and private parties, the Netherlands not only succeeds in improving its own digital security; it also creates opportunities for economic growth and innovation. GCCS 2015 is a follow-up to earlier conferences in London (2011), Budapest (2012) and Seoul (2013). The conference will welcome representatives of governments, international organisations, the business community, universities and civil society organisations. GCCS 2015 is being jointly organised by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Security & Justice; Economic Affairs; and Defence.  

On the picture HRH Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg  in Cabo Verde.   Translated and edited by Martin Kammandel    At the invitation of the President of Cabo Verde, HE Sr. Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Luxembourg paid an official visit to that island state in Africa between 10 and 12 March 2015. It was The Grand Duke’s first visit to Cabo Verde.  HRH Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg was accompanied by the Minister of Developmental Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, M Romain Schneider as well as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy, Mme Francine Closener. Luxembourg’s delegation arrived at the Nelson Mandela International Airport in the capital Praia yet also visited the Island of Santiago, the country’s economic hub, the Island of São Vicente as well as the Island de Santo Antão.     The visit was focused on bilateral ties in the fields of tourism, renewable energy and the maritime industry. Cabo Verde is one of nine partners for Luxemburgish development aid cooperation. During the visit the new cooperation aid agreement was signed (PIC IV 2016-2020). 

  The Centre for Renewable Energy and Industrial Maintenance (CERMI) was opened with the monetary aid of Luxembourg. It was built between 2011 and 2014. The centre offers educational programmes focused on technologies of renewable energies, and industrial maintenance. Immediately after its inauguration the centre hosted a joint economic forum between the two countries. Minister Romain Schneider signed an agreement to finance two maritime case studies about the access to renewable energies at sea.  15km from Praia, the visit continued to Cidade Velha, formerly capital of Cabo Verde. A College of Hotel and Tourism (EHTCV) was toured as it was opened in 2011 after it was built with the aid of Luxembourg. Tourism is a strategic sector for Cabo Verde’s economic development.  Santo Antão was next on list; whence most Cape Verdians living in Luxembourg hailed, and hence wherein the aid of Luxembourg has been present ever since the independence of the island state.  The visit’s last day featured the signing of the PIC IV after which Luxembourg obliges itself to provide 45 million EUR for Cabo Verde’s further development between 2016 and 2020. The main targets for that period are water sanitation, the combat of unemployment as well as the further development of renewable energies, and the bilateral exchanges between Luxembourg and Cabo Verde.  The Republic of Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) has one mission based in Brussels covering all three Benelux countries, the EU and the international organisations in Benelux. Chargé d’affaires a.i. is Counsellor Octavio Bento Gomes.  Cabo Verde will fête 40 years of independence on 5 July 2015.    Sources: www.monarchie.lu/fr/actualites/evenements/2015/03/10-12032015-capvert/index.html http://www.gouvernement.lu/4543751/10-visite-caboverde?context=519177   For more information:  Ministry of Developmental Cooperation and Humanitarian Action: http://cooperation.mae.lu/en/ Centre for Renewable Energy and Industrial Maintenance: www.ecreee.org/news/centre-renewable-energy-and-industrial-maintenance-cabo-verde-inaugurated Official Visit to Cabo Verde: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP7Q2nGjVd8 The visit’s full programme (in French): www.gouvernement.lu/4543751/10-visite-caboverde?context=519177 ————– Pictures – 2015 SIP/Carles Caratini     

A month of overwhelming Hungarian hospitality Ambassador  Orsolya Szijjártó hosted a dazzling Diplomats Meet and Greet, Hungarian style, at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel on April 9, 2015. Apart from the customary members of the diplomatic corps and entrepreneurs, a variety of other guests attended. Together, they contributed to a successful event. This results in another successful diplomatic event at the Carlton Ambassador in collaboration with Diplomat Magazine and Diplomatic Card. For a photo-album of this special Hungarian’s event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157651474994228/   The AD Haagsche Courant  also covered the event, click image below After welcoming her guests, the Ambassador spoke about Hungary’s renowned characteristics: hospitality, rich cultural history, tourism including one of Europe’s most popular annual music festivals, and of course, Hungarian wine. Hungary has been producing excellent wine for centuries. The party also enjoyed authentic goulash (soup) and scores of other delicacies.    

On the picture the Dutch Royal Couple and Hamburg’s Mayor Olaf Scholz.   Edited and translated by Baron Henri Estramant. 20 March 2015: Their Batavian Majesties led an economic mission to the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg after their State Visit to the Kingdom of Denmark, and a mission to the northern Bundesland Schleswig-Holstein. The visit began with a visite de courtoise to Minister-President, President of the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Olaf Scholz at the impressive Rathaus in the city centre. Thereafter the Royal Couple headed to a trilateral seminar on wind energy in the see with the participation of Dutch, German and Danish entrepreneurs at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.

  Cross-border maritime cooperation The Royal Couple attended a meeting of entrepreneurs at the Fischauktionshalle to discuss the sustainable opportunities brought about by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the maritime sector. LNG is deemed as more environmentally friendly fuel for the reduction of ships’ emissions, and the amelioration of air quality in harbours. Hereinafter the royals toured LNG Power Barge, wherein LNG is utilised to produce electricity. Currently the German company Becker Marine Systems exploits the LNG which originates from the Rotterdam GATE LNG terminal, and is then delivered by Shell Deutschland. Stage entertainment; cooperation in stage technology On Friday morning the royals were taken to Joop van den Ende Academy which characterises itself for the internationalisation of stage technology. Dutch expertise herein lies in education. The Amsterdam-based Hogeschool voor de Kunsten offers for instance a programme in Creative Engineering in the Performing Arts which combines art with craftsmanship.

Sustainable mobility in the city In the same building of the Joop van den Ende Academy the Royal Couple viewed the workshop with the topic intelligent mobility in the city. Dutch and German policymakers, NGOs, companies and universities brainstormed over the new options for public transport at land and in the see. The City of Hamburg unveiled the “Projekt Hamburg 2030” which focuses on sustainable transport. The visit ended with a luncheon, or Senatsfrühstück held at the Rathaus and hosted by Mayor Olaf Scholz. Hamburg shares a representational office to the EU with the Bundesland Schleswig-Holstein. It is a bicephalous office headed for matters related to Hamburg by Dr. Claus Müller whereas the interests of Schleswig-Holstein are led by Thorsten Augustin. Source: www.koninklijkhuis.nl/nieuws/nieuwsberichten/2015/februari/koning-en-koningin-bezoeken-sleeswijk-holstein-en-hamburg-(2)/ For more information: Mayor of Hamburg: www.hamburg.de/senat/2815136/olaf-scholz www.olafscholz.hamburg/1/pages/index/p/7 Hamburg Chamber of Commerce: www.hk24.de Shell Deutschland: www.shell.de LNG Hybrid Barge: www.lng-hybrid.com/2_projects/barge_intro.html Hanse Office in Brüssel: www.hanse-office.de