This year, the Egmont Institute is organising two training sessions in Brussels for French and English speaking African countries respectively. The first one, which ended on October 6th, welcomed twelve mid-career diplomats from Cameroon, the Comoros, Central African Republic and Chad. Amongst these, eight came from the four countries central administrations and 4 from their embassies in Brussels.
Since 2014, Egmont has been organising high-level trainings in international diplomacy for diplomats, in line with the decision of the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, Mr Didier Reynders, to contribute to the professional development of foreign diplomats and to strengthen the relationship between Belgium and recipient countries.
One objective of these sessions, is to improve diplomats’ knowledge of Belgian Foreign Affairs and Brussels at the heart of European Union and NATO decision-making. The consolidation of relations between the African diplomats and their Belgian counterparts is of course a core element of this project.
The program for this Training was divided into three modules: a first module on Belgium, a second on international organisations and a third on exchange of knowledge and diplomatic skills. This past Training and the one to come are clearly an opportunity for Belgium to put forward the importance given to the African continent as well as to underline the common interests.
E. Mr Jan Grauls, Honorary Ambassador of Belgium to the UN, presenting the Peacebuilding Commission to the African diplomats, Egmont Palace.
Ms Annick Van Calster, Director for Bilateral Affairs and Mr Jozef Smets, Director Sub-Saharan Africa for Bilateral Affairs from the FPS Foreign Affairs and Mr Johan Verbeke, Director General of the Egmont Institute at the official closing ceremony
H.E. the Ambassador of Comoros in Brussels and the diplomats from Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic and the Comoros with Egmont Training Team at the official closing ceremony