Mission and mandates
Inaugurated in 1972, the Québec Government Office in Brussels seeks to promote Québec and its interests in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, as well as within the European institutions.
Bilateral and public Affairs
Bilateral affairs sector
- to develop, coordinate and maintain relations with various political and administrative authorities from the Benelux countries;
- to prepare missions to the Benelux countries for Quebec political figures and help organize visits for political figures from the Benelux countries in Québec;
- to help Quebec institutions and/or agencies prepare missions to promote Quebec’s interests;
- to develop cooperative relationships between Quebec and Benelux institutions, notably in terms of higher education and training, research, science and technology;
- to ensure the implementation of all cooperative agreements already concluded between Quebec and the regions or communities of Belgium, Belgium, Luxembourg and of any other agreement which can occur with one or the other of the three Benelux countries;
- to monitor the sociopolitical situation of countries in the Benelux region in order to inform Québec authorities of social and political developments in these territories.
Public affairs sector
- to present Québec society as fairly and comprehensively as possible within the Benelux region and with European institutions;
- to develop effective communications tools (newsletters, press reviews), distribute information at public events, provide assistance to researchers, make available a wide range of sources of information on Québec;
- to identify suitable opportunities and events in the institutional, university, and scientific communities to promote Québec and undertakes the steps required to take advantage of them; cooperates with centers for Québec and Canadian studies;
- to handle press relations with media representatives and press agencies; assist journalists;
- to encourage the presence of Québec figures in the media and their participation in the public sphere; looks after communications and public affairs during visits by Québec figures.
European and multilateral Affairs
- to monitor work done by European institutions in areas relevant to Québec’s competencies and interests;
- to develop, maintain, and coordinate relations with the various institutions of the European Union and other European authorities, including the Council of Europe, as well as with certain regional associations including the Assembly of European Regions and the Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power (REGLEG);
- to organize missions to European institutions carried out by Québec political figures and representatives of Québec institutions and organizations, host and advise delegations, provide support in organizing any visits to Québec by representatives of European institutions;
- to watch and analyze the development of European institutions and European multi-region institutions.
Cultural Affairs
- Promote and encourage market development of Quebec culture in the Benelux territory.
- Sensitize the professional community to Quebec creations and promote Quebec cultural events.
- Provide support to companies and Quebec artists in planning various promotional activities and support their prospecting efforts with specialized networks, in different sectors.
Economic Affairs
- To promote dialogue between Québec and Benelux companies in view of increasing the number of business, industrial, and technology partnerships;
- To provide information and support services to Québec companies seeking to do business in the Benelux region, answer local inquiries into Québec products and technologies and partnership opportunities involving Québec businesses;
- In cooperation with the main Québec investment promotion agencies, to liaise with head offices of Benelux companies established in Québec;
- To publicize, promote, and oversee the implementation of Québec’s economic strategies;
- To monitor changes in European Union economic policies and determine their impact on Québec;
- To track and report on changes in trade policies, practices, and techniques in the target territory to Québec organizations, companies, and government.
Last update: September 29, 2022