2007 (PDF, 2.81 MB) - Belgium

Requests are complied with – as far as time and our
limited human resources allow – so as to provide
the clearest possible picture of the application of international
law in Belgium.
Over the last year, the administrative management of
diplomatic missions in Brussels has improved further,
with optimisation of services and continuing modernisation
of operations.
Alongside the diplomatic list that was already available
there, the Protocol Directorate website (launched
in 2005) has added extra information about the rules
of protocol for the diplomatic community.
The year 2007 also saw particular attention paid to
the issue of respect for transport legislation by diplomats
and also to mediation for settling disputes
involving diplomatic missions and their personnel.
Furthermore, the directorate attaches importance
to the terms and conditions of employment of diplomats’
domestic personnel. A last point to note is that
the technical equipment for creating driving licences
for diplomatic missions was updated.
The diplomatic community in Brussels continues
to grow, in terms of both number of missions and
number of personnel, and now numbers 279 diplomatic
missions (180 bilateral embassies and 99 multilateral
delegations and Permanent Representations).
Countries which were previously represented in
Belgium by a mission abroad bring the total number
of diplomatic missions managed by the Protocol
Directorate to 287. Increasing numbers of them are
opening a new diplomatic mission in Brussels.
Over the first eleven months of 2007, 10,615 new
identity cards were issued. These included 5,642 diplomatic
cards, 1,918 for administrative and technical
personnel and 2,190 members of the service personnel,
domestic personnel and civil servants on an official
mission.
Protocol
Diplomatic missions
In 2007, 1,814 diplomatic corps vehicle registration
numbers were issued. Factoring in the number of
such registration numbers that were returned, this
represented an increase of 374. A total of 6,449 such
registration numbers are in circulation: 4,401 for diplomats’
personal vehicles and 2,048 for diplomatic
missions’ official vehicles.
In November there were 59,451 people with privileges
managed by the Protocol & Security (P&S) Directorate
(both holders and their families). Of them one-third
were working for diplomatic missions and two-thirds
were working for international organisations.
Consulates and international
organisations
Seven honorary consuls and six career consuls were
appointed in 2007 (as things stood on 20 October
2007). Procedures have been started to open five honorary
consulates, one consulate general and appoint
twelve honorary consuls and one career consul.
Two new headquarters agreements were also signed/
concluded with international organisations, whilst the
UN opened another agency. A total of 19,992 civil servants
have been issued with a special identity card by
the P&S Directorate, and there are some 70 international
organisations or representation offices in Brussels.
Visits, royal trips and security of
diplomatic missions in Brussels
One state visit to Belgium was organised in 2007: that
of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
(20-22 March). There were also two Belgian state
visits to foreign countries: Latvia (22-25 April) and the
Republic of Ireland (8-10 October).
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