Belgium, Europe, and the United States during COVID-19

The transatlantic relationship through multilateral cooperation between Europe and the United States is the cornerstone of Belgium’s foreign policy. As a strategic partner in trade, security and defense, and cultural exchange, America’s partnership with Belgium lies in its shared values in democracy, human rights, ethics, and more. As a reliable NATO ally, Belgium and the U.S. often work together within a framework of international coalitions against terrorism in conflict regions including the Middle East.

Join us on Thursday, July 30th at 2 p.m. EDT as we listen to Ambassador Dirk Wouters offer his perspective on the current state of the relationship between Belgium and the United States, and by that extension, its (U.S.) relationship with Europe. In addition, he will share insight into Europe’s response to COVID-19, the future of trade between the U.S. and the European Union in the challenging times, and the ongoing tension between the current U.S. administration and European leaders.

WACC Distinguished Speaker Series 

 

 

 

 

Date: Thursday, July 30, 2020
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. 

Register online (Free to WACC members and non-members)

 

 

 

Biography

Ambassador Wouters’ career has included both multilateral and bilateral assignments and has been primarily focused on European affairs.

Dirk Wouters joined the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1980. His career started in the consular and disarmament departments, and he went on to dealing with economic and technology issues at the Belgian Embassy in Rome. From 1986, Mr. Wouters was appointed to several important functions in European Affairs, including within the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the EU. He was also directly involved in several negotiations on revision of the European Treaties (Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice, and Lisbon). In 1992, Mr. Wouters received a second assignment in Rome dealing with political and economic issues. In 2001, he was appointed coordinator of the Belgian Presidency and headed for some years the Department of European Coordination and Integration in the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Brussels. Dirk Wouters then assisted Jean Luc Dehaene as Vice President of the Convention on the future of the European Union. From 2003 to 2009, he was Permanent Representative of Belgium to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union, at the time when the common foreign and security policy was framed under the leadership of J. Solana. In 2009, Mr. Wouters was called to the office of Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as his diplomatic advisor and Sherpa. After that, as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dirk Wouters was one of the main architects of the successful Belgian EU-Presidency and key foreign policy decisions on Afghanistan and Libya. He was the Permanent Representative of Belgium to the European Union from 2011 to 2016.

Mr. Wouters is no stranger to the United States, having lived in New York while Deputy Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations (1995-2000), with a special responsibility for coordination and for overseeing the work in the political, military, economic and development section. In this position, he was involved in the creation of the International Criminal Court. During his tenure, Dirk Wouters was also an active participant in the Open-ended Working Group of the General Assembly on the Reform of the Security Council.

Mr. Wouters is the former Chairman of the Association of diplomats of the Belgian Foreign Service.