On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom indicated its desire to leave the European Union and will therefore no longer be part of the European internal market and the customs union. Analyses show that the impact of Brexit on Flanders will be major. (Read more below: the Impact Studies by Professor Hylke Vandenbussche (KULeuven).
However, Flanders chose to be constructive and wishes to have maximal impact on the negotiations to limit the impact on our region, but also on the European Union and the UK. In order to weigh in on these negotiations, the Government of Flanders has identified its priorities for the different phases of the negotiations and listed these in a vision statement.
As of February 2020 the second phase commenced. As stipulated in the Withdrawal Agreement, the future relationship between the EU and the UK should be determined before the end of the transition period (31 December 2020) if both parties want to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Once again, the Government of Flanders has identified its priorities on the future relationship in order to weigh in on these negotations.
At the same time, the Government of Flanders is doing everything in its power to prepare Flemish companies as well as possible for Brexit. The preparations take various scenarios into account, including a no-deal brexit. (The Brexit actieplan is only available in Dutch).
Brexit negotiator Barnier visits the Flemish Parliament Meeting with Barnier about future EU - UK relationship Post-Brexit collaboration with Wales Meeting with Dutch Minister of Trade Brexit Taskforce: prepared for every scenario Presentation Brexit Impact Study in London Brexit has severe impact on EU economic sector, resulting in large scale job losses Parliament approves framework decree for no-deal Brexit 'There is more that unites us than divides us' Minister-president Bourgeois to Hamburg with colleague Paasch
The Department of Foreign Affairs has asked Professor Hylke Vandenbussche (KU Leuven) to research the economic impact of several Brexit scenarios. This has resulted in two research papers.
Brexit impact study: Regional, Provincial and Municipality-Level Analysis of the Impact of Brexit on Belgium
This paper analyses the economic impact of Brexit on Belgium, with specific attention for the effects at the regional, provincial, and communal levels. The study researches the impact of a no deal Brexit, as well as a soft Brexit scenario.
Brexit Impact study: Sector-Level Analysis of the Impact of Brexit on the EU-28
The study analyses the sectoral impact of Brexit on each of the EU-28 and reveals how supply chain disruption caused by Brexit affects added value and employment in both a hard and a soft brexit scenario. The Global Network Model (GNM) that was used takes direct as well as indirect trade flows into account. In addition, the study discloses for 15 specific economic sectors like textiles, chemicals, automotive, agriculture and food & beverages a ranking of the 10 most impacted member states.
Brexit impact study Sector-level Analysis of the Impact of Brexit on EU-28 (1.26 MB) "pdf" Furthermore, the Flanders Department of Foreign Affairs draws some key takeaways from the study.