On 20 November, Minister-president Geert Bourgeois received Xavier Bertrand, the Président of the Regional Council of Hauts-de-France in the Errera House. They discussed the impact of the brexit on their regions and the cross-border project ‘Seine-Scheldt’.
Minister-president Bourgeois congratulated Président Bertrand on the result of his incessant commitment to the ‘Canal Seine-Nord’ project. In turn, Bertrand expressed his gratitude for the strong Flemish support during the past months. This waterway infrastructure project will connect seven European harbors by improving the existing waterways and building new canals. The project offers good economic prospects for France, Wallonia and Flanders.
Geert Bourgeois and Xavier Bertrand exchanged views on brexit and the consequences for both regions. A hard brexit can cause a lot of economic damage to Flanders and Hauts-de-France. Bourgeois and Bertrand discussed the possible future trade relations with the UK. Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of cooperation and the search for common ground to address future challenges.
Both leaders also expressed their intention to promote cooperation in the fields of cross-border employment, vocational training, Dutch language education, exchange of good practices concerning industrial revolution 4.0. and exchanging learning systems.
General Representation of the Government of Flanders to France