Scotland-Flanders joint working: action plan
- Published
- 10 June 2025
- Directorate
- EU Directorate
- Topic
- International
Action plan for the June 2023 memorandum of understanding between the Flemish Government and Scottish Government.
We published a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Flanders in 2023 setting out our commitment to work together.
This action plan, covering 2025 to 2027, builds on this existing positive relationship by setting out key areas for cooperation. This focuses on:
- renewable energy and hydrogen
- education
- research
- tourism
- digital health
- culture
- other
The topics listed are non-exhaustive and further topics, areas of methods of cooperating may be suggested by either government at any time.
In general, both governments agree to organise annual meetings until 2027 between civil servants and, if deemed appropriate, other relevant stakeholders to discuss the progress of the bilateral cooperation.
Renewable energy and hydrogen
Continue official-level contact and exchange of good practice, knowhow and policy information on renewable energy and hydrogen, including by exploring joint visits to green energy projects in Scotland and in Flanders.
Some examples of recent cooperation in this area include the offshore ecosystems tour of Flanders’ Blue Cluster network to the Floating Offshore Wind exhibition in Aberdeen in October 2024; and the Scottish participation at the Belgian Presidency International Hydrogen Colloquium in February 2024. Future planned engagement includes a visit from Scottish Government officials to Ostend to view renewable energy projects in the area and meet with stakeholders to discuss priorities in blue economy, offshore energy and maritime security.
Education
Continue official-level exchange of good practice, knowhow and policy information on educational topics such as higher education policies as well as encouraging more exchanges between our higher education institutions.
We welcome the existing cooperation between several of our universities and support discussions around further collaboration.
Flanders and Scotland will also foster flexible communication and encourage the exchange of good practice, knowhow and policy information on key areas such as curriculum development, strategies for improving learning outcomes, evidence-informed policies and practices, as well as policies regarding teachers and school leadership, with a focus on professional standards and continuous development
Research
Explore opportunities to collaborate between Scottish and Flemish research institutions, universities, individual researchers in areas of mutual interest, especially with regards to promoting more cooperation in Horizon Europe projects.
Look to increase cooperation between Scottish universities and Flanders’ IMEC research centre.
Encourage further research collaboration between scientific networks through exploring ways to strengthen existing and develop new research partnerships, thereby intensifying international networks, and facilitating the exchange of ideas.
Tourism
Follow up on the renewed memorandum of understanding on tourism in which VisitFlanders and VisitScotland are committed to developing their respective tourist destinations to be economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable, inclusive, and responsible by allowing expertise sharing, collaboration and learning.
Digital health
Continuing the initial discussions, exchange of policies and identification of key themes to improve the health and wellbeing of people in both our regions by making the best use of digital technologies. One such example was the Scotland-Flanders Digital Health Roundtable organised in October 2023.
Culture
Continue collaboration and exchange on relevant practices between policy departments and share expertise on digitalization of the cultural sector topics, including the use of data for audience development and participation.
In addition to this we aim to further strengthen our cultural bonds in specific areas, such as cooperation at the level of festivals, practices of cultural participation and cross sectoral collaborations.
Collaborate and share cultural expertise, from festivals to heritage. This approach seeks to strengthen connections within cultural sectors, with a specific focus on music and performing arts. Explore ideas to host a joint event to showcase both Flemish and Scottish culture in an area of mutual interest.
Other
Other planned engagement includes a Flemish delegation visit in June 2025, led by the Minister-President of Flanders, to Scotland to strengthen relations between Flemish and Scottish scientific institutions as well as within the manufacturing sector.
Explore other ways of cooperating, including the potential for a regular visit from Flemish diplomats in London to different parts of Scotland to develop further expertise, and vice versa from Scottish diplomats to Flanders to deepen understanding of priorities and meet officials working on policy areas outlined within this Action Plan.
Continue regular dialogue between Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT) and Scottish Government Officials to foster closer trade and investment ties. In particular maintain and build on close working between us and the Edinburgh FIT Office.
Explore options to support trade and investment links by Government Officials and agencies including Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise.
Explore knowledge exchanges in the field of Human Rights.
Other engagement within the general framework of this MoU Action Plan includes our participation in the Flanders EU Presidency event on Strategic Foresight in May 2024, and Flanders’ Coastal and Ocean Bassin trip to Edinburgh and Kinross in October 2024, where 48 business delegates from Flanders discussed trade and business with Scottish counterparts.