The Ambassador highlighted the excellent political relations between Germany and Belgium. As founding members of the EU and NATO allies, both countries share a common vision for Europe’s future. His own country, known for many good things – including Belgian chocolate and Belgian beer – is home to the world’s leading research and innovation centre for nano-electronics, IMEC, which opened a new office in Baden-Württemberg in October 2025 to jointly advance next-generation chip technology. “But we do not think only in nanometres; we also think in light years,” the Ambassador joked as he outlined another major project pursued jointly by Belgium, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia: the Einstein Telescope, “which will provide unprecedented insights into the universe.”

Speaking on behalf of Germany, the Chair of the Belgium-Luxembourg Parliamentary Friendship Group, Philipp Hoffmann, delivered the greeting. He began by expressing his personal ties to Belgium and his profound appreciation for the neighbouring country, before recalling the shared cultural foundations as well as the economic and security interests that bind the two nations.