België zet tijdens UNGA81 in op de vrijheid van navigatie, veilige zeeën, bescherming van de wereldhandel en respect voor het Zeerecht

On the sidelines of the General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Belgium, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), organised the ministerial meeting entitled ‘The future of combating maritime crime: new technologies and public-private partnerships as a lever’. Ministers, representatives of international organisations, maritime authorities, technology experts and business leaders came together to discuss how innovation and enhanced cooperation can contribute to a more effective approach to maritime crime. Belgium was represented by Bernard Quintin, Minister for Security and Home Affairs. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges also took part in the meeting and shared its experience as a major European port. Through this meeting, Belgium reaffirmed its support for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which enables safe and free shipping worldwide. At the same time, the event provided an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with UNODC and to draw additional attention to the impact of organised crime on logistics chains. For Belgium, maritime security is a strategic priority. As an open economy...