Britain and Belgium have agreed a practical workplan to make trade smoother, ports more resilient and energy ties deeper through 2026. The joint statement, published by the UK Government and framed by the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Renewed Agenda agreed on 19 May 2025, sets out actions with clear implications for exporters, port operators, investors and universities.

On trade, both sides signal moves to cut friction within the TCA while recognising the importance of temporary mobility for business and research. The direction of travel is towards more consistent processes, better signposting and less guesswork at the border, rather than headline rule changes.

Ports are described as global gateways, with a promise to deepen cooperation and explore autonomous shipping. For roll‑on/roll‑off routes, that points to coordinated pilots and common data standards before any wider rollout. The upside is quicker turnrounds and lower operating costs; the risk is uneven adoption if standards diverge.

SMEs get explicit attention. The statement commits customs authorities to simplify procedures and provide targeted information to stakeholders, including small firms. Expect clearer guidance and time‑limited pilots before any broader shift, and watch how UK Border Force and Belgian customs turn this into forms, portals and service levels.

Economic security is a running theme. London and Brussels/Bruxelles will step up dialogue on foreign direct investment screening in strategic sectors, diversify supply chains and protect critical infrastructure. For dealmakers in defence, life sciences and semiconductors, that means earlier engagement with screening bodies and longer approval timetables.

Energy cooperation will intensify. The countries will update their February 2022 memorandum, keep existing interconnectors running smoothly and continue discussions on Nautilus, a proposed electricity interconnector. Yearly security‑of‑supply exchanges and a biennial bilateral energy dialogue add structure to decision‑making.

Low‑carbon projects are prominent. The governments will explore cooperation on hydrogen, set up green shipping corridors and aim to conclude in the first half of 2026 a bilateral arrangement under the London Protocol to move CO2 across borders for permanent geological storage. Nuclear cooperation is explicitly on the table.

Security and defence measures are tied to protecting the North Sea economy. As NATO allies, the UK and Belgium will use the NorthSeal Platform and the JEF+ mechanism to safeguard strategic infrastructure and counter hybrid threats such as cyber and electronic warfare. For operators of wind farms, cables and pipelines, that signals better uptime and shared risk management.

Law enforcement cooperation is set to tighten. The plan builds on a Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement, with signing targeted for 2026, and deeper work through EUROPOL, INTERPOL and the Prüm frameworks. Stronger port security and closer work between police, security and customs aim to disrupt organised crime and illicit finance.

Migration policy features for operational reasons. Both countries will intensify efforts against criminal networks and improve technology and procedures at key nodes, notably Zeebrugge Port. Logistics firms should see steadier operations over time, though short‑term adjustments to screening and lane management are possible.

Research and health links are unusually detailed. Priorities include pharmaceuticals, life sciences, AI, semiconductors and engineering biology, with universities central to delivery and deeper participation via Horizon Europe. The plan also targets critical medicines shortages, pandemic resilience and clinical research, building on the UK’s current membership of the EU Critical Medicines Alliance and the WHO’s role.

One implementation detail matters: Belgium’s federal and regional authorities are formally involved, so delivery may differ across Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. For businesses, treat this as a pipeline of regulatory and infrastructure changes through 2026-near‑term gains in clearer customs guidance and port security, longer‑dated opportunities in interconnectors, CO2 networks and green shipping.