Faced with security challenges that transcend national borders, such as drone incidents, cyberattacks, air smuggling, or floods, close collaboration between public authorities, emergency services, and police forces is deemed essential. Representatives from the three countries met to review progress and define new directions.
During the meeting focused on police cooperation, police chiefs reviewed the results of 2026 and set priorities for 2027. The Dutch Koninklijke Marechaussee actively participates in these exchanges. The agenda included combating smuggling in general aviation, joint operations like Silent Skies, cooperation between communication centers and investigative services, and the KMar's role in border control.
Discussions also covered the fight against hybrid threats and strengthening cooperation with France and the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The implementation of the Benelux Treaty on Police Cooperation, offering new cross-border collaboration opportunities, was addressed.
Regarding crisis management, services from the three countries exchanged views on the evolution of hybrid threats, particularly drone incidents and cyber threats, emphasizing the importance of coordination between public authorities and private partners. Natural risks such as drought and heatwaves were also discussed, along with preparedness and response strategies.
Concrete progress was made, including the signing of a technical arrangement for designating permanent correspondents within national crisis centers, thereby facilitating communication during crises. The Benelux recommendation on resilience is also nearing finalization and is expected to be signed in early 2027.
Under Belgium's Benelux presidency in 2027, cooperation will continue with planned workshops on crisis management, public-private partnerships, and civil-military cooperation, aiming to make the region safer and better prepared for crises.
