Dear Mr. Ambassador, you have been living in Belgium very shortly so far, but you have already had the opportunity to discover Belgian economy during your tours in the regions. Was there anything that had positively surprised you?

At the moment, I can only share the first, although very intensive, impressions. During the first weeks, I had the opportunity to get to know the Flemish Brabant very well and to visit Antwerp, a fair in Gent and Namur – the capital of the Walloon region. I was very impressed by the general accent on knowledge economy. Belgian universities developed great partnerships with private sector and state agencies and set up spin-offs. Belgium has started with this approach a couple of years ago and it has been a success ever since. Meanwhile, the most successful companies that were created as spin-offs became leaders at global level, e.g. IMEC or B-PHOT. Top level has also been reached by live-sciences facilities such as the Research centre of the Catholic University of Leuven which I had the opportunity to visit. This university is in fact linked with one of the strongest stories of Czech science – career of Professor Holý. Cooperation with Professor Erik De Clercq from Leuven was key for number of his projects and Professor De Clerq is co-author of 15 Holý´s patents. But there are more similar examples. However, the Czech Republic closely cooperates with other universities and research centres. This is exactly the field to which I would like to dedicate my mission in Belgium.

Which other priorities did you set up for your mission?

Czech-Belgian relations have long-lasting tradition and are very rich. I would like to deepen and enhance them. If I had to point out one particular area, it would be R&D and simultaneously the cooperation with universities. By that I mean mobility of students and educators in both directions, cooperation on research projects and joint participation in European programmes such as Horizon 2020 or spin-off projects creating virtual bridge between research and economy. I have visited numerous ceremonial openings of the academic year at Belgian universities and had the possibility to understand how important the education is for Belgians. They know that it is not only about current and future cultural level of the nation, but also about its future prosperity. In today’s world of hard competition, the education is the first prerequisite. For this reason I have addressed all rectors of Czech public universities with the offer of cooperation when strengthening the tights with Belgium.

Giving the fact that there are two international organizations – NATO and EU, Brussels is very cosmopolitan. It offers a variety of cultural events. How successful are you when promoting Czech culture? Is there any interest for it?

It is not possible to assess that after such a short time I have been here. I can only confirm that Brussels is a difficult milieu with a great offer of events. There are many of them every day from morning to evening. Except the traditional cultural life of Brussels, the attention of public is drawn to numerous embassies, culture centres, economic sectors, regions from over the Europe, lobby groups and other stakeholders. Despite that, I think the Czechs are successful and seen – also thanks to active work of all of us who represent our country – diplomatic mission, Czech centres, Czech regions including the Prague House, compatriotic associations, Czech Fan Club and other friends of the Czech Republic. We managed to build a clear knowledge of Czech entities in Brussels that we all wear the same jersey and must pull together. The Belgians like and know Czech classical music, fine arts including the photography, film and literature. Only in the last couple of weeks, philharmonic orchestra of Brno played in Brussels Beaux Arts and in Liege. Czech classical music was heard in many Belgian cities performed by Czech interpreters in the framework of International music festival 13 cities – Czech Dreams. Last week, there was an article in Le Soir about French performance of Petr Zelenka play called Příběhy obyčejného šílenství, that were performed in Brussels, Mons, Liege and Namur.

You wish to focus on research and science. Is there any Belgian recipe for business cooperation with academic world?

Belgians have worked intensively to teach these two worlds to communicate and cooperate. We work home in the same way. Research centres cannot be considered as machines for patents, where you throw 5 crowns on one side and you get an invention on the other. At the same time, they have to show, especially in technical programmes, the results. World is getting faster and interconnected today, and R&D generates very progressive and smart entities. Who hesitates, stands aside very soon. Nevertheless, it is an area connected with future prosperity and success. Belgian research institutions are aware of it and are open to international cooperation. In the criteria of internationalization they rank in the top places in the world – and it is a country of smaller size, similar to the Czech Republic. International cooperation is crucial for Belgians. In this respect I see an opportunity for Czech scientists, research centres and companies.

Are you aware of any common aspects of Czech and Belgian economy?

Indeed, there is a range of similar features. Beside the same size of the economy and the fact that we are both part of the EU Internal Market, we have a strong industrial tradition. Plus there is a very strong link to German supply chain in both countries. And we could go on with the similarities and end up with the tradition of beer brewing, of which are both countries rightly proud.

Which sectors in Belgium are prospective for Czech companies?

Everything of high quality has a potential to be placed on this market. You might want to hear concrete sectors where we have a bigger opportunity to be successful, though. Naturally, we have made numerous analyses which are going as deep as to the categories of products. I will rather mention the larger sectors such as transport, esp. railways. Furthermore, it is healthcare, esp. medical chairs, beds or health material or energy. According to the analyses, there is also potential in sectors of furnishing, papermaking, drinking-water, lifting and handling equipment, machine tools and forming tools and many others. Nevertheless, I think that Czech companies are able to succeed in Belgium in all sectors if they have excellent goods for a good price.

Access to the sea and links to former colonies give Belgian companies many opportunities. Shouldn´t we use Belgium as a bridge for trading with third countries?

Yes, that’s a good point but a big challenge at the same time. There are many countries that could serve as an intermediary to enter those markets they have acquired better than us, either due to historic or geographic reasons. This is a topic for my colleagues from Spain, Portugal, Netherlands and France as well. In case of Belgium, it is unequivocally equatorial Africa, the markets which are very hard to get to for inexperienced companies. On the other hand, investment in Czech companies could open the door for Belgian companies to Western Balkans or Eastern Europe. There were a lot of discussions about such cooperation, but it ends up with a success very rarely. Nevertheless, it is worth trying such cooperation and look for opportunities.

You have experience with security policy. Last year, Belgium has recorded couple of terrorist threats. How do you perceive it?

Last year´s attack on Brussels Jewish museum was a cold shower for the whole Europe. Belgium is fully aware of the threat. Per capita, Belgium is the country with the most Islamists fighting in Iraq and Syria. According to the estimations, it concerns 300 people. There are justifiable doubts about the consequences of their return to Belgium. There are already many of such returnees in Belgium – media says about 70–90 persons. I would like to compliment Belgian security forces that don’t find themselves in an easy situation and are dealing with this problem. Belgium has also joined countries of the international coalition against Daesh, i.e. the terrorist army that is being called Islamic State. It was remarkable to see the speed of decision to send six Belgian F16s to that region on the same day when it was approved by the Belgian Parliament. I very much appreciate Belgian political representation which is united and principled when it comes to the defence of democratic values and readiness to confront serious security threats. The deployment of aircrafts had a massive support in the Parliament – there were only two MPs from Marxist formation against. New Belgian government of Prime Minister Michel is very well aware of the problem of radical Islam and wants to tackle it intensively as it is one of its priorities.

During your professional career you have worked at the Czech Embassy in Moscow. You know Russian culture very well. What is your personal opinion regarding the efficiency of EU sanctions against Russia?

In my opinion the sanctions proved to be effective. Their aim is not to punish Russia but to change its unacceptable behaviour. Unlawful attack against neighbouring Ukraine, armed annexation of Crimea and fomenting and supporting separatism in eastern Ukraine are no distant regional problem. They concern principles on which stands European security. Europe has always been set to cooperate with Russia. But Russia broke a lot of porcelain in the last couple of years and lost a lot of its credibility. I hope that it will start respecting its neighbours as independent states and partners, and working on coming back to the trajectory of cooperation.

Thank you for the cooperation!

by Alena Mastantuono for Leaders Magazine

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 H.E. Ambassador Jaroslav Kurfürst

Holds a Master degree in Geography and Physical Education from the University of Ostrava and Master degree in French language from the University of Hradec Králové. He served as Second Secretary at the Czech Embassy in Moscow and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Czech Embassy in Washington D.C. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he served as Director of Security Policy, later as Director of Common Foreign and Security Policy Department and also as Director General of Europe Section. Since 2014 he has been Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Belgium. He is fluent in French, English and Russian. He likes outdoor sports, reading, music and gardening. With his wife Radka they have two sons – Jaroslav and Vojtěch.