Voluntary Report - Public Distribution s26

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN Report

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Voluntary Report - public distribution Date: 2/19/2004 GAIN Report Number: BE4005 BE4005 Belgium-Luxembourg Agricultural Situation New Flemish Agriculture Minister 2004

Approved by: Roger Wentzel U.S. Embassy,Brussels Prepared by: Patricia Lefevre

Report Highlights: Flemish Minister for Environment, Agriculture and Development Aid, Ludo Sannen resigned and has been replaced by his green party colleague Mr. Jef Tavernier.

Includes PSD Changes: No Includes Trade Matrix: No Unscheduled Report The Hague [NL1] [BE] GAIN Report - BE4005 Page 2 of 2

Flemish Minister for Environment, Agriculture and Development Aid, Ludo Sannen, resigned on February 17, 2004. He has been replaced by his green party colleague Mr. Jef Tavernier.

Newly appointed Minister Jef Tavernier will be interim Minister until the regional elections of June 2004. This is the second time Mr. Tavernier serves as interim Minister. In August 2002, he replaced Magda Alvoet, Federal Minister of Public Health and Environment until the elections of May 2003.

UNCLASSIFIED USDA Foreign Agricultural Service