World Watch Report

CONFIDENTIAL

WORLD WATCH® REPORT

Belgium

Date: 06/15/2018 14:08:05 GMT / UTC

World Watch® is confidential and is intended solely for the information and use of UnitedHealthcare Global's clients. Given the nature of the information, UnitedHealthcare Global does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information because agencies outside the control of UnitedHealthcare Global contribute information to World Watch®. While UnitedHealthcare Global vets and verifies all information with the utmost care and consideration for the end user, UnitedHealthcare Global does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and specifically disclaims all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of, or reliance upon, any of the information on this site, including customized reports created by clients. Any alteration or modification of the content of World Watch®, either from the website or via printed reports, is strictly prohibited.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or visit www.uhcglobal.com.

World Watch® Report from UnitedHealthcare Global Belgium

Executive Summary for Belgium Belgium is a liberal democratic monarchy situated in western Europe. The country is bordered by France to the west, Luxembourg to the south, Germany to the east, and the Netherlands and North Sea to the north. Belgium is comprised of three regions, which are subdivided into provinces. The country is wellknown for its historic monuments and buildings, modern amenities and worldclass hotels. Brussels serves as the capital of Belgium and as the de facto capital of Europe.

King Philippe is the ruling monarch in Belgium. A centerright government consisting of the New Flemish Alliance (NVA), the Christian Democratic & Flemish Party (CD&V), the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld) and the Reformist Movement (MR) has led Belgium since 2014. The current prime minister is Charles Michel, leader of MR, the only French speaking party in the grand coalition. Although Belgium has a prosperous economy, economic issues namely reducing the country's budget deficit represent the key challenge facing Michel's government.

The overall assessment of threats in Belgium is Medium. Crime, particularly petty crime, is the primary security concern for visitors to Belgium. Street demonstrations in Belgium occur often and are typically peaceful, with traffic disruptions being the most relevant concern for travelers; on occasion, however, clashes between protesters and police officers occur. Strikes in the public and private sectors also occur occasionally and may disrupt transportation and other services used by travelers. The threat of terrorism perpetrated by Islamist militants such as those affiliated with or inspired by alQaeda or the Islamic State (IS) represents a continuing threat in Belgium. This was most notably illustrated on 22 March 2016 when three explosions occurred in Brussels, leaving more than 30 people dead and over 250 others injured. Belgium Information Country Facts Current Analysis Official Kingdom of Belgium Country Name Charles Michel is the current prime minister and leads a centerright coalition Type Of Federal parliamentary democracy government consisting of four parties. Government under a constitutional monarchy

Belgium's economy is relatively stable and continued growth is expected in the Leadership Chief of State: King Philippe; Head coming years. of Government: Prime Minister Charles Michel Political Situation Capital Brussels

Federal elections were last held in May 2014, which coincided with European Official Dutch, French and German elections. However, because Belgian politics have historically been deeply Language divided along linguistic lines between Frenchspeaking Wallonia to the south and Population 11.4 million Dutchspeaking Flanders to the north (discussed further below), a new Ethnic Belgian 75%, Italian 4.1%, government did not form until October 2014. Charles Michel, leader of the Divisions Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Reformist Movement (MR), is the current prime minister and leads a centerright Turkish 2%, Dutch 2% coalition consisting of the New Flemish Alliance (NVA), the Christian Currency Euro Democratic & Flemish Party (CD&V), the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld) and the MR. Michel's MR party is the only Frenchspeaking party in GDP Growth 0.5% the governing coalition. Economic issues namely reducing the country's Inflation 1.4% budget deficit represent the key challenge facing Michel's government. Office Work 08301730 MF Linguistic and cultural differences between Flemish speakers in the north and Week French speakers in the south have led to a gradual division between the two Religion Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant regions, resulting in increased autonomy and selfgovernance. However, and other Christian 2.5%, Muslim separation would be detrimental to Frenchspeaking Wallonia, the poorer 5% southern region that has come to depend on the more prosperous northern Unemployment 6.6% region of Flanders for economic assistance. Wallonia politicians have been Time Zone UTC + 1 (Daylight Saving Time accused of corruption and of poorly managing the southern economy, and Dutch Offset Observed) speakers in Flanders have long resented what they see as the north’s subsidizing Country Phone 32 of the Wallonia economy. Code

International Relations Capital City 2 Phone Code

World Watch® Report from UnitedHealthcare Global There are no significant international issues that affect security and safety Nationwide 112 concerns within this country. Emergency Number(s) Economic Situation

Northern Belgium (known as Flanders) is wealthier overall than southern Wallonia, and it contributes approximately 60 percent to Belgium's overal GDP. Unemployment is also lower in Flanders than Wallonia. GDP growth overall is expected to marginally increase over the next several years, according to reports issued by the OECD in 2018. The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index for 20172018 ranked Belgium 20th out of 137 countries and the country ranks 16th on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2017. Finally, in the World Bank's 2017 Ease of Doing Business Survey, Belgium ranked 52nd out of 190 countries. Security Issues The main security concern in Belgium is crime, mostly petty theft. Demonstrations are a concern, primarily due to the disruption they sometimes cause to traffic. Strikes also occur occassionally in Belgium, and may affect transportation and public services. The threat of terrorism remains a significant concern in Belgium.

Crime

The security concern visitors to Belgium are most likely to encounter is opportunistic, nonviolent crime. Travelers should be alert for pickpockets and purse snatchers in larger urban areas and tourist areas, especially while traveling by public transportation and when in crowded locations. Criminals often work in small teams and use distraction techniques to steal wallets and purses in hightraffic areas; travelers are often targeted because of their perceived affluence and their general unfamiliarity with the area. Laptop computers and other valuable electronics (such as smart phones) are popular targets for thieves. Thefts of and from vehicles are among the most frequent crimes to occur in Belgium. In recent years the frequency of carjackings has increased. Theft from hotel rooms is also a growing concern. Violet crime occurs occasionally, but rarely affects foreign visitors.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations and protests related to domestic or international issues occur frequently in Belgium, most often in larger cities, such as Brussels. While these events are generally peaceful, they can cause disruptions to traffic. Visitors should avoid large gatherings as a precautionary measure, as violence has broken out at demonstrations in the past.

Strikes

Labor strikes in various economic sectors occur occasionally in Belgium; these events may be of concern to travelers because they may significantly disrupt public services. Past labor actions have affected operations at airports and local transportation services (such as bus, rail and subway services). Strikes are frequently announced with little prior notice, so travelers should keep abreast of developments ahead of and during their trips.

Terrorism

The threat of terrorism perpetrated by Islamist militant groups such as those affiliated with or inspired by alQaeda or the Islamic State (IS) and by radicalized individuals inspired by extremist movements, remains a significant concern in Belgium. The country is a potential target for terrorists due to the number of highprofile international institutions located inside the country, such as the headquarters of the European Union (EU) and NATO. Additionally, Belgium's participation in the coalition fighting against IS in Syria and Iraq increases the likelihood of being targeted, particularly as Belgian's who traveled to the Middle East to fight alongside jihadists begin returning to the country. Belgian authorities raised the nationwide terror alert level to level 3 which is the secondhighest level possible under Belgium’s alert system and indicates there is a "serious and real threat" of a terrorist attack following the November 2015 attacks in Paris, France. The threat level remained elevated until 22 January 2018, when Belgian authorities lowered it to a level 2, indicating the "likelihood of an attack is average and not very likely."

The threat was most recently illustrated on 20 June 2017 when a man attempted to bomb the Brussels Central Station; while he successfully detonated a suitcase bomb, the explosion was relatively smallscale and military forces quickly neutralized the threat. The most significant attack in Belgium took place on 22 March 2016 when three explosions took place in Brussels. The first two explosions occurred in the departures hall of the Zaventem International Airport (EBBR/BRU) near but not past the airport's main security area. Then, approximately one hour later, an explosion occurred in the Maalbeek metro station as a train was leaving. Overall, the attacks left more than 30 people dead and 250 others wounded. The Islamic State (IS) claimed

World Watch® Report from UnitedHealthcare Global responsibility for the attack.

Country Tips

Residents and visitors to Belgium must carry passports or identity cards at all times. Food and tap water are considered safe for consumption in Belgium. Smoking is banned in public places throughout the country, including at rail stations and airports. Health and Hospitals For information on the health environment in this location, please consult UnitedHealthcare Global's Medical Intelligence database, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) or your relevant government's health website(s).

Hospital Information

The standard of medical care in Belgium is high, and travelers should not encounter any difficulty with obtaining quality medical care. Stateoftheart tertiary care is available at large urban teaching hospitals. Ambulatory care is provided through integrated multidisciplinary practices, private offices or readily available housecall services. There is no referral system in Belgium, and patients are free to select any physician, specialist, or nonspecialist for care. Patients are also permitted to simultaneously consult with several doctors and switch physicians at any time. Overall, wait times for treatment are low. No hospital information was found for this location. "The information contained in this section was developed by UnitedHealthcare Global in collaboration with Harvard Medical International. Copyright 2018. This information is intended to provide accurate and helpful health information for the general public. The information should not be considered complete. It should not be used in place of a call or visit to a medical, health or other competent professional, who should be consulted before adopting any of the suggestions contained or drawing inferences from it. UnitedHealthcare Global specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the material in this section." Brussels, Belgium Security Issues Crime

Although Brussels' crime rate is relatively low, crime is the security concern travelers to the city are most likely to encounter. Most criminal incidents affecting foreign visitors involve nonviolent, opportunistic crime, such as pickpocketing or purse snatching, although incidents of petty criminals using force are becoming more frequent. Such crimes particularly occur in public areas or on public transportation, including at Gare du Nord, Gare Central and Gare du Midi. Home burglaries are a concern for residents of Brussels; statistics indicate that the burglary rate in the city is among the highest in the European Union (EU).

Armed carjackers that steal luxury vehicles also pose a serious concern in the greater Brussels area. According to police authorities, most carjackings are the work of a crime network that targets diplomats, and a majority of these incidents occur between Thursday and Saturday evenings. Thieves also open unlocked car doors or break the windows of cars stopped at red lights to steal valuables. Reports indicate that organized crime members are turning increasingly toward violent crime, particularly abductions, over economic crime. However, there is no indication that travelers are specifically targeted and generally do not face significant risk.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations and protests related to domestic or international issues occur frequently in Brussels. Violence has occurred during demonstrations in the past; however, most protests take place peacefully, and the most likely concern during street protests is disruptions to traffic. Protests are often initiated in response to global events, European Union policies and social issues, such as environmental and globalization concerns.

Strikes

Labor strikes in various economic sectors occur occasionally in Belgium; these events may be of concern to travelers because they may significantly disrupt public services. In the past, work stoppages have affected public transportation in Brussels and other transportation services across the country. Labor actions may take place with little prior notice, so travelers should keep

World Watch® Report from UnitedHealthcare Global abreast of developments ahead of and during their trip.

Terrorism

Terrorism perpetrated by militant Islamists such as those affiliated with alQaeda or the Islamic State (IS) as well as by homegrown attackers inspired by terrorist groups or extremist movements, represents a continuing threat in Brussels. Attractive targets for terrorists in Brussels include the large number of highprofile international institutions located in the city, including the headquarters of the European Union and NATO. However, the trend of terrorism throughout the world, including in Europe, is the targeting of “soft” locations, which are attractive due to their relative lack of security measures. Such attacks particularly if perpetrated by a "lone wolf" terrorist are difficult to detect or prevent. Despite the continuing threat, Belgian officials recently lowered the nationwide terror threat level to a level 2, indicating that the "likelihood of an attack is average." This indicates that officials may believe there are fewer threats against Belgium and that security forces can readily address any threats that may emerge. Nevertheless, the possibility of an attack cannot be ruled out entirely and an increased number of police officers and soldiers remain deployed at highrisk locations.

The most significant attack in Belgium took place on 22 March 2016 when three explosions took place in Brussels. The first two explosions occurred in the departures hall of Brussels International Airport (EBBR/BRU) near but not past the airport's main security area. Then, approximately one hour later, an explosion occurred in the Maalbeek metro station as a train was leaving. Overall, the attacks left more than 30 people dead and 250 others wounded. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

City Tips The areas around the Westward Arc between the Gare du Nord (north) and Gare du Midi (south) train stations and the Botanical Gardens all have high crime rates. Specific areas where travelers should exercise caution are SainteJosse, the Simonis, Place SainteCatherine and Fontainas. Visitors should avoid the northwest area of Ribaucourt and municipalities with high immigrant populations (such as Molenbeek) due to a high crime rate. Petty thieves frequent the downtown area, metro systems and tourist sites. Purse snatchers sometimes grab purses off the backs of chairs in the city’s outdoor cafes. Visitors should also beware of thieves at the market on the Place Gaucheret, behind the Gare du Nord. Thieves reportedly target Mercedes and BMW vehicles for theft. Smoking is banned in public places throughout the country, including rail stations and airports. Airports & Ground Transportation BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (EBBR/BRU)

Brussels International Airport is located in the suburb of Zaventem, and thus is also referred to as Zaventem International Airport. There are three terminals at the airport: one is dedicated exclusively to military aircraft, one is for commercial flights and the third is a dedicated general aviation terminal. Passengers travel from the aircraft to the general aviation (GA) terminal by van or on foot, depending on the parking location. Customs and immigration procedures are conducted inside the GA terminal.

Security personnel conduct random patrols across the tarmac and conduct patrols through the general aviation area and parking apron upon request. Lighting and fencing are good, and access to the tarmac is restricted to authorized personnel. The parking apron is located within 30 m (100 ft) of the general aviation terminal. Airport officials usually do not reposition aircraft for longer stays, although sometimes they transfer aircraft to the second apron at the airport, located approximately 100 m (330 ft) from the general aviation terminal.

Security Concerns

Despite the appearances of high security, past incidents highlight concerns at the facility. In 2013 the security perimeter at the airport was breached in a major diamond heist. A group of masked and armed men cut a hole in the airport’s perimeter security fence, and the assailants drove their vehicle onto the tarmac, where approximately 63 million euros (67 million U.S. dollars) worth of diamonds was being loaded onto a Switzerlandbound aircraft. The assailants then escaped with the diamonds through the damaged fence. The incident was the fifth heist or attempted heist at the airport since 1999. Airport security officials have denied deficiencies in security procedures, but anonymous police sources have cited issues with the fact that security responsibilities are shared by two police units and a private security firm.

Additionally, on 22 March 2016, two explosions occurred in the departure hall prior to the main security area of Brussels

World Watch® Report from UnitedHealthcare Global International Airport. The explosions were part of a coordinated attack in Brussels as a third explosion occurred in the Maalbeek metro station. The explosions killed 30 people and injured 250 others, and the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

Since the attack, authorities increased security at the airport. These measures included facial recognition systems, increased security cameras, infrastructural improvements to resist explosions, barriers to prevent vehicles from crashing into the building and increased training for police officers.

BRUSSELS SOUTH CHARLEROI AIRPORT (EBCI/CRL)

Brussels South Charleroi Airport is located south of Brussels in the city of Charleroi. Corporate jets park in the area P3, a restricted area for corporate aircraft. This area is not fenced off from the rest of aircraft parking but is well lit. P3 is located approximately 300 m (985 ft) from the tower and can be viewed from the tower at this distance. Passengers and crew are transported to the terminal by airport vehicles. Passports and visas are checked by the Federal Police for aircraft originating from nonEU countries. Belgian Flight Handling (BFH) provides services to general and business aviation flights at the airport. The FBO is located in the old terminal building, and includes a VIP lounge.

The Ministry of Equipment and Transport (M.E.T.) is the government agency in charge of security at the facility as well as the general aviation area. Permanent security is provided by the M.E.T. and includes random checks. Security personnel are stationed at the two access points but are not on the tarmac 24 hours a day. Individuals entering the tarmac must have an airport badge or must be accompanied by airport personnel. Authorization from airport management must be obtained in order to enter the access points leading to the tarmac. A barbed wire fence encloses the facility to keep out unauthorized individuals. There are normally no areas of disrepair. The facility is well lit. Security cameras monitor the area 24 hours a day. Security personnel do not specifically guard corporate aircraft; a request must be submitted to the handler for private security services on the tarmac.

Transportation

Brussels International Airport is located 14 km (9 mi) northeast of the city center. Taxis are a safe and reliable means of traveling from the airport to the city. A taxi ride from central Brussels to the airport takes 30 minutes; a train from the city to the airport (journey time 20 minutes) leaves up to four times an hour. Several car rental companies operate at the airport. Note that most cars in Belgium do not have automatic transmissions, but rental companies will rent automaticdrive cars if they are booked in advance.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport is located 46 km (28 mi) south of the city center in Charleroi. Taxis are available for travel to the city. Bus service and rental cars are also available.

There are no specific security concerns with using the many modes of public transportation available in Brussels including the metro, trams, buses and taxis aside from an elevated risk of crime; terrorists have also targeted the transportation system in the past. Metro tickets can be purchased at STIB/MIVB (Brussels’ public transport company) information offices, metro stations, newsstands, and Tourist Information Brussels in Grand Place. Metro stations are marked by a sign with a white M on a blue background. Tram and bus stops are marked by red and white signs. At stops marked "sur demande," the tram or bus must be flagged down. Taxis often do not stop for people who attempt to hail them on the streets. Disclaimer World Watch® is confidential and is intended solely for the information and use of UnitedHealthcare Global's clients. Given the nature of the information, UnitedHealthcare Global does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information because agencies outside the control of UnitedHealthcare Global contribute information to World Watch®. While UnitedHealthcare Global vets and verifies all information with the utmost care and consideration for the end user, UnitedHealthcare Global does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and specifically disclaims all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of, or reliance upon, any of the information on this site, including customized reports created by clients. Any alteration or modification of the content of World Watch®, either from the website or via printed reports, is strictly prohibited.

For more information please contact us at [email protected] or visit www.uhcglobal.com Copyright Copyright © 2018 UnitedHealthcare Global. All rights reserved. For Terms and Conditions go to Terms Of Use

World Watch® Report from UnitedHealthcare Global World Watch® Report from UnitedHealthcare Global