ICC Belgium/Luxembourg Brings Rotarians Together Across Borders in Liège
By Peter Bal – Chair ICC Belux
Around 50 ICC members and Rotary leaders gathered in Liège to strengthen international cooperation, explore the evolving role of Intercountry Committees and build new connections across borders.
ICC Belgium/Luxembourg (BeLux) held its in-person meeting in Liège on 19 September, alongside the District Conference of Rotary District 2160 and the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Liège.
The meeting, initiated by Marcel Tilkin, former Chair of ICC BeLux, brought together around 50 ICC members from Belgium, Luxembourg and several other countries. A number of District Governors also joined the gathering, giving the meeting a strong international and inter-district dimension.
Among the special guests were Annemarie Mostert, President of the ICC Executive Council, and her predecessor, Nathalie Huyghebaert.
A growing role for ICCs
Opening the meeting, ICC BeLux Chair Peter Bal reflected on the increasing relevance of Intercountry Committees in a world marked by growing tensions and conflicts. He highlighted the role ICCs can play in bringing people together across national and cultural boundaries, while also creating tangible value for Rotary Clubs and Districts. Strengthening the connection between ICCs and Rotary Districts is an important part of this ambition, ensuring that ICCs can contribute effectively to international service, fellowship and peace-building initiatives.
In her keynote address, Annemarie Mostert developed this message further. She stressed the importance of involving Rotary Peace Fellows and Rotaractors in ICC activities and encouraged ICCs to position themselves as a practical resource for Rotary Clubs and Districts.
Her message was clear: ICCs should help facilitate international actions and initiatives and aim to become the “resource of choice” for international collaboration within Rotary. She also emphasised the importance of increasing the visibility of ICCs and making greater use of modern digital tools and platforms to connect Rotarians internationally.
New international connections
The meeting also translated international cooperation into concrete action. During a video-conference session, new ICC collaboration charters with District 9010, which includes the Maghreb, were signed.
Hamadi Siali and Younes Saih, PDG and DG of District 9010, addressed the gathering, while several other participants joined remotely, demonstrating how digital participation can help extend the reach of ICC activities beyond geographical boundaries.
Andreas Strub, President of the BeLux section of the BeLux–Germany ICC, presented his recently appointed role representing Rotary International towards the institutions of the European Union. Herbert Jess, President of the German section of the BeLux–Germany ICC, also addressed the meeting.
The programme was further enriched by Georges Le Beau, who presented the End Plastic Soup initiative and invited ICCs to support its international development.
Dialogue, friendship and action across borders
One of the defining characteristics of the meeting was its high level of interaction. Questions, comments and experiences were shared throughout the morning, transforming the programme into a genuine dialogue rather than simply a series of presentations.
The meeting concluded with a group picture capturing the spirit of the day: an inspiring gathering, but above all an opportunity for Rotarians from different countries to meet, exchange ideas and strengthen friendships across borders.
The Liège meeting demonstrated what Intercountry Committees can bring to Rotary: connections between countries, support for Clubs and Districts, opportunities for international service and, above all, relationships that help build understanding across borders.
A warm thank you goes to Marcel Tilkin for initiating the meeting and to everyone who participated and contributed to its success.
Peter Bal
Rotary Paris Agora - Past President 22-23
District 1660, France - Head of IT, Past DPIC
Region 14 - ARPIC
Cercle Polioplus - Co-Founder
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