Centre for Economic Strategy (CES), an independent Ukrainian think tank that analyzes key public policies and promotes support for reforms.
With donor support, CES has launched a series of studies on trade relations between Ukraine and the European Union countries.
Free movements of goods and services
Trade Balance UA-BE 2024
Free movement of persons and capital
Post-2022:
92k
Ukrainians in BE with temporary protection status (as of October 2025)
67%
of which arrived in 2022
75% are women and children, ~65% are of working age
~270
Belgium-linked businesses in UA in 2024
Majority are concentrated
in most attractive industries,
including electrical equipment manufacturing, wholesale trade, and agriculture
BE’s FDI stock in UA, € mln
Tighter co-operation potential
-
Deeper cooperation in agriculture is crucial, since Belgium
is a major supplier of machinery and chemicals, supporting Ukraine’s agro productivity. -
Ukraine’s future industrial recovery will create demand for high-tech exports from Belgium.
-
Both can benefit from diversification and joint R&D in defence, especially at a time of growth of this sector in Belgium.
Interesting fact
