The Flemish Foreign Affairs Council consists of 20 members appointed for four years: 10 independent experts and 10 representatives of civil society. These 20 members are appointed by Decree of the Flemish Government. The rules regarding the Council’s composition are defined in the founding decree. In accordance with Article 8 of the Decree of 18 July 2003 regulating strategic advisory councils, the members of the Flemish Foreign Affairs Council function completely independent from the Flemish government.
The Flemish Government has appointed Professor Jan Wouters as president.
The expert members have been appointed following a public call for expression of interest and respecting the following distribution of seats: two academic experts with expertise in international relations and European affairs, an expert from the diplomatic world, an expert attached to a foreign scientific institute specialized in international relations, two academic experts with expertise in international trade, two representatives of two Flemish companies operating internationally and two experts in the field of tourism.
Four of the representatives of civil society, have been nominated by the Flanders Social and Economic Council (SERV), three by the Flemish North South Movement (11.11.11.), one by the Flemish federation of non-governemental organisations for development cooperation (Coprogram) and two by the Federation of the Tourist Industry.