AECA in Brussels is an established and trusted high-level forum where senior business leaders and policy-makers meet together to examine and discuss issues and challenges of common interest and concern. At the heart of AECA activities is the programme of round-table debates. The number attending each event is restricted to the number that can be seated around one table. This format for the meetings allows for an intensely focused and highly interactive exchange of views between the speaker and participants. The meetings are held under the Chatham House Rule (*) to provide anonymity to speakers and encourage openness and the sharing of information. These conditions allow for uniquely open and frank discussions between senior members of the business, political, government, diplomatic and academic communities, that lead to constructive and effective outcomes, creating added value for all involved. The AECA programme is a work in progress, many events being scheduled at relatively short notice to ensure topical relevance, and to anticipate and preview new issues and trends as they arise. The involvement of members and benefactors is important to AECA, and they are encouraged to share their ideas and wishes regarding themes and speakers. (*) When a meeting is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.