Founded in Brussels in 1963, VIRA provides a forum in which public and private managers, academics and students, diplomats and international officials, journalists and cultural agents can exchange information and points of view about international developments. Special attention is paid to geopolitical and European subjects catching the public eye and showing societal relevance. As the capital of Belgium and of Europe and seat of numerous international institutions, Brussels is endowed with obvious assets for bringing together eminent personalities in such a forum. About ten times a year, lunch or evening conferences or panel-debates are held with high-level speakers, mainly in Dutch but occasionally also in French and English. Those activities may take place in cooperation with other associations.