Belgium |
A federal state |
A structure on three levels
By gaining independence in 1830, Belgium became a unitary state where the decision-making power derives from a national parliament and a national government. Four state reforms (carried out in 1970, 1980, 1988-1989 and 1993) have transformed Belgium into what it is today: a country that reconciles regional and cultural identities in a single federal structure.
The unitary Belgium of 1830 gave birth to a current, more complex structure on three levels: the upper level comprises the federal state, the Communities and the Regions; the middle level is occupied by the Provinces; and the lower level is that of the Communes.
Accordingly, Belgium is made up of three Communities (the Flemish Community, the French Community and the German-speaking Community), three Regions (the Flemish Region, the Brussels-Capital Region and the Walloon Region), 10 Provinces (Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant, West Flanders, East Flanders, Hainaut, Liège, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur) and 589 Communes.
At present, decision-making powers are no longer exclusively the competency of the federal government and federal parliament. The country is run by various bodies which discharge their allotted duties autonomously.
Competencies of the various bodies
The federal state remains responsible for managing everything that affects the interest of all Belgians, independently of any linguistic, cultural or territorial considerations: for instance, foreign affairs, national defence, justice, finance, social security and a major share of public health and domestic affairs. It is also the federal state that assumes all the responsibilities that Belgium and its federated entities have vis-à-vis the European Union and NATO.
The Communities are competent to deal with matters relating to the people composing them, such as language, culture and education.
The Regions are competent to deal with territorial matters such as town planning, the environment and employment.
Instead of being under the supervision of the central state like before, the Provinces act within the framework of competencies at the federal, Community or Regional level, being primarily also under the tutelage of these various authorities.
The Communes are the seats of power that are closest to our citizens. Like the Provinces, they are under the tutelage of the various other authorities.
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| A federal state |
| A multicultural society |
| A potted history |
| Achieving European integration |
| Agriculture |
| Belgian economy |
| Belgium at a glance |
| Belgium at the heart of Europe |
| Belgium in the European Union |
| Belgium Unlimited |
| Brussels: home to international organisations |
| Commitment to increased international cooperation |
| Industry |
| Invest in Belgium |
| Landmarks and reference points |
| Regional diversity and topography |
| Social security |
| Studying in Belgium |
| The Belgians |
| The monarchy |
| The port community |
| The tertiary sector |
| Three large urban agglomerations |
| Town and country planning and the environment |
| Transport |
| Urbanisation |
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