Country sheet: Belgium

Résumé du document

The territory of Belgium has always been subject to the influence of both the German and Latin world. So when Belgium separated from the Northern Netherlands in 1830, a cultural pluralism was already there. It is those differences in language, culture and so on between the different parts of the country that led to the reform of the State. Major steps in the reform of the State were the laws on the use of official languages between 1873 and 1963. Those laws recognize French, Dutch and German as official languages of Belgium.

Extraits

[...] The country is also divided in 10 provinces and 589 towns. Belgium tries to reconcile regional and cultural identities in a single federal structure. But tensions between the two main language communities sometimes run high, and the right-wing Flemish nationalist party, Vlaams Belang, wants independence for the Flanders region. Belgium is currently facing an important crisis since it is impossible to form a governing coalition. Nobody is able to heal a rift between Dutch-speaking and Francophone parties.unable to heal a rift between Dutch-speaking and Francophone parties. [...]

[...] So, the country is composed of three communities: Flemish, French and German-speaking. With the Revision of the Constitution of 5 May 1993, the Federal State was created. Work started on this federalisation over 20 years ago: first with a wide-ranging reform in 1970, this was intensified in 1980 and continued in 1988-89. The country is composed of three regions: Flanders in the North where the official language is Dutch,; Wallonia in the south where French is the official tongue and Brussels, the capital, where French and Dutch share official language status. [...]

[...] Belgians support integration a bit more than other Europeans of them think European integration is a good thing). However, it seems that the Belgian public opinion is not really interested in the European Union. Indeed, in the Belgia political context, domestic political issues, such as the appeasement of the communities, are dominant. Consequently, opinions on European Union do not determinate victories or defeats (it is not only the case in Belgium). Politicians and the media do not focus on European issues. [...]

[...] The role of the churches in Belgian cultural life is very important. More pupils in secondary education go to catholic schools than to public schools. Also other religious groups are very active concerning education. At university level, the Catholic Church plays an important role with six Catholic universities in Belgium. Belgium and the european union Belgium is often seen as the most pro-integration member State of the European Union. It is one of its founding members. Immediately after the Second World War, the Belgian government supported European economic cooperation. [...]