Belgium

BELGIUMBELGIUM

ContentContentMain facts about Belgium

Flemish-Wallonian-Conflict

Politics

The capital: Brussels

Typical for Belgium

Main facts - BelgiumMain facts - BelgiumOfficially “Kingdom of Belgium”“Belgium” derives from the roman

province “Gallia Belgica“Federal state in Western EuropeIt is a founding member of the

European UnionCovers an area of 30,528 square

kilometresPopulation of about 11 million people

Main facts - BelgiumMain facts - BelgiumBenelux (economic/customs union)

1830: Belgian Revolution secession from the Netherlands

Root of the language Root of the language conflictconflictAfter the end of the Roman Empire the

province of Belgica was declined into many dukedom‘s and earldom‘s

1477 reuniting Napoleon annexed belgian areas and

allocateted them to the french stateThe Congress of Vienna allocated the

areas 1815 to the Netherlands result: Belgian Revolution

Belgium became independent

Language- ConflictLanguage- ConflictDivided in 3 language areas: - Flanders (dutch/“monolingual“)

north - Wallonia (french/“monolingual“)

south - Border to Germany (german) After the Belgian Revolution (1830)

French= official languageDutch “language of the farmers“ was

forbidden, even in Flanders

Language- ConflictLanguage- ConflictOpression of the dutch speakersAt the end of the 19th century a flemish

movement was createdFirst success: bilingual lessons in schoolFlemish-Wallonian-Conflict also a

nationality conflict: Important factors Religion

- Flanders mainly protestants - Walloons mainly catholics

Language- ConflictLanguage- ConflictEconomy - In Flanders the economy is going well

because of the biotechnology and the seaports in Antwerp and Zeebrügge

- In Wallonia the economy is going badly: over 150 years the coal fields and blast furnaces brought prosperity but nowadays they are all empty

unemployment rate increases

PoliticsPolitics Communities and Communities and RegionsRegionsThree levels of political power:1. The federal government, based in Brussels2. The three language communities: - the Flemish Community (Dutch-speaking) - the French Community (French-speaking) - the German-speaking Community3. The three regions: - the Flemish Region, subdivided into five

provinces (Antwerp, Limburg, Flemish Brabant, East Flanders, West Flanders)

PoliticsPolitics Communities and Communities and RegionsRegions- the Walloon Region, subdivided into

five provinces (Hainaut, Walloon Brabant, Namur, Liège, Luxembourg)

- the Brussels-Capital Region

PoliticsPoliticsBelgium is a constitutional, popular

monarchy and a parliamentary democracy

Formation of a government pretty difficult each region has it‘s own partie‘s. No national partie‘s!!!

Elections in 2007: over 6 months no government

Elections in 2010: over 8 months no government

Interim government under Yves Leterme (Region Flanders)

The capital: BrusselsThe capital: Brussels

Official languages: french + dutchHead office of the European Union and

NATOLargest urban area in Belgium,

comprising 19 municipalities

Typical for BelgiumTypical for BelgiumFries!!!!

Typical for BelgiumTypical for BelgiumWaffles!!!!

Typical for BelgiumTypical for BelgiumChocolate!!!!

SourcesSources

http://christian-franke.org/?p=1177

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium#Politics

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107329.html