Local Authority Local Authority in in

BelgiumBelgium

Identity card of Belgium Surface : 30.528 km2

Population : 10,7 Million inhabitants

Federal Capital : Brussels

National Festival : Political July 21

System : Constitutional monarchy constitutional

Structure : Federal State

Federate Entities : 3 regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels) and 3 communities (French-speaking, Dutch-speaking and German-speaking)

Languages : German, French, Dutch

Belgium, a federal state in crisis

Recall : The federate entities wish to obtain their cultural and Recall : The federate entities wish to obtain their cultural and economic autonomyeconomic autonomy

Historic context :

Will of Flemish to link itself institutionnal with Dutch-speakers of Brussels and will for the Walloons to also link itself with French-speakers of Brussels

Four great successive phases of institutional reforms (1970, 1980-8, 1992-3, 2001)

History of decentralization :

It is explained by the cultural, political and economic aspects

Historical source of the conflicts :

Country divided into French-speaking and Dutch-speaking community, separated by social statuses (elites, middle-class….)

Belgium, a federal state in crisis

Linguistic context :

The French language is the official language considered as factor of union between the communities Pb : Minority French language in the country

Claims :

Cultural autonomy of the Flemings Economic Autonomy of the Walloons

Chronology :

Constitution of 1831:Constitution of 1831: Decentralized unit State After 1970 :After 1970 : Federal State moving 1980 :1980 : Federal State made up 1992 :1992 : Total revision of the Belgian constitution 28 September 92 : 28 September 92 : Belgium is a federal stateBelgium is a federal state 1994 :1994 : New constitutional reform. The federal state is organized according to various qualification levels.

Belgium, federal state

Operating mode :

Three great communities : Flemish, German-speaking and French-speaking

Three great administrative areas: Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels-Capital

German-speaking community

Flemish community Flanders

Wallonia

Brussels-Capital

French community

Belgium, federal state

Belgium, a local authority decentralized authorities

1- Towns (589)1- Towns (589)

Legislative body : the communal councilExecutive body : the college burgomaster and of the aldermen (or communal college)

→ commune council :

The aldermen and the burgomasters are appointed differently according to the Region

It chaired by the Burgomaster (or by a president elected within the council in Flanders)

It lays out from 6 to 55 communal councillors elected officials with proportional for six years according to the size of the commune

It meets at least 10 times per annum at public sittings

The Council Decision is made in the majority

The lists of elections respect the principle of parity

There is a right of participation and vote from abroad with the communal elections

Belgium, a local authority decentralized authorities

2- provinces (10)

Each province is divided into districts where is named representatives by Each province is divided into districts where is named representatives by list system proportionlist system proportion

• Province council :

It is the Parliament of the province and meets 10 times per annum

The number of councillors, elected for 6 years, varies from 56 to 84 according to the population

To be able of the provinces : any decision-making power in the interest of the province

It votes the provincial payments

It draws up the provincial budget

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Local authority in Belgium decentralized authorities: Provinces

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The local public action : Competences of the Areas

The The Regions are competent forRegions are competent for : :

- economy, employement

- agriculture,

- the policy of water, environment, nature conservation

- housing,

- public works, of energy, transport, regional planning and town planning

- the credit, foreign trade

- the supervision on the provinces, the communes and the inter-commune ones.

The local public action : competences of the Communities

The Communities are competent for:

the culture (theatre, library, audio-visual .... ),

education, use of the languages

matters known as “personnalisables”1) the policy of health (preventive medicine and curative) 2) assistance with the people (the protection of youth, social assistance,

assistance with the families, the reception of the immigrants,…)

scientific research in the field of their competences

The local public action : competence of the Provinces

The Provinces have a capacity of initiative out of matter : education, social and cultural infrastructures, of preventive medicine and social policy.

They are also occupied :

of environment, or of roads and river of economy, of transport, of public works, of housing, of use of languages.

They are autonomous but exert their competences under supervision of the higher authorities. Example :

A provincial school will be under the control of the community The regional planning will be under the authority of the Region.

The local public action : Competence of the Communes

Competences of common concerns “the communal interest”, i.e. Competences of common concerns “the communal interest”, i.e. collective needs for the inhabitants.collective needs for the inhabitants.

- Installation of the commune under supervision of the higher authorities (adjustment of the roadway systems, constructions of sporting hall .....)

- All missions ordered by the higher authorities

- They are in charge of the maintenance of law and order, of the management of the marital status, the behaviour of the registers of the population, the residences, public works and teaching

- The burgomaster is the chief of the communal police force in the exercise of his missions of administrative police force.

- The commune is in load of the social assistance and created the public Center of Assistance.