S I V E T A T E N E S P R R E O F E N° S 06.00 U H O N I A L G E B

The Levels of Authority in Federal Belgium

 Federal Belgium is characterised by six levels of authority

 The European Union  The federal State  The Communities  The Regions  The provinces  The communes

Each level has its own competences.  A legislative and an executive body As a result of their competences, each level can conduct a have been created at each level policy on the basis of rules imposed on a population in a given territory. Bearing in mind the relative separation of powers, there is a legislative and an executive body at each level. Given that Belgium is a democratic state consisting of The federal, community and regional levels are parallel, and representative institutions, all persons who sit within a the provincial and communal levels are subordinate to the legislative body, irrespective of the level, are appointed by preceding ones. elections which are regularly organised. This division, which might appear complicated on fi rst sight, At each level the executive power is accountable to the has two objectives: elected legislative body for its actions. The table on the back of this sheet will help you understand  The search for greater effectiveness by enlarging the this mechanism... structures. The competences of the national State have been moved towards the supranational level.

 To bring policy closer to the public by allocating competences to the Communities and Regions. (1) (1) Brussels-Capital Region Government of the French Community Government of the German- Federal government Government of the Region Walloon

Flemish government Flemish government speaking Community + Deputy Mayors Decree Opinion, ... Decree

Decree Decree Regulation, Commission + Ordinance Government of the Regulation Ordinance Deputation (Flemish Region) “Collège provincial” (Walloon Regulation Order Committee of Mayor Decision,

(5)

(2) (2) French Community

Senate speaking Community Brussels-Capital Region + European Parliament Directive, Council of Ministers

Parliament of the (6) (4) 5 years Parliament of the German- Decree 5 years House of Representatives Law 5 years Parliament Walloon (in principle) delegation 5 years Flemish Parliament ELECTIONS BODY LEGISLATIVE 5 years STANDARD Council of Ministers EXECUTIVE BODY Delegation 5 years Flemish Parliament 5 years Parliament of the Region) Community Commission when it concerns community matters involving French-speaking or Dutch-speaking people respectively in Brussels. These These in Brussels. people respectively or Dutch-speaking French-speaking it concerns community matters involving Community Commission when of their competences in the Brussels- and Flemish Communities with regard to the exercise commissions can thus be considered as “extensions” of the French community and regional competences. the Brussels-Capital Region. of the Region Brussels-Capital. members from the Parliament Capital Region. the letter. coopted by (1) 2014. Eurostat: 1 January (2) assumed the have and the Flemish government i.e. the Flemish Parliament the Flemish Community, by competences of the Flemish Region are exercised The (3) of Community Commission of the Parliament Region and to the French Walloon to the been transferred Community have competences of the French Many (4) and 19 French-speaking Parliament Walloon Community is not directly elected but consists of 75 deputies from the of the French Parliament The (5) Community Commission or the Flemish of the Brussels-Capital Region sit under name French language groups (F) + (D) of the Parliament The (6) entities or of the federated the Parliaments Since the Sixth Reform of State, Senate is no longer directly elected but its members are appointed by (7) (be.STAT). Public Service Economy Belgian Federal family policy, child protection,...) family policy, Institutional, economic, fi nancial Institutional, economic, fi Person-related issues (education, Culture Use of languages nance,..) services, the local police, communal fi Monetary Union (EMU) / Common roads, disaster plans,..) foreign and safety policy / Cooperation for justice and internal affairs and social unity; public security (1) country planning, agriculture, (7) (7) (7) (7)

(3) German-speaking Walloon Region Walloon environment,...) Brussels-Capital Region

1.163.486

Federal 11.150.516 Belgium 3.576.325 Communities Flemish LEVEL OF LEVEL TERRITORY Europe COMPETENCES countries member 28 Common market / Economic and Regions 6.410.705 Flemish Region issues (town and Territory-related Provinces 10 provinces Communes Provincial interest (the network of provincial 6 years 589 communes social for centers (Public interest Communal Provincial Council 6 years Communal Council AUTHORITY POPULATION AUTHORITY French

507.416.607

For more information: 01.09.2014 Belgian House of Representatives - Department for Public and International Relations, 1008 Brussels tel.: (32)(2)549 81 77 — e-mail: info@lachambre — www.lachambre.be