E D I U G BRUSSELS WALLONIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CENTRE Living and studying in Brussels 2 PôLE UNIVERSITAIRE EUROPéEN dE BRUxELLES WALLONIE ä h v 03 Belgium – general information i 04 belgium – historical background 06 Federalism in Belgium 08 Belgium in a nutshell 11 Brussels – the capital of Belgium 12 Historical overview 14 What to visit in Brussels 16 Brussels and Europe 17 Overview of the french community’s educational system 19 Higher education in the french commununity 20 Académie universitaire Wallonie Bruxelles 21 The Brussels Wallonia European University Centre 21 registration fees 22 Partner institutions of the Brussels Wallonia European University Centre 24 The ECTs system (European Credit Transfer system) 24 ECTs Credits 26 The ECTs Grading scale 28 Practical information 33 Transportation 35 Outdoors activities and recreation SU Other useful telephone numbers and useful addresses TQ student glossary BRUSSELS WALLONIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CENTRE 03 Belgium Î General information The Kingdom of Belgium is located in Northern Europe between France (south-west), Luxembourg (south), Germany (east), The Netherlands (north-east) and the English Channel (west). Its capital, Brussels, is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. It hosts the headquarters of the European Union and NATO and is home to many multinational companies. Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. The history of Belgium has always been one of cultural and commercial exchange and its national character has resulted, in part, from its role as a meeting place for Western Europe. Traces of Austrian, spanish, French and German influence are apparent in its peoples’ lifestyles and in its architecture, renowned for superb examples of Romanesque, Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau. Folklore is a very important part of Belgian life. Many festivals, ceremonies, enactments, parades, etc. take place throughout the year. Thanks to its history and role as an international centre for business and culture, Belgium is a very convivial and welcoming country. 04 BRUSSELS WALLONIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CENTRE BRUSSELS WALLONIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CENTRE 05 With the second World War looming, Historical background Bel gium again adopted a neutrality policy. But this did not prevent it being invaded by Germany again. After 18 hours of fighting, King Leopold III decided to capitulate – a de cision that led to a breakdown of relations with the Belgian government and was to be come known as the “Question royale”. On liberation, Leopold III was forced to Belgium gained its independence in 1830 rope. The first half of the 16th century was a ab dicate in favour of his son Baudouin I, after an uprising which led to its separation period of prosperity, and the arts and who was to remain on the throne until his from the Netherlands. sci ences flourished. death in 1993. He was succeeded by his The name “Belgium” is derived from the spanish rule was followed by Austrian rule brother, King Albert II, currently the sixth name given by Julius Caesar to the “Belgae”, (1715 – 1794) and French rule (1794 – 1814). King of the Belgians. a Celtic tribe, in 57 B.C. He described them The French Emperor introduced a new legal as the bravest and most indomitable of all framework for civil law – the Napoleonic European Community issues have played an Gauls. Code, which was to serve as the model for all-important role in the country’s recent the future Belgian civil code. After po litical history. A number of reforms have The region was threatened by Germanic Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815, the transformed Belgium into a federal state. tribes. The Franks invaded the region in the region became part of the Netherlands. The political scene has also been domi - early part of the fifth century, imposing their Open revolt broke out in Brussels on nated by economic problems and, in - Germanic dialect. The south, on the other sep tember 23, 1830 and Belgium seceded creas ingly, by globalisation. Belgium has hand, had been thoroughly impregnated from the Northern Provinces. The provisional played an important role in the construction with Roman culture. It absorbed the Francs, government declared independence on of the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, who were a minority, and kept the Roman Oc tober 4, 1830. A constitution, considered the Benelux and European integration. As a language. This was the very beginning of very progressive at that time, was approved member of the United Nations, and in the today’s language border. by the National Congress on February 7, service of peace throughout the world, it 1831. often sends troops and observers to take Trade routes were established along water - part in international actions. ways beginning in the 9th century. Trading In 1830, the Great Powers recognised the To find out more, go to the history page of posts developed and, over time, grew into sep aration of Belgium and The Netherlands. the Belgian government’s website at: towns. The textile industry developed in Leopold of saxe-Coburg, a German prince, large towns and later in villages and rural be came the first King of Belgium in 1831. He http://www.belgium.be/en/about_ areas. Bruges became the region’s main was succeeded by his son Leopold II in 1865. belgium/country/ ex porting seaport. Belgium became a major industrial power The Belgian territories (with the exception of during their reigns. A number of colonial the Principality of Liege) came under the ex peditions were financed; the best known rule of the Dukes of Burgundy in the 15th ones explored the Congo in Africa. century. They retained a substantial degree Despite neutrality imposed by the Great of autonomy. Pow ers, Belgium was invaded by Germany at the start of the First World War. King Al bert I, The region that was to become Belgium set the commander-in-chief of the army, and itself apart during the reign of the spanish Queen Elisabeth, stayed in the country, Emperor Charles V (1515-1555) by its high de - show ing their willingness to remain with the gree of urbanisation. Antwerp became the population. The King was to be known there - business and financial centre of Western Eu - after as the “Roi soldat” or the “Roi chevalier”. 06 BRUSSELS WALLONIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CENTRE BRUSSELS WALLONIA EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CENTRE 07 sta tus and each has a parliament and a Federalism in Belgium gov ernment exercising legislative and exec utive powers, respectively. These institutions were created as a result of Belgian federalism. They are entitled to modify, within certain limits, both their in ternal organisations and operation. It is thanks to these rights that the Flemish Belgium is a federal state made up of Each Region has jurisdiction over regional Re gion and Community merged their parlia - lan guage communities and regions . economic affairs. This includes employment, ments and governments. Although they oversight of municipalities and provinces, have joint institutions, each retains an The federal government is responsible for: public works, transportation, land develop - in dependent legal status. The French ment, the environment, housing, etc. n Law enforcement, justice, national Com munity and the Walloon Region, on the de fence and the federal government’s other hand, still have separate institutions. foreign policy Belgium is also subdivided into three The Walloon Region also has jurisdiction in lan guage communities: n social security German-language communes where the n Monetary policy, asylum and immigration German-speaking Community enjoys the n The French-speaking Community policies same powers as the other two Communities. n The Flemish-speaking Community n Fiscal, commercial, civil, and labour Laws voted into effect by the Regions and n The German-speaking Community legislation Communities are called “decrees”. Those voted by the Federal Government are called “laws”. The state also has jurisdiction whenever an Legal structures have been put in place in exception to community or regional compe - the Brussels-Capital Region to provide bet - tences (see below) is formulated in its ter services for the Region’s mixed French favour. This currently includes: and Flemish population. Brussels’ regional law consists of “ordinances” which have a n Nuclear energy The Flemish-speaking Community (yellow) legal status virtually equivalent to that of the n Railways and Brussels-National Airport The French-speaking Community (red) decrees and laws. n Language issues The Brussels-Capital Region, where these The Government has set up a Constitutional n Brussels’ main bi-cultural institutions two language communities both have Court to handle jurisdictional conflicts including the Royal Museums of Fine Art of cer tain competences (striped yellow and red) be tween the country’s various institutions. Belgium and the Royal Monnaie Opera The German-speaking Community (green) House. For additional information on Belgium and The communities are based on cultural its federal system, Communities and Belgium is divided into three regions: affin ity defined primarily by language. They Re gions visit the websites of: manage cultural affairs in its broadest sense n The Brussels-Capital Region (culture, schools and education, the media, The French-speaking Community of Belgium n The Walloon Region sport, healthcare, childhood and youth ‡ www.cfwb.be/ n The Flemish Region serv ices, etc.). The Federal Government of Belgium The Regions and Communities are also ‡ www.belgium.be re sponsible for some international matters and,