Belgium

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.

• temperate;
• mild winters, cool summers;
• rainy, humid, cloudy

• the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation;
• air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries;
• uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

0-14 years:

17.3% (male 911,729; female 871,470)

15-64 years:

65.6% (male 3,395,885; female 3,341,536)

65 years and over:

17.1% (male 716,673; female 1,037,302) (2002 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.69 male(s)/female

total population:

0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

total population:

78.13 years

female:

81.62 years (2002 est.)

male:

74.8 years

noun:

Belgian(s)

adjective:

Belgian

conventional long form:

Kingdom of Belgium

conventional short form:

Belgium

local short form:

Belgique/Belgie

local long form:

Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie

• 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincien, singular - provincie) and 1 region* (French: region; Dutch: gewest);
• Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, West-Vlaanderen

• civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory;
• judicial review of legislative acts;
• accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

chief of state:

King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch

head of government:

Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament

elections:

• none;
• the monarchy is hereditary;
• following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by Parliament

note: government coalition - VLD, PRL-FDF, PS, MCC, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO

• AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Jos GEYSELS];
• Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD V [Stefaan DE CLERCK, president];
• note - used to be the Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP;
• ECOLO (Francophone Greens) [no president; led by three person federal secretariat];
• Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT, president];
• Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) [Joelle MILQUET, president];
• Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL [Daniel DUCARME, president];
• Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO, president];
• National Front or FN [Daniel FERET];
• New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS];
• note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU;
• Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Patrick JANSSENS, president];
• note - was Flemish Socialist Party or SP;
• Spirit [Annemie VAN DE CASTEELE];
• note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU;
• Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE];
• other minor parties

• Christian and Socialist Trade Unions;
• Federation of Belgian Industries;
• numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions;
• various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia;
• various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

chief of mission:

Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE

chancery:

3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

consulate(s) general:

Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

FAX:

[1] (202) 333-3079

telephone:

[1] (202) 333-6900

chief of mission:

Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER

embassy:

Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels

mailing address:

PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

telephone:

[32] (2) 508-2111

FAX:

[32] (2) 511-2725

lowest 10%:

3%

highest 10%:

23% (1992) (1996)

• euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999);
• Belgian francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997)

general assessment:

highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities

domestic:

• nationwide cellular telephone system;
• extensive cable network;
• limited microwave radio relay network

international:

5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

total:

3,422 km

standard gauge:

3,422 km 1.435-m gauge (2,517 km electrified; 2,563 km double-tracked) (2001)

total:

145,774 km

paved:

116,182 km (including 1,674 km of expressways)

unpaved:

29,592 km (1999)

• crude oil 161 km;
• petroleum products 1,167 km;
• natural gas 3,300 km

total:

20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,362 GRT/54,058 DWT

ships by type:

cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, petroleum tanker 5, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)

• growing producer of synthetic drugs;
• transit point for US-bound ecstasy;
• source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors;
• transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe;
• money laundering related to trafficking of drugs, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco