Belgium

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country 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

total:

7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%)

per capita:

714 cu m/yr (1998)

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

at birth:

1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.7 male(s)/female

total population:

0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

noun:

Belgian(s)

adjective:

Belgian

conventional long form:

Kingdom of Belgium

conventional short form:

Belgium

local long form:

Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie

local short form:

Belgique/Belgie

name:

Brussels

geographic coordinates:

50 50 N, 4 20 E

time difference:

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time:

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

• 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten);
• Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region;
• Flanders* region (five provinces):
  • Antwerpen (Antwerp),
  • Limburg,
  • Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders),
  • Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant),
  • West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders)
  ;
• Wallonia* region (five provinces):
  • Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant),
  • Hainaut,
  • Liege,
  • Luxembourg,
  • Namur

note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities

• 7 February 1831;
• amended many times;
• revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state

• based on 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 Yves LETERME (20 March 2008)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch

elections:

• the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional;
• 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

Flemish parties:

• Christian Democratic and Flemish or CDV [Marianne THYSSEN];
• Dedecker List [Jean-Marie DEDECKER];
• Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Bart SOMERS];
• Groen! [Mieke VOGELS] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens);
• New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER];
• Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ];
• VlaamsProgressieven (Flemish Progressives) or VP [Bettina GEYSEN] - formerly Spirit;
• Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Bruno VALKENIERS]

Francophone parties:

• Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR];
• Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Joelle MILQUET];
• National Front or FN [Daniel HUYGENS];
• Reform Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS];
• Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO];
• other minor parties

chief of mission:

Ambassador Dominique STRUYE DE SWIELANDE

chancery:

3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 333-6900

FAX:

[1] (202) 333-3079

consulate(s) general:

Los Angeles, New York

consulate(s):

Atlanta

chief of mission:

Ambassador Sam FOX

embassy:

27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels

mailing address:

PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

telephone:

[32] (2) 508-2111

FAX:

[32] (2) 511-2725

agriculture:

2%

industry:

25%

services:

73% (2007 est.)

lowest 10%:

3.4%

highest 10%:

28.4% (2006)

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:

• country code - 32;
• landing point for a number of submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia;
• satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007)

total:

3,536 km

standard gauge:

3,536 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2006)

total:

152,256 km

paved:

119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways)

unpaved:

33,177 km (2006)

total:

79

by type:

bulk carrier 20, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, container 6, liquefied gas 20, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 10

foreign-owned:

6 (Denmark 4, France 2)

registered in other countries:

111 (Bahamas 15, Cyprus 2, France 6, Gibraltar 2, Greece 16, Hong Kong 3, Liberia 4, Luxembourg 7, Malta 15, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 2, Portugal 1, Portugal 7, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 8, Vanuatu 4) (2008)

males age 16-49:

2,407,128

females age 16-49:

2,340,039 (2008 est.)

males age 16-49:

1,973,167

females age 16-49:

1,915,990 (2008 est.)

male:

64,659

female:

61,881 (2008 est.)

• growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis;
• 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;
• despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco;
• significant domestic consumption of ecstasy