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:

0.71 male(s)/female

total population:

0.96 male(s)/female (2009 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

• 3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest);
• Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form);
• Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form);
• Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)

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 Herman VAN ROMPUY (30 December 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 Liberal Party or SLP [Geert LAMBERT];
• note - prior to 19 April 2008, known as Spirit;
• Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ];
• Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Bruno VALKENIERS]

Francophone parties:

• Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Isabelle DURANT];
• 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 Jan MATTHYSEN

chancery:

3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 333-6900

FAX:

[1] (202) 333-3079

consulate(s) general:

Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Wayne BUSH

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

• three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red;
• the vertical design was based on the flag of France;
• the colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field)

agriculture:

2%

industry:

25%

services:

73% (2007 est.)

lowest 10%:

3.4%

highest 10%:

28.4% (2000)

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:

3,233 km

country comparison to the world: 54

standard gauge:

3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2008)

total:

152,256 km

country comparison to the world: 34

paved:

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

unpaved:

33,177 km (2006)

males age 16-49:

2,407,128

females age 16-49:

2,340,039 (2008 est.)

males age 16-49:

1,962,409

females age 16-49:

1,905,178 (2009 est.)

male:

62,722

female:

59,969 (2009 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