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All these subdivisions have geographical boundaries: the Regions, the linguistic regions, the Communities, the provinces and the municipalities. The division by communities is equally geographically delimited: The Flemish government has legal authority (for its Community competencies) only within the areas of the Flemish and Brussels region; the French-speaking Community analogously has powers only within the areas of the Walloon and Brussels region. Belgian Communities do not officially refer directly to groups of people -there is indeed no subnationality in Brussels - but rather to the political, linguistic and cultural competencies of the country. Of these communities, only the Flemings have 'some' exclusive territory (the Flemish region for the Flemish community and the Walloon for the French-speaking community). All Communities thus have a precise and legally established area where they can exert their competencies: the Flemish Community is competent in the Flemish and Brussels regions; the French-speaking Community in the Walloon and Brussels regions, and the German Community only in a small part of the province of Liège (Wallonia), bordering with Germany. The three regions are the Brussels-Capital Region , the Flemish Region and the Walloon Region . The three communities are:
It should be noted that the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region officially have merged into the Flemish Community , with one parliament, one government and one administration, exerting both regional and community competencies. The four linguistic regions are the French language region, the Dutch-language region, the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital and the German-language region (which has language facilities for French-speakers). ''See also:'' , the ISO codes for the regions and provinces of Belgium. COMMUNITIES REGIONS Brussels-Capital Region ''Main article: Brussels-Capital Region '' The Brussels-Capital Region (''Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest'' in Dutch, ''Région de Bruxelles-Capitale'' in French, ''Die Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt'' in German) or '''Brussels Region''' is centrally located and completely surrounded by the province of areas (something considered by competent judicial authorities as contrary to the Belgian Constitution). However, this often creates disfunctions in the public service, e.g. whenever mono-lingual French-speaking civil servants or policemen operate in the mono-lingual Flemish municipalities. Although many believe that the capital of Belgium is the City Of Brussels municipality, the Belgian Constitution makes it clear that the capital of Belgium is Brussels in the broad meaning of the term (cf. Art. 194 and 166 of the Constitution). In practice, the functions, buildings and civil servants of all national Belgian institutions can be found all over the Brussels region and not only in the city of Brussels. Following the same logic, the significant dedicated national funds for those capital functions are shared between all 19 municipalities of the Brussels region. Among the national institutions outside the city of Brussels, one can find many buildings of national ministeries, including the main building of the ministry of pensions, the military headquarters (in Evere), the national telecommunications company. Finally, also the particular name of the Brussels region, with the explicit 'capital' in it, is a very symbolic proof of the ambitions from the main local politicians, and of the recognition for that capital function in Belgian legislation. The Brussels Region does not belong to any of the provinces. Within the Region, 99% of the provincial competencies are assumed by the Brussels regional institutions. Remaining is only a provincial governor and some aides. Within Brussels, the two Communities have their own institutions that act as "intermediary levels" of government and public service, sitting below the Community institutions, and above the municipal institutions:
''See also:'' Municipalities Of The Brussels-Capital Region Flemish Region ''Main article: Flanders '' The Flemish Region or '''Flanders''' (''Vlaams Gewest'' or ''Vlaanderen'' in Dutch ) occupies the northern part of Belgium. It has a surface area of 13522 km&2 (44.29% of Belgium) and is divided into 5 provinces which contain a total of 308 municipalities. The official language is Dutch, often referred to by its inhabitants as Flemish . French may be used for certain administrative purposes in a limited number of the so-called " Municipalities With Linguistic Facilities " around the Brussels Capital Region and on the border with Wallonia . ). ''See also:'' List Of Municipalities Of The Flemish Region Walloon Region ''Main article: Wallonia '' The Walloon Region or '''Wallonia''' (''Région Wallonne'' or ''Wallonie'' in French) occupies the southern part of Belgium. It has a surface area of 16844 km&2 (55.18% of Belgium) and is also divided into 5 provinces which contain a total of 262 municipalities. Its capital is Namur . The official languages are French and German (only in nine eastern municipalities near the German border, which were "given" to Belgium after WWI ), though Dutch may be used for administrative purpose in the so-called '' Municipalities With Linguistic Facilities '' on the border with Flanders.
::Hainaut has a surface area of 3800 km&2 (22.56% of Wallonia; 12.44% of Belgium), and is divided into seven administrative districts which contain 69 municipalities.
::Walloon Brabant has a surface area of 1093 km&2 (6.49% of Wallonia; 3.58% of Belgium), and contains only one administrative district with 27 municipalities.
::Namur has a surface area of 3664 km&2 (21.75% of Wallonia; 11.99% of Belgium), and is divided into three administrative districts which contain 38 municipalities.
::Liege has a surface area of 3844 km&2 (22.82% of Wallonia; 12.58% of Belgium), and is divided into four administrative districts which contain 84 municipalities.
::Luxembourg has a surface area of 4443 km&2 (26.38% of Wallonia; 14.54% of Belgium), and is divided into five administrative districts which contain 44 municipalities. ''See also:'' List Of Walloon Municipalities |
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