E-Government Implementation in Belgium and its Link with the European Dimension

Geographical And Political Structure In Belgium

Belgium is a kingdom situated in the heart of Europe in between France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany. The country has about 10.6 million citizens on a rather small area of 30.528 km². 60% speak Dutch, 40% French and less than 1% German. Flanders is relatively flat and has a coastline, while the Walloon Region has a much more accentuated landscape especially in the southeast of the country where the Ardennes is situated.

Belgium became independent in 1830. Between 1970 and 1993, the country evolved into a more efficient federal structure. This occurred through five state reforms (in 1970, 1980, 1988-89, 1993 and 2001). As a result, the first Article of the Belgian constitution reads today: “Belgium is a federal state, composed of communities and regions”. The power to make decisions is no longer the exclusive preserve of the federal government and the federal parliament. The leadership of the country is now in the hands of various partners, who independently exercise their authority within their domains.