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.
There are no known specific threats to expatriate travelers or residents to Belgium. Nevertheless, as the venue for numerous international and regional meetings, anti-globalization and other protests often disrupt Belgian cities. Also, tensions with Belgium’s Muslim community are on the rise. In 2004, a lawmaker of Moroccan origin was forced into hiding after threats were made on her life. A suspect was detained in early 2005 in the case.
During the late 1990s, a series of political scandals and badly-handled major criminal cases combined to undermine the Belgian confidence in the government. At the most recent general election in 2003, the ruling coalition was rejected in favor of a six-party grouping, headed by VLD leader Guy Verhofstadt, and including socialists and ecologists.
The far-right Vlaams Blok, which wanted Flemish independence and campaigned on an anti-immigration platform, increased its share of the vote substantially in regional and European elections in 2004. Other mainstream parties pursue a policy of having no dealings with the bloc.
The most significant, long-term factor in Belgian politics in recent years has been the gradual devolution of powers from the central authority to the regions. In the new federal structure, approved in July 1993, sovereignty is shared by the federal government, regions and the language communities. There is no hierarchy between these policy levels. Each has its own exclusive powers and is not allowed to interfere in matters under the jurisdiction of the others.
