Belgique

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. Political divisions 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. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.

temperate mild winters, cool summers rainy, humid, cloudy

Europe Western Europe Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands crossroads of Western Europe most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO

flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Botrange 694 m 2 277 ft North Sea 0 m 0 ft Botrange Mount Everest

construction materials silica sand carbonates arable land

Flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

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

1297 km 806 mi France 556 km/345 mi Germany 133 km/83 mi Luxembourg 130 km/81 mi Netherlands 478 km/297 mi

66 km/41 mi 22.50 % 26.90 % 44.10 %

sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco beef, veal, pork, milk

engineering and metal products motor vehicle assembly transportation equipment scientific instruments processed food and beverages chemicals base metals textiles glass petroleum

	0-14	15-64	65+

% % % % % % %

Dutch (official) 60% French (official) 40% German (official) less than 1%

Roman Catholic 75% Other (includes Protestant) 25%

Flemish 58% Walloon 31% Mixed or other 11%

Belgique België Belgium Belgique Bélgica Belgio ベルギー Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy Bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 31 indirectly elected by Community Parliaments; members serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) 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) "La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant) Lion National colors: red, black, yellow King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013) Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH, daughter of the monarch 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands) 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne) 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Brussels 50 50 N, 4 20 E UTC+1 BRUSSELS 2.045 million Antwerp 994,000 3 regions (French: regions, singular - region Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest)

41 (2013)

Oostende, Zeebrugge

6.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

3.78 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)

18 years of age universal and compulsory

Belgian Armed Forces Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Command (2012)

This modern, open, and private-enterprise-based economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the more heavily-populated region of Flanders in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium imports substantial quantities of raw materials and exports a large volume of manufactures, making its economy vulnerable to shifts in foreign demand, particularly in Belgium's EU trade partners. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries. In 2014 Belgian GDP grew by 0.9%, the unemployment rate stabilized at 8.5%, and the budget deficit was 3.2% of GDP. Prime Minister Charles MICHEL's center-right government has pledged to further reduce the deficit in response to EU pressure to reduce Belgium's high public debt, which remains above 100% of GDP, but such efforts could also dampen economic growth. In addition to restrained public spending, low wage growth and high unemployment promise to curtail a more robust recovery in private consumption. The government has pledged to pursue a reform program to improve Belgium's competitiveness, including changes to tax policy, labor market rules, and welfare benefits. These changes risk worsening tensions with trade unions and triggering extended strikes. raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products Netherlands 20.2% Germany 13.3% France 10.3% US 7.1% UK 5% chemicals, machinery and equipment, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs Germany 17.3% France 16.2% Netherlands 12.2% UK 8.6% US 4.9% Italy 4.5% euros (EUR) per US dollar 0.7489 (2014 est.) 0.5% (2014 est.)

154 012 km 95 699 mi	3 592 km 2 232 mi	2 043 km 1 269 mi (1,528 km in regular commercial use)
42 per 100 people country code - 32 landing point for a number of submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia		.be

a segmented market with the three major communities (Flemish, French, and German-speaking) each having responsibility for their own broadcast media multiple TV channels exist for each community additionally, in excess of 90% of households are connected to cable and can access broadcasts of TV stations from neighboring countries each community has a public radio network co-existing with private broadcasters (2007)

AM 7 FM 79 shortwave 1 (1998)