RECEPTION OF THE EUROPE COLLEGE 19 SEPTEMBER 2007 THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION OF BELGIUM AT THE LEVEL OF THE PROVINCE RECEPTION OF THE EUROPE COLLEGE 19 SEPTEMBER 2007 1-1-2019 register

Outline of the administrative. organisation of Belgium 2 Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 2. Provinces in Flanders 3. Province of West Flanders 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.1 Basic governments at three levels International institutions Federal State Regions Communities Provinces Municipalities 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.1.1 Federal State a. Belgium = Federal State b. Institutions Chamber of Representatives Senate King and Federal Government c. Competences Foreign Affairs, National Defence, Justice, Finance, Social Security, Public Health, Internal Affairs, … a federal state does not constitute a higher government with respect to Communities and Districts NB. Constitutional Court: violation of the distribution of competences 1-1-2019 register

Federal state 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.1.2 Communities a. Flemish Community French Community German-speaking Community b. Institutions Council/Parliament Government c. Competences culture, education, official use of languages, health policy, assistance to individuals 1-1-2019 register

Communities Flemish community 1-1-2019 register

Communities French community 1-1-2019 register

German-speaking community Communities German-speaking community 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.1.3 Regions a. Flemish Region Walloon Region Brussels-Capital Region b. Institutions Council/Parliament Government NB. 1 Flemish Parliament and 1 Flemish Government (= Community + Region) c. Competences economy, employment, agriculture, water policy, housing, public works, energy, transport, environment, town and country planning, nature, local governments 1-1-2019 register

Regions Flemish region Walloon region Brussels-capital region 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.1.4 Provinces a. - Five Flemish Provinces: Antwerp, Limburg, Flemish Brabant, East Flanders, West Flanders - Five Walloon Provinces: Hainault, Liège, Luxemburg, Namur, Walloon Brabant - Brussels-Capital Region ≠ province 1-1-2019 register

provinces Five Flemish provincies : Antwerp (1) , Limbourg (2), East Flanders (3) , Flemish Brabant (4) , West Flanders (5) , 1-1-2019 register

provinces Five Walloon provinces : Walloon Brabant (1), Hainault (2), Liège (3) , Luxemburg (4), Namur (5) 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.1.4 Provinces b. Institutions Provincial Council Deputation (Provincial Executive) Governor c. Competences matters of provincial interest shared government 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.1.5 Municipalities a. 589 municipalities b. Institutions Municipal Council College of Mayor and Aldermen Mayor NB. Districts (District council, Bureau, president) c. Competences municipal interest shared government 1-1-2019 register

Municipalities in West Flanders 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.1.6 State reforms 1970 cultural communities 1980 3 communities & 2 regions 1988-1989 3rd region (Brussels) and additional regionalization of competences 1993 regionalization of competences 2001 regionalization of competences (among which organic legislation for provinces and municipalities) 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.2 Government organisations with a closed task setting 1.2.1 By law or decree International institutions Federal State Regions Communities Flemish public institution semi-govern-mental external department ministry Provinces police zone public centre for social welfare polders/ protection against flooding administra-tion religious services Municipalities 1-1-2019 register

1. Outline of the administrative organisation of Belgium 1.2.2 Voluntary foundation or association International institutions Federal State Regions Communities Internal provincial autonomous agency Provinces intermunicipal co-operation External provincial autonomous agency npo (nonprofit organisation) Municipalities Internal or external local autonomous agency 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.1 Provinces = decentralized governments a. provincial law 30 April 1836 and - Flemish provincial decree 9 december 2005 - Decree of 12 February 2004 with regard to the organisation of the Walloon provinces * autonomy: provincial interest * administrative supervision b. core task debate Flanders – provinces – municipalities (agreement: 2003) 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.1 Provinces =decentralized governments c. definition of “provincial interest” (art. 2 provincial decree 9 december 2005) 1. intermediary decision-making 2. Support for other governement organisations 3. Cooperation in a region 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.2 Provincial council 2.2.1 Composition 2.2.2 Meetings Directly elected every six years Min. 47 / max. 84 provincial council members Chairman Bureau Commissions 2.2.2 Meetings At the invitation of the chairman “whenever matters falling within the competence of the provincial council require a meeting” An average of 1x a month 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.2 Provincial council 2.2.3 Competences Integrity of competences Regulations Advisory bodies Appoint members of the deputation Budget Personnel matters Provincial goods Government assignments Policy plans Establish provincial institutions 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.3 Deputation 2.3.1 Composition 2.3.2 Meetings Appointed by the Provincial Council 6 elected members + Governor (chairman) + Provincial clerk (secretary) 2.3.2 Meetings An average of 1x a week 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.3 Deputation 2.3.3 Competences Daily government of province Decision-making of Provincial Council and Deputation Decision-taking of Provincial council and Deputation Shared government Federal State, Community and Region (e.g. urban development and environmental licences) NEW: Delegation by the Provincial Council 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.4 Governor 2.4.1 Appointed by the Flemish Government on the unanimous advice of the Federal Government 2.4.2 Competences + qualities Government commissioner Flemish Government (e.g. administrative supervision on municipalities) Government commissioner Federal Government (e.g. maintaining of public order and safety) Chairman Deputation 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.5 Provincial clerk 2.5.1 Appointed by the Provincial Council 2.5.2 Competences Guidance of provincial staff (+ federal staff at provincial governments) Provincial Council and Deputation secretariat Correspondence; archives NEW: Delegation by the Deputation (daily governement) NEW: financial administration/internal control 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.6 Financial manager 2.6.1 Appointed by the Provincial Council 2.6.2 Competences Accounting, annual accounts, payments, accounts management, investments, … Control of commitments Tax collection Budgetary advice and long-range plan 1-1-2019 register

2. Provinces 2.7 Management team * Coordination – communication - quality 1-1-2019 register

2.9 Financing of provinces 2.8 Administration Provincial staff Flemish Community Ministry staff Federal staff 2.9 Financing of provinces Taxation Provincial Fund Subsidies (convenants) 1-1-2019 register

2.11 Administrative supervision on provinces 2.10 Privatization External autonomous agency with corporate personality (public/private law) Internal autonomous agency Participation in associations and institutions 2.11 Administrative supervision on provinces Regular administrative supervision = Regions Approval/authorization Suspension Nullification 1-1-2019 register

3. Province of West Flanders 3.1 PROVINCIAL COUNCIL Chairman: Jean de Bethune 84 members majority: 2 political parties: 36 + 18 minority: 3 political parties: 14 + 14 + 2 1-1-2019 register

3. Province of West Flanders 3.2 DEPUTATION (Provincial executive) Chairman: Paul Breyne, governor Members: Jan Durnez, Patrick Van Gheluwe, Dirk De fauw, Marleen Titeca-Decraene, Gunter Pertry and Bart Naeyaert. Provincial registrar: Hilaire Ost 1-1-2019 register

3. Province of West Flanders 3.3 Region for Recreation Recreation: - Westtoer (autonomous Provincial enterprise) - Provincial domains Culture: - Provincial Museum for Modern Art (Ostend) - TiNCK - Cultural prizes, tournaments en festivals - computer network for public libraries - maintainance en restauration cultural patrimony 1-1-2019 register

3. Province of West Flanders 3.4 Enterprising Region Tourism: - Westtoer (autonomous Provincial enterprise) Agriculture: - Provincial Centre for Agricultural Research and Development Economic Development - POM - (Provincial Corporation for Economic Development) Education - Provincial Technical Institute 1-1-2019 register

3. Province of West Flanders 3.5 Quality Region Environment and Nature: - nature and environmental education - management of non-navigable watercourses - environmental policyplan and Town and Country planning Welfare: - support for municipalities, public centres for social welfare and private institutions - management of own institutions for the handicapped - educational centre for development aid 1-1-2019 register