Federalism and decentralisation in Belgium

Abstract

Once a unitary State, Belgium is now a federal one based on a complex pattern of Communities and Regions having the same legal powers as the Federal State. The sixth State reform, being implemented, is a new step to more powers to federated entities. Besides, the local government rests mainly on municipalities, while other structures are either new supra-municipal ones (police, fire departments) or older, disputed ones (provinces and Public Centres for Social Welfare). Political and financial arrangements are quite complex and are increasingly different between Regions and Communities. The main challenges ahead are the maintenance of some social and fiscal cohesion with the Belgian State framework and the adequacy of local government incomes with its financial needs, due to competences and/or expenditures transferred to it.