Political and geographical position of Belgium according to plan. Geography of Belgium. Map of Belgium, geographical location, EGP, population, climate of Belgium. Industry and economy of Belgium, resources of Belgium, symbols and anthem of Belgium. Soils and vegetation of Belgium

Location of Belgium allows it to contain all the best that Europe has, despite its relatively small territory.

Lost between the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg And France Since ancient times, this territory has been a trade crossroads, which many neighboring rulers dreamed of taking over.

There is definitely something special about Belgium. Perhaps it is the country's friendly and welcoming population, which, for the most part, speaks fluent English, in addition to the three official languages.

Perhaps it's the stunning architecture that complements the quaint old cobblestone quarters.

Or maybe the secret lies in the local cuisine, which you can try in a huge number of restaurants, where each new dish seems tastier than the previous one. Energetic and carefree spirit Belgium infectious, he invites us to follow the example of the Belgians and enjoy life to the fullest.

Belgian landscape There are many faces - these are rivers and the Arden gorges, gentle plains located under farmland.

The pride of the country is great Forest of Arden on the border with Germany and Luxembourg and wide, sandy beaches on the northern coast, which stretch for 60 km. IN rural areas many historical towns, castles and churches.

Northern part of the country- these are continuous plains, south- at the mercy of the picturesque Ardennes, and coastline North Sea completely taken over by fashionable resorts.

And below Belgium crossed by a network of water canals. The northern coast of Belgium stretches 60 km from the French to the Dutch border with a continuous chain of resorts and sandy beaches.

The Flemings in the north and the Walloons in the south speak different languages, each of these regions of the country can, according to a law passed in 1993, have its own government.

However, with all the visible desire for self-affirmation, these very different Belgians managed to create and preserve a country, albeit small, but beautiful, prosperous, ancient and modern, rich and interesting in many respects.

Bruges, Ghent And Antwerp- Three former city-states - this majestic trinity with its cathedrals, diamond museums and rich collections of paintings by Jan van Eyck, Rubens and van Dyck are filled with a sense of their own greatness.

Traditional flower festivals, incredibly delicious cuisine, colorful festivals and carnivals that diversify the measured life of cities, fateful decisions European Union, sitting in Brussels, the king and members of the royal family, respected by the people - all this contained only one word - Belgium.

The climate is seasonal, and like neighboring countries, with warm weather from May to September. Snow is likely during the winter months.

BELGIUM(French Belgique, flam. Belgie), Kingdom of Belgium (French Royaume de Belgique, flam. Koninkrijk Belgie), a state in Western Europe. It borders the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. Area 30.5 thousand km2. Population 10.29 million people (2003). Capital Brussels. Big cities: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liege.

The political system of Belgium.
Federation of the French, Flemish and German-speaking communities. Belgium - a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. The head of the executive branch is the prime minister. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (the king, according to the constitution, has the right to take part in legislative activities). Parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House of Representatives are directly elected, members of the Senate are elected; 40 people by direct elections (25 in Flanders and 25 in Wallonia), 10 people each from the Flemish Council and the Council of the French Community. 6 people are co-opted from Flemish senators and 4 people from Francophone senators. The crown prince is a senator. Regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels) have territorial and economic autonomy. Such a complex system is the fruit of mutual compromises to maintain equality between communities.

Geographical position

The Kingdom of Belgium is located in western Europe, on the eastern coast of the North Sea. It borders on the Netherlands in the north, Germany and Luxembourg in the east, and France in the south and southwest. In the northwest it is washed by the North Sea. The territory of the kingdom (30 thousand km 2) is small - it is one and a half times less area Moscow region.

In the geography of the country, experts distinguish three geographical regions:

Coastal plain (the main cities here are Bruges, Ostend)

Central Plateau (Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent)

Ardennes Heights (relatively sparsely urbanized area)

It borders on the north with the Netherlands, on the east with Germany, on the southeast with Luxembourg and on France in the south and west. It is washed by the North Sea in the northwest.

The main rivers of Belgium are the Scheldt and the Meuse, which originate in France. Both rivers are now connected by canals to improve navigation efficiency.

The territory of Belgium is divided into three geographical regions: the coastal plain, the central plateau (middle Belgium, 100-200 meters above sea level) and the Ardennes uplands in the southeast (high Belgium, 200-500 meters above sea level).

Low Belgium is mostly sand dunes and polders. Polders are low-lying areas of land (not necessarily below sea level) that are at risk of flooding and protected from flooding by dams, or, further inland, fields with drainage canals. Polders are distinguished by their soil fertility. Between the western polders, Lys and Scheldt lies the Flemish Lowlands, a hilly area with sandy soil in places. Beyond the Flemish Lowlands is the geographical region of Kempen. The Kempen landscape mainly consists of coniferous forests, meadows and corn fields.

Central Belgium - the area between Kempen and the Sambre and Meuse valleys. This is an area of ​​clay plains that gradually rise as you move towards the Sambre and Meuse. The most fertile soils in Belgium are located here. Due to the extensive urbanization of the area, natural landscapes are rare, but five thousand hectares of beech forest still remain south of Brussels. Central Belgium includes the territory of the province of Hainaut and the geographical region of the Netherlands. Haspengouw, fr. La Hesbaye (south of the province of Limburg and north of the province of Liege). These fertile lands are mainly occupied by arable land and meadows, between which lie large rural estates (hamlets).

High Belgium is primarily characterized by its low population density and abundance of forests. Due to the mountainous terrain, agriculture is not developed here, but this region attracts many tourists. High Belgium begins south of the valleys of the Sambre and Meuse rivers. Immediately beyond the valleys of these rivers, the geographical region of Condroz begins - low hills 200-300 meters high. This area includes parts of the provinces of Hainaut, Liege and Namur. Next are the Ardennes - high hills (or even low mountains). The Ardennes are mostly covered with forest, and winding serpentine roads connect small villages, whose residents still speak the Walloon dialect. The highest point of the Ardennes (and all of Belgium) is Mount Botrange, 694 meters above sea level.

The determining influence on the climate of Belgium is the Atlantic Ocean, the air masses from which form the Belgian weather throughout the year. Thanks to this, throughout the country, winters are mild and summers are relatively cool. Average winter temperatures in the western lowland part of the country range from 0 to +3, and in the Ardennes, due to their higher altitude above sea level and distance from the coast, from 0 to -1 degrees. Sustainable snow cover is practically not established anywhere in the country. The weather on the coast in winter is quite windy and chilly.

In summer, on the contrary, very comfortable weather reigns here - daytime air temperatures fluctuate around the twenty-degree mark, and only in rare years reach +30 C. Air humidity, as in winter, is quite high due to the proximity Atlantic Ocean. Precipitation falls mainly during the cold season (about 800 mm per year on the plains and about 1300 in the Ardennes).

Minerals

In the northern part of Belgium, under a thick Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary cover, there is a Precambrian crystalline basement. When moving south, the foundation is exposed in places along river valleys, and in the south of the country it emerges in the form of Hercynian folded structures, which have undergone severe denudation. In northern Belgium, as a result of repeated exposure to glacial meltwater, loess is widespread.

Of the mineral resources, Belgium is rich in coal (in Campina and along the valleys of the Meuse and Sambre rivers), but there is little coking coal here. In the Ardennes there are small deposits of iron and polymetallic ores (lead, zinc, copper), antimony and other metals. In addition, the country has significant reserves of building stone (granite, sandstone, marble).

Flora and fauna

Forests are common in the Ardennes, mostly coniferous - they cover about half the area of ​​this region. However, in terms of fertility, local soils are noticeably inferior to the soils of the Central Plateaus and the thick alluvial soils covering the coastal lowlands of Flanders, which are used for agriculture. There are also natural pine forests here - they cover approximately one seventh of the area of ​​Flanders.

The country's fauna cannot be called exotic. The most typical species for it are fox, badger, squirrel, marten, deer, roe deer, wild boar, and hare. The most common birds are pheasants, partridges and woodcock.

Ecology of Belgium

Belgium has introduced an environmental alert due to excessive air pollution. According to media reports, the level of smog in the air was twice the maximum permissible norm.

A speed limit on highways has been introduced throughout the country - in Brussels the maximum speed has been reduced from 70 to 50 km. per hour, on highways - up to ninety. If the concentration of smog in the air continues to increase, Belgian legislation provides for the possibility of introducing a partial ban on the use of cars.

Each Belgian “produces” 492 kg annually. garbage; Over the past 40 years, mountains of garbage have doubled in the European Union, and are growing by 1-2% every year, reports the newspaper Le Soir. Data on the amount of waste produced was published ahead of European Waste Reduction Week.

According to the European Environment Agency for 2006, as the publication writes, 2.7 billion tons of garbage were thrown out in the European Union. On average, every European produces 522 kilograms of waste. In Belgium, this figure is slightly lower than the European average, however, according to experts from the Environment Agency, the increase in the amount of garbage in Belgium from 1995 to 2005 has increased. amounted to 15%. Over the past 40 years, mountains of garbage have doubled in the European Union, and are growing by 1-2% every year.

Belgium has a waste sorting system, which makes recycling easier. Every Belgian family must sort plastic packaging into blue bags, paper and cardboard into yellow, branches and leaves from the garden into green and everything else into white. According to experts, it is necessary not only to continue promoting the need to sort household waste among the population, but also to try to convince manufacturers of various goods to reduce the amount of packaging.

A strict system of fines for environmental pollution has begun to operate in the French-speaking region of Belgium - Wallonia, local media reported. So, for throwing a cigarette butt, a tin can, chewing gum and a piece of paper on the ground, the fine will be 50 euros. If a plastic bottle is thrown in a public place, a bag of garbage is thrown, the fine will increase to 150 euros.

The Lutjen Decree, named after the Walloon Minister for Defense environment and introducing the “polluter pays” principle, also provides for criminal penalties for environmental crimes that pose a threat to human health.

1.3 thousand agents specially hired by regional and municipal authorities will monitor compliance with the frequency in public places and collect fines on the spot, for which they allocate more than 2 million euros.

In parallel, the Walloon authorities will carry out campaigns to explain to residents of the region their policy on preventing environmental pollution. Every year, up to 6 thousand tons are removed from the streets of Walloon cities. garbage. Their removal and cleanup cost the regional and municipal authorities of Wallonia a total of 100 million euros.

Political structure

Belgium is a constitutional monarchy (since its formation) and a federal state (since 1980). The head of state is the king, currently Albert II (since 1993). The actual head of state is the Prime Minister, currently Yves Leterme. As a rule, the representative of the party that received the most votes in parliamentary elections becomes prime minister. The government is formally appointed by the king. Also, the composition of the government must be approved by parliament. The constitution requires language parity in government: half of the ministers must be representatives of the Dutch-speaking community, half - representatives of the French-speaking community.

The federal parliament is bicameral. The upper house of parliament is the Senate, the lower house is the House of Representatives. Both houses are elected by direct universal suffrage every four years. All citizens of the state who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote. There are 71 deputies in the Senate, and 150 deputies in the House of Representatives.

Belgium is a federal state, sometimes called a double federation, since Belgium is divided simultaneously into three districts and three linguistic communities. The districts' area of ​​responsibility includes the management of the local economy, public works (for example, road construction, environmental issues, etc.), into the area of ​​responsibility of linguistic communities - primarily issues related to culture, including education, scientific activity and sports.

Each district and each linguistic community has its own parliament and its own government, but according to mutual consent The parliament and government of the Flemish District and the Dutch-speaking Community were united. Thus, Belgium has six governments and six parliaments. The federal government is responsible for coordinating the actions of the other five governments, as well as for issues of national importance, such as defense, foreign affairs, national economic and monetary policy, pensions, and health care.

The judiciary is organized in the form of a pyramid, the base of which is the magistrate's court, located in each canton, and the top - Supreme Court. Belgium is divided into judicial cantons and districts. Each district has a trial court, a labor court, and a commercial court. There are also five appellate courts(in Brussels, Liege, Mons, Gand and Antwerp) and in each province - trial by jury.

In addition to the Chamber of Control and the Council of State, Belgium has an Arbitration Court, created in 1983 to resolve conflicts if they arise between the various institutions of the Belgian federal government.

Belgium is a member of 70 international organizations. Belgium joined the European Economic Community (EEC) on 25 March 1957. It is also a member of NATO.

Political crisis 2007

After the last federal elections on June 10, 2007, the Liberal and Christian Socialist parties tried in vain to form a national government (federal government).

The French-speaking parties operating in the poorer south of Belgium (Wallonia) opposed the expansion of regional autonomy, which was precisely what the Flemish parties representing the richer northern part of the country were seeking.

For six months the country was ruled by a technical government headed by Guy Verhofstadt.

On March 20, 2008, after 3 months of negotiations, Yves Leterme became prime minister of a new coalition government, which included five parties: two Flemish and three from French-speaking Wallonia.

History of the Kingdom of Belgium

The name of the state comes from the name of the Belgian tribe of Celtic origin, which inhabited this territory at the beginning of our era. In 54 BC e. the region in the north of Gaul, corresponding to modern Belgium, was conquered by the troops of Julius Caesar (from the consul's notes on the Gallic War: “half of the Belgae were killed, the rest became slaves...”). After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, the Roman province of Gaul was conquered by the Germanic tribes of the Franks, who created their own kingdom here.

In the Middle Ages, Belgium was part of the Duchy of Burgundy.

1477 - 1556 - the dynastic marriage of Mary of Burgundy introduced the Burgundian possession into the Holy Roman Empire.

1556 - 1713 - part of Spain. The Eighty Years' War marked the beginning of the separation of Belgian territories from the Protestant Netherlands.

1713 - 1792 - part of the Holy Roman Empire as the Austrian Netherlands.

1792 - 1815 - part of France.

1815 - 1830 - part of the Netherlands according to the decision of the Congress of Vienna. However, many in Belgium were unhappy with the forced unification with the Netherlands (primarily the French-speaking population and the Catholic clergy, who feared the strengthening of the role of the Dutch language and the Protestant denomination, respectively).

1830 - Belgian revolution and in the same year Belgium seceded from the Kingdom of the Netherlands and gained independence. Belgium becomes a neutral kingdom led by Leopold I.

In the 19th century, the country's economy developed very intensively. Belgium became the first country in continental Europe to build a railway (Mechelen-Brussels, 1835). It is interesting that Belgium is still the only country in continental Europe where left-hand traffic on railways is accepted, which is due to the fact that the first railways were built here by the British.

IN late XIX century, Belgium became a colonial power. From 1885 to 1908, the Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) was a possession of the Belgian King Leopold II (under the name "Independent State of the Congo"). The exploitation of the colony was one of the significant sources of capital accumulation and industrial development in Belgium. Since 1908, the colony received the name Belgian Congo.

Belgium suffered greatly during the First World War, which is still called the “Great War” in this country. Although most of the country was occupied, throughout the war Belgian and British troops held a small part of the country, sandwiched between the North Sea and the Iser River.

The history of the city of Ypres is tragic - during the war it was almost completely destroyed, and poison gas (chlorine) was used here for the first time in the history of wars. The mustard gas used two months later was named after this city.

On April 3, 1925, an agreement was concluded between Belgium and the Netherlands to revise the 1839 treaty. Abolition of Belgium's long-standing neutrality and demilitarization of the port of Antwerp.

1940-1944 During World War II, the Germans occupied Belgium. The government flees to England, King Leopold III is deported to Germany, since he signed the act of surrender on May 28, 1940. Introduction of German military control in Belgium under the command of General von Falkenhausen. On September 3, 1944, liberation begins with the entry of British troops into Brussels. On February 11, 1945, a government was formed headed by the right-wing socialist Van Acker.

1957 - Belgium joins the European Economic Community (EEC).

2001 - the birth of the first child to Crown Prince Philip and his wife Matilda, continuation of the dynasty.

2003 - as a result of parliamentary elections, Guy Verhofstadt again becomes prime minister.

January 12, 2006 - Belgium chairs the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

On December 19, 2008, Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme resigned due to a scandal related to the sale of the largest Belgian financial company Fortis. The post of Prime Minister of the country was taken by Herman van Rompuy, leader of the Flemish Christian Democratic Party. The new government of Herman van Rompuy includes representatives of the same five political parties that his predecessor led.

Economy of Belgium

The basis of the Belgian economy is the service sector (primarily transport and trade) and industry.

Advantages: one of the most significant manufacturers of metal products and textiles. Flanders is a leading region in the high-tech industry, Antwerp is the world center for the diamond trade. Successful chemical industry. A well-educated and highly motivated multilingual workforce with high productivity. An attractive location for American multinationals. Good water transport network across the North Sea, access to the Rhine from Antwerp to Ghent.

Weaknesses: public debt of about 87.7% of GNP far exceeds the EU maximum level of 60% (2006 data). In some regions there are large numbers of chronic and unskilled unemployed. Frequent retirement of workers, which is why the level of state pension payments is high. More bureaucracy than the EU average.

May 1, 1998 Belgium became one of the founding states of the Economic and Monetary Union. January 1, 1999 The final exchange rate between the euro and the Belgian franc (BEF) was set at BEF 40.3399. Belgium then gradually switched from using the Belgian franc to the European currency by 1 January 2002. The old currency was exchanged for the new currency within 2 months to avoid confusion. After this, the Belgian franc was completely withdrawn from circulation, and now you can only exchange it for the euro at the regional offices of the National Bank of Belgium.

Belgium is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU), and the country became the first member of the European Monetary Union in 1999.

The basis of the Belgian economy is primarily industry, the importance of which is overshadowed by giant ports, museum cities filled with tourists, and agriculture. Belgium's share of world industrial output is more than three times its share of the world's population. The country ranks second in the world in steel production per capita, second only to Luxembourg, and in terms of industrial production it ranks twelfth in the capitalist world.

Belgium plays an important role in world trade. Belgium is one of the first places in the world in the production and export of metal germanium and cobalt, as well as the export of diamond drilling tools, caprolactam and cars. The country's agriculture, although it does not reach the level that it has in the neighboring Netherlands, is still one of the most highly organized in the capitalist sense in Western Europe, providing some of its products for export.

About 80% of Belgium's trade is with member countries of the European Union. With such a high percentage, the country is moving towards diversification and expansion of trade relations with countries outside the EU. Belgium ranks 10th as the largest export market for US goods and services. Assuming that export goods in transit are not allowed into the country, Belgium is still the 12th largest market for US goods.

There are few economic and trade differences in the bilateral relationship between the United States and Belgium. The Belgian authorities, as a rule, take a non-protest position and try to maintain a hospitable and open trade and investment environment. The US government is focusing its market-based, open trade efforts on the European Commission and large countries EU. In addition, it can be said that the European Commission negotiates trade for all EU member states, which reduces the scope of the bilateral negotiation process with Belgium.

Important transport routes pass through Belgium, providing a significant volume of international transit traffic. The transit position, the abundance of historical and architectural monuments, the famous beaches of seaside resorts attract many foreign tourists to the country, who leave a lot of currency in hotels, campsites, shops and restaurants.

Belgium is one of the oldest industrial countries, having embarked on the path of capitalist industrialization at the beginning of the 19th century. following England and reaching industrial maturity earlier than other continental European countries. Advantageous geographical location, extensive intermediary trade, existing coal deposits combined with once large reserves of iron and zinc ore, colonial exploitation of the wealth of the Belgian Congo - all this contributed to the fact that at the beginning of the twentieth century. Belgium entered as an industrial imperialist power, the owner of large accumulations of free capital. It occupied one of the leading places in Europe in the development of capitalism. However, in the years following the two world wars, Belgium gradually lost its former role as one of the leading industrial powers, falling increasingly under the influence of stronger imperialist states.

After the Second World War, Belgium's economic development progressed at a slow pace; the country found itself in one of the last places in Europe in terms of growth in industrial production; it lags behind in the development of scientific research, labor productivity, the development of new industries and some other indicators. The Belgian industry, unlike most other small states, specializes in the production of semi-finished products, which are turned into finished products in other countries.

Foreign capital plays a major role in the economic development of Belgium. The increased interest of foreign monopolies in the economy of this small country is explained primarily by its favorable geographical position, the presence of a highly qualified workforce and a well-developed network of communications of all types (primarily the large seaport of Antwerp), as well as an incentive tax system in relation to foreign enterprises and the opportunity obtaining a Belgian loan. As a rule, foreign firms invest their capital in the most dynamic and advanced industries, such as automobile assembly, radio electronics and petrochemicals, and take leading positions in these industries.

The United States ranks first in terms of direct investment in the Belgian economy. About 3/5 of the cars imported from Belgium are assembled at the General Motors and Ford plants.

In the industrial structure, the main sectors were ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering (auto assembly, electrical engineering, electronics) and chemical. The glass, diamond-granite and weapons industries play a significant role.

The basis of energy is oil and natural gas, which make up more than 2/3 of Belgium's energy balance. The rest comes from coal and nuclear energy. Belgium has a developed oil refining industry. Since oil refineries operate on imported raw materials, almost all of them are located in the port area of ​​Antwerp and in the Ghent Terneuzen canal area. Antwerp has become a significant center of the oil refining industry in Western Europe. However, it is located 90 km from the sea. To improve the supply of oil to Antwerp factories, the Antwerven-Rotterdam oil pipeline was built and the Antwerp-Zeebrugge oil pipeline is being laid.

Coal mining, which was one of the main branches of Belgian industry in the 50s, now occupies one of the last places. Belgium's entry into the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) had a particularly painful impact on the coal mining industry, which was unable to withstand competition from other "common market" countries. The difficulty of operation, low level of mechanization and poor quality make Belgian coal more expensive than imported coal. In addition, Belgian mines have the most difficult working conditions in all of Europe: accidents often occur in them, the level of occupational illness among miners here is higher than in the most hazardous industries. Since 1957, more than 100 unprofitable mines have been closed and coal production has fallen. Belgium imports almost half of the coal it needs, which seriously affects its balance sheet.

Almost all electricity is generated by thermal power plants burning coal, fuel oil and natural gas. Nuclear power plants are currently operating.

The main branch of Belgian industry remains ferrous metallurgy. It serves as a base for many industries either serving the metallurgical complex or consuming its products.

In addition, ferrous metallurgy is the country's main export industry. Belgium's steel mills run more than half on high-quality Swedish iron ore. Ferrous metallurgy enterprises are concentrated in the Southern Coal Basin and mainly in two centers - around Liege and Charleroi. In addition, there are metallurgical enterprises in Brabant (Clabeck) and in the extreme southeast, on the border with Luxembourg (Athus). Large metallurgical plants are located in Salzate on the Ghent-Terneusen sea canal.

Belgium occupies one of the leading places in the capitalist world in the development of non-ferrous metallurgy, despite the almost complete absence of deposits of non-ferrous metal ores. It is among the top five to seven global producers and exporters of heavy metals (copper, zinc, lead), cobalt, germanium and radium. In addition, Belgium is one of the exporters of rare metals such as tantalum, niobium and selenium.

Almost all branches of non-ferrous metallurgy are developed in Belgium. The largest copper smelter not only in Belgium, but also in capitalist Europe is located in Olen, and an equally large zinc smelter is in Balen. In general, the main centers of the non-ferrous metallurgy in Belgium are located in the Antwerp region, where all imported raw materials arrive, in the Lieppes region, connected by the Antwerp port of Alberg - the canal and along the canals in Campina. Since most of the smelted metal is exported in ingots, smelting predominates over processing.

The creation of significant metallurgy and metalworking in the area of ​​Liepsa, Charleroi and Mensa marked the beginning of mechanical engineering. The main area of ​​metalworking and mechanical engineering, working on the local metallurgical base, is a narrow strip along the valleys of the Sambre and Meuse rivers. Belgian mechanical engineering specializes in the production of metal-intensive capital equipment, which is closely related to the development of railway transport, tram services, and the construction of power plants in many European countries.

The main branches of mechanical engineering are the automobile assembly industry, which is mainly limited to the assembly of finished imported parts and components; and electrical engineering, specializing mainly in the production of power equipment. Factories producing equipment are located along the valleys of the Sambre and Meuse rivers. Car assembly plants are located in Genk, Antwerp and Brussels; electrical engineering - in Charleroi, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Liepse. Shipbuilding and ship repair are concentrated in Antwerp and Saintes. The most important area of ​​mechanical engineering in the north of the country is Antwerp and its surroundings, followed by the Brussels industrial center, and in third place are the areas of Liege and Charleroi-Mons-Nivelles.

The chemical industry of Belgium was historically associated with the coal and metallurgical complex of the Southern Coal Basin. Widely using products from coking and blast furnace processes, it has reached a fairly high level in the production of the main products of mineral chemistry.

The oldest branches of the Belgian industry are textiles. All major sectors and cycles of textile production have been developed. The cotton, flax and jute industries are located almost throughout Flanders, where they originated. The wool industry is concentrated in Verviers, near Liege; its development here is due to the good quality of local waters, which give the wool special softness and elasticity. The largest centers for the production of artificial fiber fabrics and lace are Brussels, Alet, Ninove.

The products of the Belgian glass industry are very famous: sheet and plate glass, special glasses and crystal. This industry is one of the few that has its own raw material base.

Diamond processing has a centuries-old tradition; it originated in Belgium on the basis of Congulesian raw materials. Belgium is one of the world's largest producers of diamond tools, especially drill bits. The diamond and granite industry is centered in Antwerp, where all diamond processing operations are carried out and both polished and industrial diamonds are manufactured. Antwerp is a world center not only for diamond cutting, but also for the diamond trade.

Although Belgium is considered a rich country, it spends more than its annual income and has not fully collected taxes for many years. The Belgian government responded with weak macroeconomic measures to the oil price increases in 1973 and 1979: it hired surplus labor in government sector and subsidized ailing industries: coal, steel, textiles, glass, and shipbuilding to prop up the economy. Ultimately, total government debt reached 121% by the end of the 1980s (versus total US government debt of 31.2% in 1990). However, we must thank the high Belgian personal savings rates, with which the Belgian government financed the deficit, thereby minimizing the impact of harmful consequences on the entire country's economy.

Two of the five conditions for the first membership in the Economic and Monetary Union within the European Union (EU) under the Maastricht Treaty (1992) were: achieving a government budget deficit of 3% and an accumulated debt of 60% of GDP. In 1992, Belgium had a government budget deficit of 7.1%, which resulted in accumulated debt of 137.9% of GDP in 1993, the highest the country has ever seen. It soon became clear that Belgium would not be able to achieve the 60% debt target. However, Belgium was admitted to membership on the condition that it made significant progress in solving its debt problems. This became the main goal of the Belgian government in its economic policy, and Belgium was able to reduce the annual budget deficit (federal, regional and social security) to 1.2% of GDP by 1999, suitable for conditions Maastricht Treaty.

After Belgium gained membership in the organization, the country continued its economic policies, bringing its debt to 87.7% of GDP by 2006.

The structure of the Belgian economy is typical of the most advanced post-industrial countries in the world. 73.0% of GDP is created in the service sector, 25.7% in industry and construction, and 1.3% in agriculture (data based on the results of 2004). The most important feature of the Belgian economy is the predominance of bank capital in the assets of leading corporations. The share of the public sector in the economy is significant, especially in transport, utilities and the fuel and energy sector. Government spending accounts for over 50% of GDP ($174.8 billion in 2004).

The modern private enterprise economy has developed in Belgium due to the country's central geographical location, highly developed transport network and diversified industrial and trading base. The industry is concentrated mainly in the densely populated Flemish zone in the north (Flemish diamond), around Brussels and in the two largest cities of Wallonia: Liege and Charleroi (Sillon industriel). With few mineral resources, Belgium must import significant quantities of raw materials and export large quantities of manufactured goods, thereby making the economy dependent on world markets. About 3/4 of Belgium's trade is with EU countries. Belgium's public debt has fallen from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 to 87.7% of GDP in 2006 as the Belgian government tries to control its spending to bring figures more in line with other industrialized countries. . Belgium became a member of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999. The dioxin crisis, which began in June 1999 with the discovery of cancer-causing substances in livestock food, caused serious concern for the Belgian food industry both domestically and internationally. international level. This crisis reduced GDP growth, with the situation expected to improve in 2000.

Science and technology

Belgium's contribution to the development of science and technology can be traced throughout the country's history. In the sixteenth century, Belgium became famous for its scientists, such as the cartographer Gerard Mercator, the anatomist Andreas Vesalius, the herbalist Rembert Dodoens and the mathematician and engineer Simon Stevin, who were among the most influential in the scientific community.

In the first half of the seventeenth century, the Walloon method of making bar iron spread to Sweden, and was used there for 260 years. The dynamic and dense Belgian railway network prompted major companies such as La Brugeoise et Nivelles (now the BN division of Bombardier Transportation) to develop special new technologies. Economically important underground coal mining during the Great Industrial Revolution required highly skilled specialized mining research. The end of the nineteenth century and the twentieth century were marked by significant advances in Belgium in applied science and in theoretical fundamental research. Chemist Ernest Gaston Solvay and engineer Zenob Théophilus Gramm gave their names to scientific concepts: Solvay's process and Gramm's dynamo in the 1860s. Georges Lemaître is credited with being the author of the theory of the expanding Universe (along with other scientists).

Three Nobel Prizes in physiology and medicine were awarded to the Belgians: Jules Bordet in 1919 “for discoveries related to immunity”, Korney Heymans in 1938 “for the discovery of the role of the sinus and aortic mechanisms in the regulation of respiration”, Albert Claude, Christian de Duve, George Palade in 1974 "for their discoveries concerning the structural and functional organization cells."

Belgian physical chemist Ilya Prigogine was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 1977 “for his work on the thermodynamics of irreversible processes, especially for the theory of dissipative structures.”

Population

Urbanization

The vast majority of Belgium's population is urban - 97%.

Belgium is different high density population (342 people per km²), second in this parameter in Europe only to the Netherlands and some small states, such as Monaco. The highest population density in the country is observed in the area bounded by the cities of Brussels-Antwerp-Ghent-Leuven (the so-called “Flemish diamond”). The lowest population density is in the Ardennes Mountains (Luxembourg province).

In 2006, the population of the Flemish region was approximately 6,078,600, including the most populous cities of Antwerp (457,749), Ghent (230,951) and Bruges (117,251).

The population of Wallonia was 3,413,978, including the most populous cities of Charleroi (201,373), Liege (185,574) and Namur (107,178).

Brussels has a population of 1,018,804 people in 19 metropolitan district municipalities, two of which have more than 100,000 inhabitants.

Brussels is the capital of Belgium, a cosmopolitan and vibrant city, and this is reflected in its architectural appearance. Here, ancient Gothic cathedrals and churches juxtapose with graceful facades in classical style, such as in the Place Royale, or beautiful buildings decorated in neo-classical, art nouveau or art deco styles. The city center is surrounded by a ring road that runs where the fortifications used to be. In addition, there is a clear division of Brussels into two districts - the Upper Town and the Lower Town. In the first district you will find stylish boutiques and immerse yourself in the country's culture in one of the museums; the second offers a walk through the medieval streets of Brussels. The heart of the city is the Grand "Place (Grote Markt) in the Lower Town. This ancient market square is surrounded by impressive buildings of the 17th century, each of which once belonged to one of the city guilds and had its own name. There is also a magnificent example of Gothic architecture - the building City Hall with a tall and elegant watchtower.

Not far from the Grand "Place there is probably the most famous monument of the city - the Manneken Pis. The statue of a child is small, but every day tourists flock to it to see the famous sculpture with their own eyes. The upper city is the center of cultural life. The most interesting things are concentrated here The city's museums and galleries. Take the time to visit the Royal Belgian Museum of Art (Musees Royaux des Beaux Arts), where works by old masters and modern painters are collected. Only here you will find the most comprehensive collection of paintings, including works by Pieter Bregel, Rubens, Magritte and others Here, in the Upper Town, you will find the magnificent Brussels Cathedral and the Notre Dame du Sablon church, the Royal Palace (Palais Royal) and the Museum of Musical Instruments (Musee des Instruments de Musique), and pay attention to the Cathedral of St. Michel and St. Gudula: in The building is dominated by Gothic style with Romanesque and Renaissance influences mixed in. The cathedral was erected in the first half of the 13th century and, like many cathedrals of that time, is decorated with amazing stained glass windows.

Age and sex structure of the population.

0-14 years: 16.9%

15-64 years old: 65.7%

65 years and older: 17.4%

Average age of the population:

Overall: 50.0 years

Men: 39.6 years

Women: 42.1 years (2006 figures)

Population growth:

The population grew by 0.13% from 2005 to 2006.

Fertility rate: 10.38.

Death rate: 10.27.

Net migration in Belgium is 1.22 migrants per 1,000 inhabitants (based on 2006 data)

Gender composition of the population:

At birth: 1.04 male wives

Up to 15 years: 1.04 male. wives

15-64 years old: 1.02 male. wives

65 years or more: 0.7 male. wives

Ratio of total number: 0.96 male/female. (as of 2006)

Average life expectancy:

Overall: 78.77 years

Men: 75.59 years

Women: 82.09 years (as of 2006)

Ethnic composition

The two main groups that make up the country's population are the Flemings (about 60% of the population) and the Walloons (about 40% of the population). The Flemings live in the five northern provinces of Belgium (see Flanders) and speak the Dutch language and its many dialects (see Flemish). The Walloons live in the five southern provinces that make up Wallonia and speak French, Walloon and several other languages.

After independence, Belgium was a French-oriented state, and the only official language at first was French, although the Flemings always formed the majority of the population. Even in Flanders it's French for a long time remained the only language of secondary and higher education.

After the end of the First World War, a movement for the emancipation of the Dutch-speaking population began in Belgium. As a result, the so-called “language struggle” arose. The struggle began to bear fruit by the sixties of the 20th century. In 1963, a package of laws was adopted regulating the use of languages ​​in official situations. In 1967, an official translation of the Belgian constitution into Dutch was published for the first time. By 1980, both main languages ​​of the country were actually equal in rights. In 1993, Belgium was divided into federal districts. The only official language in the Flemish District is Dutch.

Despite the progress achieved, language problems still lead to escalating tensions between the two main groups of the country's population. Thus, in 2005, the problem of dividing the bilingual electoral district of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde almost led to the resignation of the government and a political crisis

The vast majority of the population is represented by Flemings (51%) and Walloons (41), Italians and Germans are much smaller - 3% and 1%, respectively. In addition, the country is home to the French, Spanish, Dutch, Moroccans, Poles, Jews and Greeks.

Population migration

The largest groups of migrants are Italians, immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Belgian Congo), immigrants from Turkey, Morocco and other Arab countries.

Currently, more than 50,000 people from the former Soviet Union live in Belgium.

According to various sources, between 150 and 200 thousand migrants from Turkey live in Belgium, including both ethnic Turks and members of the Kurdish minority. Clashes and conflicts arise from time to time between representatives of the two ethnic communities. Thus, in April 2006, an anti-Turkish demonstration took place in the center of Brussels on the initiative of the Kurds. On the night of April 2, 2007, in the capital of Belgium, near the headquarters of NATO and the EU, clashes occurred between ethnic Turks and representatives of the Kurdish immigrant community. As a result, seven people were arrested and several more were injured. “It all started with an attack by Turkish teenagers on a small group of Kurdish youth,” said Brussels police spokesman Johan Verleyen. Aggression was also directed against the police who were trying to restore order. According to law enforcement agencies, about 250 people, mostly young people, took part in the street clashes. During the pogroms, unknown persons set fire to a cafe, considered the center of the Kurdish community, after which spontaneous rallies were organized. Conflict situations in Belgium, related to interethnic confrontation is an acute political problem, a solution to which has not yet been found.

Spaniards, Greeks, Poles and people of other nationalities also live in Brussels.

Terrorism and crime

Brussels, according to various sources such as Interpol and local newspapers, is considered one of the centers of radicalization of the population and recruitment of people into terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda. Recruitment usually takes place in mosques, followed by basic training in Afghanistan. Recently, a suicide bomber in Iraq, Muriel Degauque, became known as the first Western terrorist in the history of modern terrorism. She trained not in Brussels, but in Charleroi, a Belgian city with one of the highest crime rates.

Belgium has also seen racially motivated crimes against minorities, including the Hans Van Themsche case and other racially motivated violence, highlighting the urgency of the issue and Belgians' preoccupation with race.

Culture

Painting

A small country that in the past gave the world a number of the greatest artists - just to name the van Eyck brothers, Bruegel and Rubens - Belgium by the beginning of the 19th century. experienced a long stagnation of art. A certain role in this was played by the politically and economically subordinate position of Belgium, which until 1830 did not have national independence. Only when, from the beginning of the new century, the national liberation movement developed more and more, did art come to life, which soon occupied a very important place in the cultural life of the country. It is at least significant that, in comparison with other European countries, the number of artists in small Belgium relative to the population was very large.

In the formation of Belgian artistic culture of the 19th century. The great traditions of national painting played a major role. The connection with traditions was expressed not only in the direct imitation of many artists by their outstanding predecessors, although this was characteristic of Belgian painting, especially in the middle of the century. The influence of traditions affected the specifics of the Belgian art school of modern times. One of these specific features is the commitment of Belgian artists to the objective world, to the real flesh of things. Hence the success of realistic art in Belgium, but hence some limitations in the interpretation of realism.

A characteristic feature of the country's artistic life was the close interaction throughout the century of Belgian culture with the culture of France. Young artists and architects go there to improve their knowledge. In turn, many French masters not only visit Belgium, but also live in it for many years, participating in the artistic life of their little neighbor.

Even during the Renaissance, Flanders became famous for its painting (Flemish primitives). Later, Rubens lived and worked in Flanders (In Belgium, Antwerp is still often called the city of Rubens). However, by the second half of the 17th century, Flemish art gradually declined. Later in Belgium painting developed in the styles of romanticism, expressionism and surrealism. Famous Belgian artists are James Ensor (expressionism and surrealism), Constant Permeke (expressionism), Leon Spilliaert (symbolism), but the most famous artist in Belgium is undoubtedly René Magritte, considered one of the most important representatives of surrealism.

Literature

Widely known in Belgium is Georges Simenon, who became known throughout the world thanks to his character - Commissioner Maigret. Naturally, Georges Simenon is an unsurpassed master of the detective genre.

The qualifications of Belgian writers are extremely high, and how could they not be high when there is one continuous source of inspiration around them. And since Belgian literature supports several linguistic trends, you can find books in both French and Dutch. There are many skilled French writers in Belgium, such as Baudelaire.

Writers are also famous among the Flemings; a striking example of this is Charles de Coster (The Legend of Till Eulenspiegel and Lamm Gudzak). Thanks to the high qualifications of the Belgian master, this book was translated into many languages ​​and became famous throughout the world.

Architecture

Belgium has preserved many outstanding examples of architecture, ranging from Romanesque style(XI century) and up to Art Nouveau (early 20th century). The most famous Belgian architect is Victor Horta (1861-1947), one of the most important Art Nouveau architects.

The most architecturally interesting cities are: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels, Mechelen. In Wallonia there are many interesting examples of non-urban architecture - castles, rural estates.

Belgium has the beautiful ancient city of Bruges. It was once rich and famous, but later fell into disrepair. But the Belfort Tower, rising in the center of the shopping area, is a reminder of its former glory.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Tournai is one of the most striking examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. This cathedral is distinguished by an interior of extraordinary dimensions, a wealth of sculpture and turrets that anticipate Gothic architecture.

There are famous clock towers in every self-respecting country. You can remember Prague, London, Chicago. So in the Belgian Lira there are some amazing watches.

Spiritual realm

The Belgian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion.

The predominant denomination in Belgium is the Roman Catholic Church. Among other religions and denominations, the largest are Anglicanism, Protestantism, Islam, and Judaism. Therefore, the majority of believers in the country are Catholics (70%), about 2% of the population profess Islam, and there are also many Protestants and Jews.

Roman Catholic Church

About 76% of the Belgian population considers themselves Catholic, although only 8% of the population is an active parishioner. There are 3,946 Roman parishes in Belgium catholic church.

Protestantism

The largest Protestant organization in Belgium is the "Administrative Council of the Protestant and Evangelical Religion". This organization was created in 2002 by the two largest associations of Protestant churches in Belgium:

· United Protestant Church of Belgium

Federal Synod of Protestant and Evangelical Churches

More than 40 thousand Jews live in Belgium and there are 45 synagogues.

Education

Belgium is famous for its highly developed production and exceptional quality of goods; moreover, Belgium is also a crossroads of trade routes between France, England and Germany; the transport network is well developed here. For centuries, Flanders (northern Belgium) has been committed to international business. All this provides great opportunities for graduates of Belgian universities. Students are also attracted by the quality of education and the opportunity to undergo an internship in one of the international organizations whose headquarters are located in Brussels.

Education in Belgium is conducted in three languages ​​- English, French and Flemish (Dutch) and is based primarily on clarity. First stage schooling– six-year primary school (from 6 years old). Secondary education, especially for children who have completed a specialized program (art, crafts, music, dance, any technical training), takes place in colleges.

Belgian universities have always fluctuated between the Dutch and French education systems. As a result, in French-speaking areas priority was given to the French system, in Flemish - to the Dutch one. Higher education institutions and universities in Belgium introduced the Bachelor-Master system from the 2004-2005 academic year. Higher education institutions are divided into two main sectors: university (17 universities) and non-university (higher schools). The minimum duration of training is 4 years, although for some specialties the duration of training is 10-12 years. The highest academic degree is the "abrezhe superior education", it can be awarded two years after receiving the doctorate. The academic year from September to June is divided into two semesters: September/January, February/June. In higher education institutions there are no restrictions on admission, you just need to submit the appropriate documents. However, the most prestigious of universities organize competitive exams. The Flemish and French communities of Belgium offer several scholarship programs for international graduate students wishing to pursue bachelor's or master's degrees.

As a rule, those who are fluent in French or English go to Belgium. It is more difficult to get into English- and French-language programs. Those who speak Dutch have a much better chance.

Since 1970, the country's Constitution has enshrined the existence of four linguistic regions: French-speaking Wallonia, Dutch-speaking Flanders, bilingual Brussels and the German-speaking region in East Wallonia on the border with Germany. Since that time, the Federal Ministry of Education has exercised control only over compulsory secondary education and determines the conditions for issuing diplomas and certificates of education at all levels. All other educational issues fall under the competence of the French, Flemish and German language communities. Higher education matters are the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Public Service of the Flemish Community, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, International Relations and Sports of the French Community and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Scientific Research and Monuments and Sites of the German-Speaking Community.

For the Belgian higher education system, it is traditional to link the learning process with fundamental and applied research on the most important areas development of modern science. Up to 40% of all allocations are allocated to science in the university budget. Funding for scientific research consists of allocations from ministries and state allocations through the Institute for the Promotion of scientific research in industry and agriculture, the National Foundation for Scientific Research, as well as private sources through various companies, foundations and associations.

The first stage of schooling is six-year primary school. Secondary education, the first four years of which are compulsory, is divided in most cases into three levels of two years each. About half of the students in the first and second stages receive general pedagogical training, arts education, or undergo craft or technical training; others undergo general training. Of the latter group, about half of the students continue to attend higher secondary school, the completion of which gives the right to enter the university.

There are 8 universities in Belgium. In the oldest state universities - in Liege and Mons - teaching is conducted in French, in Ghent and Antwerp - in Dutch. Catholic University of Louvain, the oldest and most prestigious in Belgium, and privately supported. The Free University of Brussels was bilingual until 1970, but due to increasing conflicts between Flemish and Walloon students, each of them was divided into independent Dutch- and French-speaking departments. The French department of the University of Louvain has moved to a new campus near Ottigny, located on the "linguistic frontier". About 120 thousand people studied at colleges and universities in the country in the 1990s. students.

Higher education:

Higher education in Belgium has a long tradition. The first higher education institution in the country, the Catholic University of Louvain, was created in 1425. In 1517, Erasmus of Rotterdam also founded the School of Three Languages ​​(Hebrew, Latin, Greek) in Louvain, on the model of which the French College in Paris was created. Currently, there are almost 180 universities in Belgium, where 280 thousand people study.

Higher education in Belgium is presented in the form of two subsystems. These subsystems are subordinated, respectively, to the ministries of education of the French-speaking and Flemish communities.

In terms of the degree of centralization, the Belgian higher education system is closest to the French and German ones, since the principle of unity in management is observed, but, compared to the French education system, there is no tradition of managing higher education by professional communities.

French-language educational institutions are close to the French education model, while Flemish ones are close to the German and Dutch ones.

In general, the differences in the organization of higher education in the French and Flemish communities are insignificant and are manifested mainly in the existence in one subsystem of certain types of educational institutions that do not exist in the other (this mainly concerns educational institutions of a religious orientation).

There are two main sectors in higher education systems:

· University (17 universities)

· Non-university.

In accordance with the law of July 7, 1970, universities are divided into university-type educational institutions and higher schools. There are 7 actual Belgian universities: Liege State University, Mons-Hainaut University, Ghent State University, Free Brussels (French-speaking and separately Flemish), Louvain Catholic (French-speaking and separately Flemish). Along with them, there are branches of several foreign universities (in Brussels and Antwerp), as well as a number of Belgian universities equated to universities (usually they are called university faculties, centers, associations or foundations). The Royal Military School is also a university institution.

There are no restrictions on admission to higher education institutions in Belgium; you just need to submit the appropriate documents. However, the most prestigious universities have competitive entrance exams.

According to their status, higher education institutions in the university sector are divided into state and non-state. Some of the country’s universities are state, or “official” educational institutions, the financing of which is included in the budgets of the governments of the above-mentioned communities. The rest were founded by individuals and organizations and were called “independent” or “free”. Many of them were created under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church, which traditionally plays a large role in organizing and financing education at all levels, including higher education, in Belgium. Some independent educational institutions, particularly Catholic universities, receive financial support from community governments.

State universities provide traditional humanities and natural sciences higher education. Non-state universities also have a specific (professional) or religious orientation (Catholic universities).

Having a university diploma in accordance with current legislation is necessary to occupy certain government positions and obtain permission to work in specialties that have public importance(lawyer, doctor, etc.).

Studying at universities is multi-stage: each period or cycle of university studies for both university and scientific degrees ends with degrees.

The academic year at universities is divided into two semesters: September/January, February/June.

The actual amount spent by a university per academic year per student, depending on the specialty and level of study, ranges from 150 to 200 thousand Belg. fr. (approximately 4-5.5 thousand dollars). Universities receive these funds as subsidies from the governments of linguistic communities, churches, individuals and organizations. When registering to study at a university, the applicant does not pay the full cost of his studies; he only has to pay the so-called “registration fee”, which for universities, for example, is 15,600 - 26,300 Belg. fr. ($420 - $720) for one academic year. Registration is carried out separately for each academic year. Students of some specialties also pay for laboratory work. Each student spends at least 14 thousand Belg annually on the purchase of textbooks. fr. ($400).

Belgium has a system of providing benefits and loans for education. For example, Belgian secondary school graduates over 17 years of age who are entering university for the first time can receive benefits for higher education at universities in the French Community. The benefit is non-refundable and is provided to families if the income of the head of the family, who has at least three dependents, is about 890 thousand Belg. fr. per year ($24 thousand, data 1996-97). Officially, the maximum benefit amount ranges from 63 to 131 thousand Belg. fr. per year ($1.7-3.5), however, the actual average benefit is 34 thousand Belg. fr. ($920).

Administrative division

In Belgium, there is a parallel dual system of administrative division.

Belgium is divided into three regions, two of which are divided into provinces:

1. Flemish region:

· Province of Antwerp

· Province of Limburg

· Province of East Flanders

· Province of West Flanders

· Province of Flemish Brabant

2. Walloon region

Hainaut Province

Province of Liege

Province of Luxembourg

Province of Namur

Province of Walloon Brabant

3. Brussels-Capital District

In parallel, Belgium is divided into three linguistic communities:

1. Flemish Community (Flemish District and Brussels-Capital District)

2. Francophone Community (Walloon and Brussels-Capital)

3. German-speaking community (part of the province of Liege)

Transport

Belgium is a small country. The backbone network is one of the densest in the world (comparable to Los Angeles).

In Belgium, the use of trains is encouraged since the railway network is extensive and efficient. Although the country is small, the use of bicycles for transportation in some places is not encouraged, as it leads to a huge number of this vehicle on the streets, which interferes with traffic.

There is a fairly extensive railway network. The total length of the lines is 3,374 km (almost 0.1 km per 1 sq. km of area), including 3,022 km of double-track lines and 3,002 km of electrified lines. The track width is 1,435 mm. The voltage used on ordinary lines is 3 kV, and on high-speed lines - 25 kV.

Total length: 149.018 km (approximately 4.38 km per 1 sq. km area, 2002), highways: 1.729 km regional roads: 12.610 km others: 134.679 km

Waterways:

The waterways are 2,043 km long (1,532 km are regularly used for commercial purposes).

Pipelines:

Crude oil pipes are 161 km long; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas 3,300 km.

Seaports:

Antwerp is one of the largest ports in the world

Bruges (Zeebrugge "Sea Bruges") is one of the largest ports in Europe.

Ghent, Ostend

International relationships

Belgium is a traditional and major trade and economic partner of Russia. Russian-Belgian trade and economic relations have deep historical roots and every year they increasingly acquire the character of an in-depth partnership. The intensity of Russian-Belgian relations with practical affairs and agreements fully demonstrates the mutual desire of the two countries to develop multifaceted, mutually beneficial cooperation.

July 25, 1921 creation of the Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union. The Treaty establishing the Benelux Customs Union was signed on September 5, 1944 by the deported governments of the three countries in London and came into force in 1948. The Union lasted until 1 November 1960, when it was replaced by the Benelux Economic Union as a result of the signing of the Hague Treaty on 3 February 1958

On April 4, 1949, Belgium joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), headquartered in Brussels, as a founding member. On April 18, 1951, Belgium, together with five European countries, signed the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

In 1957, six states, including Belgium, established the European Economic Community (EEC, Common Market), officially renamed the European Community in 1993, and the European Atomic Energy Community.

In 1964, Belgium joined the Group of Ten.

The Schengen Agreement was originally signed on June 14, 1985 by five European states (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany), and entered into force on March 26, 1995.

The headquarters of the EFTA Supervisory Body and the headquarters of the European Commission are located in Brussels. The European Parliament holds plenary sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels. The Economic and Social Committee, an EU advisory body, meets once a month in Brussels. Plenary sessions of the EU Committee of the Regions are held in Brussels 5 times a year.

Belgium joined the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism in June 2007.

Tourism

Beach holiday:

Despite the fact that Belgium can hardly be considered one of the most popular resort countries in Western Europe, there are opportunities for a beach holiday here too. Along the entire Belgian coast of the North Sea there are sandy beaches with a total length of about 70 km with the resorts of Knokke, De Haan, Westende, Oostende. The swimming season here is short - it depends on the capricious Atlantic, and therefore lasts only from mid-June to mid-September.

The most famous resort here is Oostende, its beaches and dunes are the ideal place to spend a hot day and a romantic evening. In addition, recreation here is possible almost all year round - one of the water parks of the Sun Parks International system was built in the town of De Haan, located 20 kilometers from Ostend. It provides almost a full range of beach amenities in a gated complex - right down to surfing - the pools simulate ocean waves that roll over swimmers every 15 minutes. Solariums help you get a completely southern tan in strictly prescribed doses, and for guests to live here, a real hotel complex consisting of cozy villas has been built.

Wellness holiday:

The most famous resort in Belgium is Spa, located in the east of the kingdom, near Liege. In a city famous for its springs mineral water In addition to balneological health centers, there is a “Museum of the City of Waters” and a gallery with works of artists who captured local landscapes.

Excursions:

Like any part of Western Europe, Belgium has enormous potential for cultural tourism - almost every village has its own history, and the number of surviving medieval castles is simply amazing. It is precisely such impressions in the heart of Europe that tourists from all over the world are drawn to, and in this area they are not in danger of disappointment - the caring attitude of the Belgians to their historical monuments and traditions is known to all Europeans.

Sports in Belgium

Football and cycling are the most popular sports among Belgians. Belgian goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff is recognized as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of football. Belgian Eddy Merckx is considered one of the world's greatest cyclists. He has 5 Tour de France victories and countless other cycling accolades. His hourly speed record was set in 1972 and stood in first place for 12 years. Belgium has given the sport two tennis players who quickly rose to number one in the world, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, and a host of other award-winning athletes.

In Belgium, the Grand Prix of auto racing in the Formula 1 class is taking place in the town of Spa. The Belgian track is one of the most famous in the world and is loved by both pilots and fans.

In 1920 summer Olympic Games took place in Antwerp, Belgium.

Belgium hosts many famous international cycling competitions, such as:

Ronde van Vlaanderen

Liège-Bastogne-Liège

La Fleche Wallonne

Political structure
Belgium is a constitutional monarchy (since its formation) and a federal state (since 1980). The head of state is the king, currently Albert II (since 1993). The actual head of state is the Prime Minister, until April 2010 - Yves Leterme; The process of forming a new government is currently underway. As a rule, the representative of the party that received the most votes in parliamentary elections becomes prime minister. The government is formally appointed by the king. Also, the composition of the government must be approved by parliament. The constitution requires language parity in government: half of the ministers must be representatives of the Dutch-speaking community, half - representatives of the French-speaking community.
The federal parliament is bicameral. The upper house of parliament is the Senate (Dutch Senaat, French Sénat), the lower house is the House of Representatives (Dutch Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers, French Chambre des Représentants). Both houses are elected by direct universal suffrage every four years. All citizens of the state who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote. There are 71 deputies in the Senate, and 150 deputies in the House of Representatives.

Belgium is a federal state, sometimes called a double federation, since Belgium is divided simultaneously into three regions and three linguistic communities (see Administrative divisions). The regions' area of ​​responsibility includes the management of the local economy, public works (for example, road construction), environmental issues, etc.), the area of ​​​​responsibility of linguistic communities - primarily issues related to culture, including education, scientific activities and sports .
Each region and each linguistic community has its own parliament and its own government, but by mutual agreement the parliament and government of the Flemish Region and the Dutch-speaking Community were united. Thus, Belgium has six governments and six parliaments. The federal government is responsible for coordinating the actions of the other five governments, as well as for issues of national importance, such as defense, foreign affairs, national economic and monetary policy, pensions, and health care.
The judiciary is organized in the form of a pyramid, the base of which is the magistrate's court, located in each canton, and the top is the Supreme Court. Belgium is divided into judicial cantons and districts. Each district has a trial court, a labor court, and a commercial court. There are also five courts of appeal (in Brussels, Liege, Mons, Gand and Antwerp) and a jury in each province.
In addition to the Chamber of Control and the Council of State, Belgium has a Court of Arbitration, created in 1983 to resolve conflicts if they arise between various institutions federal authorities Belgium.
Belgium is a member of 70 international organizations. Belgium joined the European Economic Community (EEC) on 25 March 1957. It is also a member of NATO.

Administrative division
In Belgium, there is a parallel dual system of administrative division:

* Belgium is divided into three regions, two of which are divided into provinces.

Belgian Armed Forces
The Belgian Armed Forces were formed in 1830. Now the total number of active military personnel is about 41,000 people. The commander-in-chief is King Albert II. The conscription age is 18 years (2005). The budget of the Armed Forces is € 3.4 billion (2008). The share of aircraft is 1.3% of Belgium's GDP.
The armed forces are organized into one unified structure, which consists of four main components: 1. Ground forces, or Army 2. Air forces, or Air Force 3. Navy 4. Medical force component
Military component operational commands report to the Department of Defense Personnel Agency for Operations and Training, which is headed by the Assistant Chiefs of Staff Committee for Operations and Training and the Secretary of Defense.

Foreign relations of Belgium
July 25, 1921 creation of the Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union. The Treaty establishing the Benelux Customs Union was signed on September 5, 1944 by the deported governments of the three countries in London and came into force in 1948. The Union lasted until 1 November 1960, when it was replaced by the Benelux Economic Union as a result of the signing of the Hague Treaty on 3 February 1958

On April 4, 1949, Belgium joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), headquartered in Brussels, as a founding member. On April 18, 1951, Belgium, together with five European countries, signed the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

In 1957, six states, including Belgium, established the European Economic Community (EEC, Common Market), officially renamed the European Community in 1993, and the European Atomic Energy Community.

In 1964, Belgium joined the Group of Ten.

The Schengen Agreement was originally signed on June 14, 1985 by five European states (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany), and entered into force on March 26, 1995.

The headquarters of the EFTA Supervisory Body and the headquarters of the European Commission are located in Brussels. The European Parliament holds plenary sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels. The Economic and Social Committee, an EU advisory body, meets once a month in Brussels. Plenary sessions of the EU Committee of the Regions are held in Brussels 5 times a year.

Belgium joined the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism in June 2007.

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