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MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE EU - BELGIUM

The European Union has 28 member countries:

Belgium is a federal state divided into three regions: Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, francophone Wallonia in the south and Brussels, the bilingual capital, where French and Dutch share official status. There is also a small German-speaking minority in the eastern part of the country. Belgium’s varied landscape includes: 67 kilometres of sea coast and flat coastal plains along the North Sea, a central plateau and the rolling hills and forests of the Ardennes region in the south.

The most important sectors of Belgium’s economy in 2014 were public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (22.7 %), wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (19.8 %) and industry (16.8 %).

Belgium’s main export partners are Germany, France and the Netherlands while its main import partners are the Netherlands, Germany and France.

Capital: Brussels

Geographical size: 30 528 km²

Population: 11 203 992 (2014)

Population as % of total EU population: 2.2 % (2014)

GDP: € 402.027 billion (2014)

Official EU language(s): Dutch, French and German

Political system: federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

EU member state since: 1 January 1958

Seats in the European Parliament: 21

Currency: Euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999

Schengen area member? Yes, Schengen Area member since 26 March 1995.

Presidency of the Council: Belgium has held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU 12 times between 1958 and 2010.

Belgium in the EU

European Parliament

There are 21 members of the European Parliament from Belgium. Find out who these MEPs are.

European Parliament office in Belgium

Council of the European Union

In the Council of the EU, national ministers meet regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Council meetings are regularly attended by representatives from the Belgian government, depending on the policy area being addressed.

Presidency of the Council of the EU

The Council of the EU doesn't have a permanent, single-person president (like, e.g., the Commission or Parliament). Instead, its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months.

During these 6 months, ministers from that country's government chair and help determine the agenda of Council meetings in each policy area, and facilitate dialogue with the other EU institutions.

Dates of Belgian presidencies:

More on the current presidency of the Council of the EU

European Commission

The Commissioner nominated by Belgium to the European Commission is Marianne Thyssen, who is responsible for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.

Commission representation in Belgium

European Economic and Social Committee

Belgium has 16 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee. This advisory body – representing employers, workers and other interest groups – is consulted on proposed laws, to get a better idea of the possible changes to work and social situations in member countries.

Committee of the Regions

Belgium has 12 representatives on the Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. This advisory body is consulted on proposed laws, to ensure these laws take account of the perspective from each region of the EU.

Permanent representation to the EU

Belgium also communicates with the EU institutions through its permanent representativesbased in Brussels. As Belgium’s “embassy to the EU”, its main task is to ensure that the country's interests and policies are pursued as effectively as possible in the EU.

Budgets and Funding

How much does Belgium contribute and receive?

Member countries' financial contributions to the EU budget are shared fairly, according to means. The larger your country's economy, the more it pays – and vice versa. The EU budget doesn't aim to redistribute wealth, but rather to focus on the needs of all Europeans as a whole.

Breakdown of Belgium’s finances with the EU in 2014:

Total EU spending in Belgium: € 7.044 billion
Total EU spending as % of Belgian GNI: 1.75 %
Total Belgian contribution to the EU budget: € 3.660 billion
Belgian contribution to the EU budget as % of its GNI: 0.91 %

More figures on the EU budget, revenue and spending:

EU-funded projects in Belgium

The money paid into the EU budget by Belgium helps fund programmes and projects in all EU countries - like building roads, subsidising researchers and protecting the environment.