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Geographical location and nature, population, climate, flora and fauna, government structure, economic development trends, industry, social security system of Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium and Austria.
Belgium is a state in Western Europe. Has an area of 30,528 km², washed in the northwest North Sea. Most of the country is occupied by plains with dominant cultural landscapes.
The total length of land borders is 1385 km, the length of borders with France is 620 km, Germany - 167 km, Luxembourg - 148 km, the Netherlands - 450 km. Coastline has a length of 66.5 km. The total area of the territory is 33,990 km², of which the marine coastal zone occupies 3,462 km², and inland waters - 250 km².
1. Kingdom Belgium
Royaume de Belgique – Koninkrijk Belgium. Geographical location: located in Western Europe, on the North Sea coast. Territory – 30,530 sq. km. Population: 10,010,000 people, incl. Flanders – 5.9 million people, Wallonia – 3.3 million people. Capital: Brussels – Bruxelles (Brussels) – 951 thousand people. (with suburbs). The largest city is Antwerp (466,000). Highest point- Mount Botrange (694 m). Official languages- Dutch (Flemish), French, German. The main religion is Christianity. Currency: Belgian franc = 100 centimes. The main export items are iron, steel, mechanical engineering products, chemicals, food, plastics. The form of government is a federal constitutional monarchy. Administrative division– 3 regions: Brussels, Wallonia, Flanders, which are divided into 10 provinces (5 each in Flanders and Wallonia), and the provinces into communes. National holidays: July 21 - King's Oath Day (1831), November 15 - Day Royal dynasty(1866). Diplomatic relations with the USSR were established on July 12, 1935. In December 1991. Russian Federation recognized as the legal successor of the USSR.
The coastal regions of Belgium occupy low-lying plains suitable for agriculture. They gradually transform into fertile high plains in the center of the country and the forested Ardennes Mountains in the southeast. For many centuries, the rivers Scheldt and Meuse were important trade routes.
The length of Belgium's natural borders is small, and the country has often served as a battle ground for neighboring states: the Fraction, Germany and Britain. Throughout its history, this country has been united with the Netherlands and Luxembourg. During the Middle Ages, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg prospered due to intense trade. But then followed years of wars and foreign domination. In 1830, Belgium finally gained independence. She soon became rich through the development of industry and the colonization of Africa. During the First and Second World Wars, Belgium was severely destroyed, but quickly restored its economy. Today it is one of the most highly developed industrial countries in Europe. Belgium maintains very close economic ties with other European countries, and its capital, Brussels, is where the headquarters of the European Union of States is located.
2. State structure of Belgium
The Kingdom of Belgium is a federal state, a constitutional parliamentary monarchy. The Belgian Constitution is in force from February 7, 1831 with the latest amendments from July 14, 1993, when it was approved by the Belgian Parliament constitutional reform government structure a country that has completed the process of federalization that began in the 70s. The current version of the constitution was published on February 3, 1994. The Federal State consists of three regions with broad autonomy - Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussel) and three linguistic communities: Flemish, French and German (Flemish, French, German) . The competence of communities and regions is delimited.
The head of state is the king. His power is limited by the constitution. Article 106 of the constitution states: “No act of the King is valid unless it is signed by a minister, who thereby alone assumes responsibility.” Article 102 states that “in no case shall an oral or written order of the King relieve a minister of liability.” This ensures the principle formulated in Article 88: “The person of the King is inviolable; his ministers are responsible."
Legislative power is exercised jointly by the king and a bicameral parliament consisting of the House of Representatives (150 deputies) and the Senate (71 senators and crown prince Philip, Duke of Brabant, who is a "senator in right"). Members of the House of Representatives are elected by the people by direct and secret ballot using a system of proportional representation. The Senate is formed of: 40 senators elected by the population by direct vote (25 from Flanders and from the Flemish population of the Brussels region and 15 from Wallonia and from the French-speaking population of the Brussels region); 21 senators appointed by regional parliaments from among their deputies (10 each from Flanders and Wallonia and 1 from the German-speaking community); 10 co-opted senators (6 from Flanders and 4 from Wallonia). Adult children of the king can be senators by right. In October 1996, Princess Astrid announced her desire to take a seat in the Senate. The term of office of both chambers is 4 years. The federal parliament approves the federal government. Almost all the prerogatives of the national parliament - expressing no confidence in the government, approving the budget, approving laws - remain with the House of Representatives, while the role of the Senate is reduced to resolving disputes between regional authorities, amending the constitution and approving international treaties.
Regional parliaments:
Brussels Regional Council BRC. Parliament of a bilingual region. Consists of 75 deputies elected by the residents of Brussels and surrounding communities by direct vote for a term of five years. Forms the government of the capital region. The authorities of the Brussels-Capital Region, within the framework of their powers, govern the territory in which the population of the French-speaking and Flemish communities lives.
Walloon Regional Council. Consists of 75 deputies elected by direct vote for a term of five years in the southern French-speaking part of Belgium. Forms the government of Wallonia, which is located in Namur.
Flemish Regional Council. It is both the parliament of the Flanders region and the Flemish language community. It consists of 124 deputies, of which 118 are elected for a term of five years by direct vote in Flanders, and 6 deputies are appointed by the Brussels Regional Council from among the Flemish deputies of the Brussels Parliament, since the Flemish linguistic community also includes Dutch-speaking Brussels residents. The Council forms the government of Flanders, which operates in Brussels.
Francophone Community Council. The only parliament elected indirectly: it automatically included 75 deputies from the Walloon Regional Council and 16 Francophone deputies from the Brussels Regional Council. He forms the government of the French linguistic community, which meets in Brussels. The government and parliament of the French-speaking community are responsible for the issues within their competence in the territory of Wallonia, except for the eastern cantons, and also, together with the Flemish community, in the bilingual Brussels region.
Council of the German-speaking community. Consists of 25 deputies elected by direct vote for a period of 5 years. German-speaking Belgians live in the eastern cantons, which are part of Wallonia. Forms a government with its seat in Eupen.
Previously, deputies of the national parliament elected from a particular region automatically became members of regional parliaments. Now it is prohibited to combine two deputy mandates and only direct election of deputies to regional parliaments is allowed.
Executive branch carried out by the king and the federal government, which is appointed by the king and responsible to the House of Representatives of the federal parliament. The quantitative composition of the federal government (Council of Ministers) should not exceed 15 ministers. With the exception of the Prime Minister, it should be equally represented by Flemings and Francophones. The competence of the federal government extends only to the federal level and includes a limited range of issues. This is national defense foreign policy, maintenance internal order, national finances, main directions economic development, federal system of social protection, justice, healthcare, major scientific and cultural institutions of national importance.
Powers expanded local authorities authorities. To the areas already included in their sphere of activity are added agriculture, the conclusion of international agreements, Scientific research And international trade.
3. Macroeconomics of Belgium
The growth of gross domestic product in 1998 was expected at 2.7%, i.e. i.e. at a level quite close to the record level recent years– 2.9% in 1997. In subsequent years, GDP growth will also remain at a relatively high level, although it will have a natural downward trend (2.4% in 1999, 2.6% in 2000). The level of GDP production will largely depend on the degree of readiness of the country to withstand growing competition within the EU. Increased domestic demand is beginning to act as the main engine of economic growth. Personal consumption, already at its highest level in 1997, last decade(2.1%), in 1998 it increased even more (2.3%). This is facilitated by the continuing improvement in the labor market, extremely low inflation, and moderate wage growth - factors that strengthen consumer confidence and increase real incomes of the population. Favorable conditions in the domestic market simultaneously affected both the industrial sector and the service sector. In this regard, in 1998 there is no doubt that there will be a further increase in gross capital investment (up to 6.6%), including industrial investment (by 6.3%).
A small European country located on the eastern coast of the North Sea. Without the sea area, the area of the state is 30.5 thousand m2. In the north, Belgium borders on the Kingdom of the Netherlands, there is an eastern border with Germany and the Duchy of Luxembourg, and the Kingdom of Belgium has a southern and southwestern border with the French Republic. A total of 1385 km of border.
Traditionally, Belgium has three geographical regions:
1. Northwestern coastal lowland, consisting of polders and sand dunes (up to 100 m above sea level). A polder is a flat area protected by a dam from flooding.
2. A low plateau in the central part of the country, on which there are fertile plains.
3. Forested southern Ardennes upland. The Ardennes Mountains continue the ridge of the Rhine Slate Mountains. The highest peaks are located in the areas bordering Germany (up to 500 m above sea level).
The highest point in Belgium is Mount Botrange (694 m). The main rivers of the country are the Meuse and Scheldt, connected by a network of canals. Their origins are in France. The total length of the canals is hundreds of kilometers. Numerous locks and dams prevent flooding.
The coastal regions of Belgium are characterized by a mild and humid climate. The southeastern regions of the country are characterized by hot summers and cold winters. In some areas of the country it rains most of the year.
Despite its small size, Belgium is one of the most densely populated European countries. The population density here is 328 people per km2.
The population consists of several language groups:
- French;
- Flemish;
- German speaking.
Accordingly, the following languages are officially used in the state:
1. French. The language is widely spoken in the southern regions of the country - in Wallonia. It is spoken by more than three million people.
2. Flemish. Used in Flanders, northern Belgium. More than five million people in the country speak this language.
3. German. It is used by 67 thousand people living in the east of Wallonia (Liege region).
In the state, freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution. More than 70% of the country's residents are parishioners of the Roman Catholic Church. Also, there is a large number of Jews, Protestants. There are Greek Catholics and Anglicans. Muslims make up 2% of the total population.
The largest cities in the kingdom are Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Liege, Charleroi. The nine provinces are governed by governors appointed by the king.
To enter Belgium you must have a Schengen visa.
Economy of Belgium, priority sectors
Agricultural production and industry are actively developing in the country. All industries employ highly qualified workers. Half of the kingdom's output is exported.
Leading industries:
- Mechanical engineering (automotive industry);
- Chemical industry;
- Microelectronics;
- Pharmaceutical;
- Metallurgical;
- Diamond and diamond.
Belgium occupies a leading position in the world in the export of metals (non-ferrous, ferrous), and is a leader in the field of chemical production. There are no mineral reserves in the depths of the country. At the end of the twentieth century, the Belgians stopped mining coal. Therefore, hydrocarbons are supplied to the Netherlands, Algeria, and Middle Eastern countries. Coal is imported from the Republic of South Africa and the USA.
For the wood processing industry, raw materials are supplied by Germany, Finland, and China.
In the energy sector, the main share falls on the nuclear component - two nuclear power plants. Uranium concentrators are imported from France, Canada, the United States of America, and South Africa.
In the engineering industry, Belgium is known for its efficient food, electronics and electrical industries. The automobile assembly industry is developing well.
Largest quantity industrial enterprises is in:
- Liege;
- Namur;
- Monse;
- Charleroi.
There are more than two hundred companies operating in the biotechnology sector. In this industry, there are reliable connections between research organizations, university potential, and major economic players. The share of Belgian business in this industry in the total turnover in the European Union is 16%.
The kingdom does not produce its own cars. Low taxation on imports of automobile parts and the presence of highly qualified personnel contribute to the location of automobile assembly production in the country. Millions of cars are assembled annually at factories representing famous automobile brands.
The shipbuilding (ship repair) industry, concentrated in Antwerp, is well developed. This city, historically, is also a world center for trade and diamond cutting. Products from the Belgian glass and textile industries are popular.
Belgium has an excellent infrastructure and the country is an ideal logistics base. The capital, Brussels, is a strategic location. Leading European, Asian and North American companies have their headquarters in the city. international corporations. The main institutions of the European Union in Brussels. This is also where NATO headquarters is located. The capital's population exceeds one million people.
Sights of a small country
Cultural and political life The state is characterized by tolerance. The country has many unique attractions:
1. The ancient town of Tournai attracts tourists with its majestic architecture cathedral Notre Dame. Its simple, elegant Gothic design amazes all visitors. Inside the cathedral there are rare works of medieval artists.
2. From the observation platform of the Brussels Atomium you can enjoy the view of the wonderful park complex “Europe in Miniature”. The exhibitions and museums here present the life of ordinary Belgians. The Atomium houses a unique model - an iron molecule, which has been enlarged 165 million times.
Thousands of tourists come to the intersection of Oak and Bath streets in Brussels every day to see a miniature sculpture of a little boy peeing in a swimming pool. Manneken Pis is famous all over the world. For several centuries this statue has been a landmark of the capital. By the way, his name is Julien. He is very fashionable and has more than two thousand suits in his wardrobe.
The capital's Royal Museum displays thousands of paintings by famous artists.
The small town of Waterloo is famous for the fact that the French Emperor Napoleon lost a battle here that decided the outcome of the war. A visit to this place is interesting for all history buffs.
Here you can imagine how in 1815 the Anglo-Dutch troops, led by the Duke of Wellington, and the Prussian army, commanded by Marshal Blucher, clashed in battle with the Napoleonic army.
While in museum complex You can feel the spirit of that time and look at the personal belongings of the English commander. The museum is located in the building where this great Englishman once lived. In the exhibition of wax figures available here he is represented by great emperor- Napoleon.
This is not an exhaustive list; there are many different attractions in the country. There are numerous monuments from the Roman era and the Middle Ages. The inhabitants of this small kingdom are very proud of their cultural heritage, treat all cultural values with care.
Belgium is located in northwestern Europe and borders France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In the northwest it is washed by the North Sea.
Most of the country is flat, but abundantly dissected by hills and low hilly ridges. Despite its small size, the country's territory is clearly divided into three natural landscape zones: the coastal lowland plain surrounded by dunes and dissected by polders in the northwest, the low central plateau (High Fenn) and the Ardennes Upland in the southeast of the country. Cultivated landscapes predominate. The highest point is Botrange (694 m, Ardennes). The total area of the country is 30.5 thousand square meters. km.
The capital is Brussels.
Moderate marine, quite soft. The average annual temperature is about 12 C, January - from +3 C on the coast to -1 C in the Ardennes, July - 14-18 C. At the same time, there are often periods when the weather “stands out” of the seasonal rhythm - cool weather often comes in summer moist winds from the Atlantic, bringing long rains and relatively cold weather, and in winter these same sea cyclones bring warm and damp weather. Precipitation falls mainly in the autumn-winter period in the form of rain (from 700-900 mm in flat areas to 1200-1500 mm in the mountains). Relative humidity is quite high all year round.
Little Belgium boasts its diverse landscape - in the north there are dune landscapes of the seaside, in the central part - green rolling plain, in the south are the green lowlands of the Ardennes.
Introduction
Belgium is one of the small capitalist countries of Europe; Only Luxembourg and microstates are smaller than it. The territory of Belgium occupies only 30.5 thousand square meters. km and its population is about 10 million inhabitants.
Belgium is a highly industrialized country, almost entirely smoky with the smoke of factory chimneys, densely intertwined with steel rails and highways, with large cities and ports of European and international importance, and with extensive foreign economic ties.
With a relatively small population, Belgium is one of the most densely populated, highly urbanized states in the world, with a population of two national groups- Walloons and Flemings; a state that has managed to preserve to this day the freshness of folk customs and traditions, rooted in the depths of centuries, a country of museums and architectural monuments antiquity.
Economic-geographical location
Belgium borders the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France; only a narrow strip of the North Sea separates it from Great Britain. Within a radius of 250 km from Brussels, the capital of the country, there are such big cities, like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Lille, Reims. Thus, Belgium is located in the center of the most densely populated and industrialized Europe. Transport routes have long passed through its territory, connecting neighboring states with each other and with the North Sea. This geographical location contributed high level economic development and the establishment of extensive international relations and at the same time brought the country many troubles. There have been few wars in Western Europe that have bypassed Belgium.
Its location between the major Western European countries took on a new aspect due to the abolition of some customs restrictions on trade with neighboring countries, which, together with Belgium, united in 1957 to form the European Economic Community. Belgium is becoming geographical center communities where enterprises working for other countries of the “common market” are located. It is from here that it is most convenient to export to the Ruhr and Saar regions of Germany, Luxembourg, northern and eastern France, the Netherlands and the UK, the Belgian port of Antwerp is becoming one of the largest ports in Europe in terms of cargo turnover, and Brussels is becoming the administrative and financial capital of the “common market”. NATO headquarters is also located in Brussels. Many Western European countries are represented in the capital by three ambassadors or representatives “to the Belgian king”, to the NATO council and to the “common market”.
