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The '''municipalities with linguistic facilities''' or '''municipalities with facilities''' ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]: "''faciliteitengemeenten''", [[French language|French]]: "''communes à facilités''") are a group of [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[municipalities]] with special law provisions to protect rights of [[linguistic]] [[minority|minorities]].
The '''municipalities with linguistic facilities''' or '''municipalities with facilities''' ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]: "''faciliteitengemeenten''", [[French language|French]]: "''communes à facilités''") are a group of [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[municipalities]] with special law provisions to protect rights of their (historic) [[linguistic]] [[minority|minorities]].


Basically, inhabitants of these municipalities which do no speak the language of the Region, e.g. French-speakers in [[Flanders]] and Dutch-speakers in [[Wallonia]], may obtain all administrative documents in their mother tongue.
Basically, inhabitants of these municipalities which do no speak the language of the Region, e.g. French-speakers in [[Flanders]] and Dutch-and German-speakers in [[Wallonia]], and French-speakers in the German language area may obtain all administrative documents from local public authorities in their mother tongue. In addition, in certain such municipalities, there are also publicly funded schools for the language minority, as well as railway services. For public services and documents from higher authorities (as provinces and Flemish authority), such rights do not exist, or to a very limited measure (e.g. certain summary information).

⚫
== History ==
The roots of these facilities lie in he sixties when Flemish emancipation towards equal rights lead to the constitutional establishment of 4 linguistic areas, each with it's legally protected official language: the Flemish area (now also corresponding with the [[Flemish Region]]), which is Dutch-speaking, the Brussels area (now the [[Brussels Capital Region]], which is bilingual French-Dutch, the Walloon area (mostly French-speaking, except for the German language area along the border with Germany).

One, among many, of the triggers to the establishment of these linguistic areas was in [[1958]] the public unrest between French-speakers and Dutch-speakers during the [[1958 Brussels World Exhibition|Brussels World Exhibition]], e.g. at [[Wemmel]]. The then Belgian authorities had organised these events giving a exclusively French-speaking image towards the world. That kind of attitudes from the then mainly French-speaking Belgian elite was deeply ressented all over [[Flanders]].

Before [[1961]]: last linguistic census in Belgium. The way these censussen were conducted was equally ressented in Flanders. It had proven a conduct for the establisment of ever more French-speakers in the Flemish villages around Brussels, where most of these new arrivals were unwilling to respect the Dutch-speaking and Flemish character of those areas. Most of those French-speakjers felt as if they did not have to respect the equal rights of the local Flemish population, this is, as if they had superior rights. Once the number of Frenh-speakers went beyond 50% (at certain points even those considering themselves as 'bilingual' were added in), the municipality was transferred towards the Brussels area, French acquired official status, and the de facto political and administrative life rapidly became dominated by French-speakers, many of the unilingual migrants from Wallonia and Brussels.. Trough this mechanism, the Brussels area grew from 6 municipalities in 1830 towards 19 bin 1963.
Needless to say that the ressentment in Flanders deepened, and more and more frictions arose.

The current French-speaking majorities in the six municipalities with language facilities around Brussels are, according all scientific evidence, mainly the result from immigration of French-speakers from [[Brussels]] and [[Wallonia]].

That situation around Brussels (in the so-called 'rim municipalities', see below) differs fondamentally from the situation along the border between Flanders and Wallonia, and between the german and French-speaking areas in Wallonia. There, certain municipalities have had linguistic minorities since several centuries. The language border appears quite stable and peacefull (except for the municipalities of [[Voeren]] and to a much lesser extent [[Komen-Moeskroen]].

⚫
[[1962]] and [[August 2]] [[1963]]'s laws.


== Actual implementation of linguistic facilities ==
Currently, both [[Flemings]] and French-speakers voice complaints about poor or absent respect by certain authorities for their linguistic rights. It is quite difficult to assess and appreciate the true nature and extent of these illegal situations. Both competent Belgian and Europea Courts are frequently sollicited to arbitrate. Political discussions are often held in various competent assemblies as the [[Belgian Parliament]] (which is institutionally competent in these matters), and in the regional and community parliaments assemblies. Even assemblies without any legal competency at all (as the [[Council of Europe]] (COE) became involved.

In terms of objective observations, one notes:

1. That the Flemish authorities finance French-speaking schools in the Flemish municipalities with facilities for the French-speakers (see below for a list; annual subvention nearly 10 million Euro); in contrast, the authorities of the French-speaking community don't finance Dutch-speaking schools in the [[Walloon]] municipalities with facilities for the [[Flemings]] (both are legally required to do so).

2. That [[Flemings]] who migrate towards [[Wallonia]] integrate fairly well, wheras many French-speakers migrating to the Flemish region don't, or only partially.

3. In terms of local public services and communication, it seems that the Flemish municipalities with facilities have a fairy correct bilingual communication (e.g. theur websites are nicely bi- or even multi-lingual), whereas Walloon municipalities with facilities appear heavily monolingual in their general communication towards their inhabitants (no bilingual website known around early 2004).

4. That Belgian courts are extremely reluctant to arbitrate in all matters related to the linguistic and ethnic rights of the various ethnic and linguistic groups in Belgium.

== Recent trends ==
Given the continuing refusal of many French-speakers who migrate(d) towards the 'rim municipalities', the [[Flemings]] grew more and more dissatisfied by this growing body of French-speakers that militantly deny the Flemish legislation and the Flemish character of these areas. As a result, there is now a nearly consensus in [[Flanders]] that the current linguistic facilities cannot be maintained, especially around Brussels. For the facilities in the municipalities with historic minorities on the Walloon-Flemish border, there is still a willingness to consider maintaining them on condition of strict reciprocity (that these facilities are also re-established in practice in the corresponding Walloon cities)

Clearly, the nationalist French-speakers want to maintain all current facilities in [[Flanders]], extend them in scope and in area. This would result in a de facto extension of the bilingual aea of Brussels. Many French-speaking political parties especially protested against the Flemish ministerial circular letters from the socialist minister [[Leo Peeters]]. Their complaint with the [[Council of State]] is still pending.

However, the Flemish point of view is also shared by a several well known French-speaking personalities as the philosopher [[Philippe Van Parijs]], holder of the prestigious Hoover Chair at the [http://www.ucl.ac.be/en/intro.html Catholic University of Louvain], the Univerité Catholique de Louvain (UCL).

[[Lili Nabholz-Haidegger]], a [[Switzerland|Swiss]] deputy, made a report on [[September 5]], [[2002]] inviting Belgium to recognise the fact that there is a French-speaking minority in Flanders. This report was approved by the [[Council of Europe]]. However, this assembly, contrary to the Belgian and regional legislators, and to the Belgian en European judiciary, has no legal competency in these matters! Moreover, this recommendation is seen by several experts as on legally unstable grounds as there is no definition of national minorities (not from EU legislation, nor from any other competent international body), nor did it include any such definition that is sufficiently suitable to gain international acceptance.


== List of municipalities with facilities ==
== List of municipalities with facilities ==
Line 47: Line 84:
*[[Raeren]]
*[[Raeren]]
*[[Sankt Vith]] (French: Saint-Vith)
*[[Sankt Vith]] (French: Saint-Vith)

⚫
== History ==
''This is a stubby section - it needs clean up and more information''

[[1958]]: Public unrest between French-speakers and Dutch-speakers during the [[1958 Brussels World Exhibition|Brussels World Exhibition]], e.g. at [[Wemmel]].

Before [[1961]]: last linguistic census in Belgium.

⚫
[[1962]] and [[August 2]] [[1963]]'s laws.

Flemish ministerial circular letters: [[Wilfried Martens|Martens]] (?) and Peeters circular letters.

[[Lili Nabholz-Haidegger]], a [[Switzerland|Swiss]] deputy, made a report on [[September 5]], [[2002]] inviting Belgium to recognise the fact that there is a French-speaking minority in Flanders. This report was approved by the [[Council of Europe]].


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 08:26, 27 September 2004

The municipalities with linguistic facilities or municipalities with facilities (Dutch: "faciliteitengemeenten", French: "communes à facilités") are a group of Belgian municipalities with special law provisions to protect rights of their (historic) linguistic minorities.

Basically, inhabitants of these municipalities which do no speak the language of the Region, e.g. French-speakers in Flanders and Dutch-and German-speakers in Wallonia, and French-speakers in the German language area may obtain all administrative documents from local public authorities in their mother tongue. In addition, in certain such municipalities, there are also publicly funded schools for the language minority, as well as railway services. For public services and documents from higher authorities (as provinces and Flemish authority), such rights do not exist, or to a very limited measure (e.g. certain summary information).

History

The roots of these facilities lie in he sixties when Flemish emancipation towards equal rights lead to the constitutional establishment of 4 linguistic areas, each with it's legally protected official language: the Flemish area (now also corresponding with the Flemish Region), which is Dutch-speaking, the Brussels area (now the Brussels Capital Region, which is bilingual French-Dutch, the Walloon area (mostly French-speaking, except for the German language area along the border with Germany).

One, among many, of the triggers to the establishment of these linguistic areas was in 1958 the public unrest between French-speakers and Dutch-speakers during the Brussels World Exhibition, e.g. at Wemmel. The then Belgian authorities had organised these events giving a exclusively French-speaking image towards the world. That kind of attitudes from the then mainly French-speaking Belgian elite was deeply ressented all over Flanders.

Before 1961: last linguistic census in Belgium. The way these censussen were conducted was equally ressented in Flanders. It had proven a conduct for the establisment of ever more French-speakers in the Flemish villages around Brussels, where most of these new arrivals were unwilling to respect the Dutch-speaking and Flemish character of those areas. Most of those French-speakjers felt as if they did not have to respect the equal rights of the local Flemish population, this is, as if they had superior rights. Once the number of Frenh-speakers went beyond 50% (at certain points even those considering themselves as 'bilingual' were added in), the municipality was transferred towards the Brussels area, French acquired official status, and the de facto political and administrative life rapidly became dominated by French-speakers, many of the unilingual migrants from Wallonia and Brussels.. Trough this mechanism, the Brussels area grew from 6 municipalities in 1830 towards 19 bin 1963. Needless to say that the ressentment in Flanders deepened, and more and more frictions arose.

The current French-speaking majorities in the six municipalities with language facilities around Brussels are, according all scientific evidence, mainly the result from immigration of French-speakers from Brussels and Wallonia.

That situation around Brussels (in the so-called 'rim municipalities', see below) differs fondamentally from the situation along the border between Flanders and Wallonia, and between the german and French-speaking areas in Wallonia. There, certain municipalities have had linguistic minorities since several centuries. The language border appears quite stable and peacefull (except for the municipalities of Voeren and to a much lesser extent Komen-Moeskroen.

1962 and August 2 1963's laws.


Actual implementation of linguistic facilities

Currently, both Flemings and French-speakers voice complaints about poor or absent respect by certain authorities for their linguistic rights. It is quite difficult to assess and appreciate the true nature and extent of these illegal situations. Both competent Belgian and Europea Courts are frequently sollicited to arbitrate. Political discussions are often held in various competent assemblies as the Belgian Parliament (which is institutionally competent in these matters), and in the regional and community parliaments assemblies. Even assemblies without any legal competency at all (as the Council of Europe (COE) became involved.

In terms of objective observations, one notes:

1. That the Flemish authorities finance French-speaking schools in the Flemish municipalities with facilities for the French-speakers (see below for a list; annual subvention nearly 10 million Euro); in contrast, the authorities of the French-speaking community don't finance Dutch-speaking schools in the Walloon municipalities with facilities for the Flemings (both are legally required to do so).

2. That Flemings who migrate towards Wallonia integrate fairly well, wheras many French-speakers migrating to the Flemish region don't, or only partially.

3. In terms of local public services and communication, it seems that the Flemish municipalities with facilities have a fairy correct bilingual communication (e.g. theur websites are nicely bi- or even multi-lingual), whereas Walloon municipalities with facilities appear heavily monolingual in their general communication towards their inhabitants (no bilingual website known around early 2004).

4. That Belgian courts are extremely reluctant to arbitrate in all matters related to the linguistic and ethnic rights of the various ethnic and linguistic groups in Belgium.

Given the continuing refusal of many French-speakers who migrate(d) towards the 'rim municipalities', the Flemings grew more and more dissatisfied by this growing body of French-speakers that militantly deny the Flemish legislation and the Flemish character of these areas. As a result, there is now a nearly consensus in Flanders that the current linguistic facilities cannot be maintained, especially around Brussels. For the facilities in the municipalities with historic minorities on the Walloon-Flemish border, there is still a willingness to consider maintaining them on condition of strict reciprocity (that these facilities are also re-established in practice in the corresponding Walloon cities)

Clearly, the nationalist French-speakers want to maintain all current facilities in Flanders, extend them in scope and in area. This would result in a de facto extension of the bilingual aea of Brussels. Many French-speaking political parties especially protested against the Flemish ministerial circular letters from the socialist minister Leo Peeters. Their complaint with the Council of State is still pending.

However, the Flemish point of view is also shared by a several well known French-speaking personalities as the philosopher Philippe Van Parijs, holder of the prestigious Hoover Chair at the Catholic University of Louvain, the Univerité Catholique de Louvain (UCL).

Lili Nabholz-Haidegger, a Swiss deputy, made a report on September 5, 2002 inviting Belgium to recognise the fact that there is a French-speaking minority in Flanders. This report was approved by the Council of Europe. However, this assembly, contrary to the Belgian and regional legislators, and to the Belgian en European judiciary, has no legal competency in these matters! Moreover, this recommendation is seen by several experts as on legally unstable grounds as there is no definition of national minorities (not from EU legislation, nor from any other competent international body), nor did it include any such definition that is sufficiently suitable to gain international acceptance.

List of municipalities with facilities

Municipalities in Flanders with French-language facilities

In Flanders there are two kinds of municipalities with facilities. Rim municipalities (randgemeenten in Dutch) are situated in the Flemish rim around the Brussels-Capital Region and form part of Flemish Brabant. The other municipalities are called language border municipalities (taalgrensgemeenten in Dutch) because they lie close to the border with Wallonia.

Rim municipalities

Wezembeek-Oppem and Kraainem are sometimes referred to as the "Oostrand" (literally "East rim" in English).

Language border municipalities

Municipalities in Wallonia with Dutch-language facilities

Municipalities in Wallonia with German-language facilities

Municipalities in Wallonia belonging to the German language region with French-language facilities

See also

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