THERE’S A CHANCE OF LEAVING
EURO-COMMISSION HOMELESS.
It’s time for her to move from Brussels

Flemish-Walloon "divorce suit" may pass in peace, but it wouldn’t be emotionally painful — first of all, thanks to the "no man’s Brussels" that remains the third federal unit of Belgium for now. Perhaps, Euro-Commission and Euro-Parliament should start looking for the new city for their head-quarters if they wouldn’t like to witness the sharing of property named "Brussels".

Belgium has chaired The EU since July of 2010. This is state with its own peculiar role in the process of European integration. Today, however, it is also the most vulnerable state, estimating from the point of preserving its integrity.

In order to understand the role of Belgium in the European Union we may just say that the very headquarters of the Euro-Commission and the Euro-Union itself are situated in Brussels. Digging the history a bit deeper we may see that in 1951 the Kingdom of Belgium co-founded the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) along with Netherlands, Luxemburg, France, the FRG and Italy. It became grounds for creating the European Economic Community (EEC), and afterwards, in 1992, the contemporary European Union itself. The latter eventually brought the continent to a new level of political integration.

We can hardly claim that choosing Brussels as the headquarters for Euro-Commission and Euro-Parliament was a mere accident. The same way of reasoning may be applied to the fact that Herman Van Rompuy, former Belgian Prime Minister, was elected as the first President of European Union in the end of 2009. Even the fact that Belgium has always been considered to be probably the main adherent of European integration, couldn’t have happened by a chance.

This country with the population of ten million people is multiethnic. More than a half of its native residents speak Flemish, above 40% speak French and a little more than 1% speak German. At that, immigrants make up approximately 15% of Belgium population — there are Italians, Poles, Turks, expatriates Arabians from North Africa and former Belgian Congo, for many years known as Zaire.

At first sight, country was perceived as an example of people speaking different languages and belonging to various cultures peacefully living side by side. Thanks to its prosperity, wealth and satiety Belgium seemed to be "European Union in small" to many people, and this is exactly the kind of thing advocates of European integration idea should have sought. But today this country is in the state of deep-seated political crisis. And the thing us not only that Belgium lacks appointed government and care-taker Prime-minister Yves Leterme had to temporarily fill in the job of EU chairman. The truth is as old as the hills — there are ethnic conflicts.

Belgium as a state appeared at the European map in 1830. Before that its territory belonged to Spain, empire of Habsburgers and to Holland for a short while. England took an active part in formation of Belgium statehood because it needed a buffer between its principal rivals — namely France and Germany. To a large extent country was formed artificially. Mind that it is populated by almost equal Flemish’ and Walloon’ communities. But Belgium managed to exist for 180 years now and not to fall into decay. Still, relationship between French-speaking Walloons and Flemings (whose language is closer to Dutch) are nothing but simple.

Throughout the history of Belgium, Walloons and Flemings have fought against each other for power and authority. Walloons were advancing for a long time, not only because of being native speakers of more widespread French language. In the 19th and the first half of 20th century coal mining industry of Wallonia was developing in a huge pace. In the sense of economics it was better developed than Flanders. Consequently, it were Walloons who took a dominant lead in the country, and French language had a higher status as opposed to Flemish.

After the Second World War huge changes took place. Coal mines were falling into desolation little by little and the very coal mining industry began to lose ground. More technologically advanced areas had been moving to the forefront. These areas were progressing generally in Flanders. So Fleming lands became donor region, and Walloon territory became subsidized area.

Gradually Fleming community took the role of political leadership. Their language, now being called "Netherlandish", became the second state language together with French. Since 1974 absolutely all Prime Ministers of Belgium were native Flemings. Since 1980 Belgium became a federal state comprised of three areas — Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels area.

But the problems didn’t go anywhere. French language remained to be "the first among the equals". Many Walloons were unwilling to learn French and so did the most part of immigrants who spoke French (if they had ever spoken it). And given all this, Flanders remained the donor-region. Such state of things irritated Flemings and some fractions became more active and were standing for greater autonomy of Fleming areas and even for the separation of Flanders from Belgium.

Up to a certain time separatists were not really popular. But everything changed sharply in 2007. Party "Vlaams Belang" (Flemish interest) that openly discussed the possibility of dividing of the country, gained more than 20% of votes. Fleming Christian democrats won the elections, being led by the current Prime Minister Yves Leterme. This politician is not an outright separatist actually, as long as he just called to increase authority of certain regions and to cut down Flanders’ assignments to federal budget of Belgium. But he used to say once: "There’s nothing in common between Flemings and Walloons, except for the King, national football team and the beer".

That was the time when the current political crisis started and it lasts still. It originates in the peculiarities Belgian legislation. According to this, government must include both Flemish and Walloon parties. French-speakers, insisting on the utmost centralization of Belgium were unwilling to unite with Flemings, who admitted the possibility of dividing of the country. They had no choice, though — there were no one but this kind of politicians who won the elections in Flanders. They had to deal with "moderate separatist" Leterme who used to be Prime Minister two times during last three years.

Meanwhile, the situation with the national issue became more and more complicated. So, in the end of 2006 certain French-speaking TV-channel shocked the viewers with the story about alleged separation of Flanders from Belgium — they’ve also said that there’s no more Belgium as a united country. It’s a surprise, but 89% of the viewers fell for this harmless joke. And prior to that Flemings were indignant with Walloon Robert Wasseige coaching the Belgian football team (to tell the truth, Flemings headed the team afterwards, but after 2002 the team was unable to make it to the World and Europe Championships so it became mostly a sports affair).

Beauty contests were also accompanied by bickering of national features. So, in 2008 and 2009 girls who won the "Miss Belgium" award were immigrants who have spoken only French. It’s quite understandable that Flemings were dissatisfied. In 2010 Fleming girl won again, and there was another scandal once again. Certain magazine published a collage depicting "Miss Belgium" together with separate party "New Flemish Alliance" leader Bart De Wever cutting the ribbon that dressed the woman right in the middle of the word "Belgium". That time Walloons were angry.

There were also certain discords between the Flemish and Walloon parties of the governing coalition. They were unable to come to an agreement about legitimacy of granting the new rights to the certain areas for the account of center and dividing certain district at the Brussels’ suburb into French- and Dutch-speaking parts. Cabinet has been constantly reformatting. Being tired of this mess, King Albert II made a decision to hold the preterm election on the 13th of June. Their resumes have shocked evereone.

Outright separatists from "New Flemish Alliance", "Vlaams Belang" and "List Dedecker" gained the overall of 45% of the votes. Given this, "Alliance" headed by the above-mentioned Bart De Wever got 29% and placed first. Having added the votes of Christian democrats, whose leader Yves Leterme was caught making the doubtful statements that could have hardly keep the Belgium unity, we’ll see that there are about 70% of votes for moderate and radical separatists.

Taking the election results and tradition of appointing Flemings to the post of Prime Minister into account, King Albert II authorized...De Wever to form a government. However there was no chance to do this before Belgium chairmanship in the EU. Belgian politicians announced that the new office wouldn’t be formed earlier than in autumn. For a while Leterme — who retired as far back as in April — was to perform the Prime Minister’s duties. And thus, he was also to formally head the EU.

But there’s a huge question: whether Belgium gets a new government or not. First of all, Walloons are not quite satisfied with the fact that they would have to form a bloc with separatist De Wever. In this case there’s an alternative — Elio de Rupo, leader of socialists who won in Wallonia can be the Prime-minister. This can however cause even greater dissatisfaction of Flemings.

First of all, de Rupo is ethnic Italian, son of immigrants. Flemings are known for having the highest level of intolerance for immigrants in the Western Europe. Second of all, his Dutch is rather bad and it irritates Flemings by itself. Finally, in the third place, de Rupo is gay. And this is what even the French-speakers may not accept. Flemings are famous for high religiosity and numerous practicing Catholics. So, they will have three reasons to make another step to division of the country at once.

When such things happen within Belgium itself, its authorities may not care about the EU business they have been honored to head. Given such background, the EU can’t stay indifferent to what happens in Belgium. The EU headquarters is located in Brussels, but this city is the principal stumbling stone for both Flemings and Walloons. Historically Brussels used to be a part of Brabant, one of Fleming lands, but today most part of its citizens speaks French. So, no one’s going to give up. The fuss about dividing the surrounding electoral districts of Brussels takes place not without reason.

It turns out that for the next six months the EU will be chaired by the country that is a huge pain in the neck. Due to the national-political oppositions growing louder, this country has no opportunity to form a stable government. There’s absolutely no guarantee, that outright separatists won’t be able to win the next elections and there will be no division of the country. It would be an enormous problem for the EU that considers the territorial integrity of its states-members as the one of its principal cornerstones.

But even if Belgium collapses, it wouldn’t mean that the EU will be the next. If it is to happen anyway, it won’t be the Belgium fault. Even the most arrant separatists stand for the independent Flanders to be a new member of the EU. Flemish-Walloon "divorce suit" may pass in peace, but it wouldn’t be emotionally painful — first of all, thanks to the "no man’s Brussels" that remains the third federal unit of Belgium for now.

Perhaps, Euro-Commission and Euro-Parliament should start looking for the new city for their head-quarters if they wouldn’t like to witness the sharing of property named "Brussels".

By Vadim Truhachev