Belgium

Basic information

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Mechanisms of Vertical Integration

National — sub-national linkages

Representatives of the regions and communities (three representatives each) participate in the Interdepartmental Commission for Sustainable Development (ICDO). Within the ICDO, these representatives have the role of “associated partners” and can provide comments in the preparation phase of the Federal Plan. Moreover, regional authorities can submit official comments and statements in the preparation of the Federal Plan.

As the Federal Plan is only binding for the federal level, there are no obligations for the sub-national levels. For the implementation of objectives and targets of the Federal Plan that relate to sub-national competencies, so-called “cooperation agreements” need to be signed between the political levels – this is a mandatory process provided for in the constitution. The adoption of a NSDS, which would be applicable for the national as well as sub-national levels, will imply a stronger cooperation between the different political levels.

The region of Flanders has developed a regional SD strategy. Moreover, LA 21 initiatives have been developed by numerous municipalities. However, theses strategies/initiatives deal exclusively with sub-national issue and there is no link to the Federal Plan.

EU linkages

The renewed EU Strategy for Sustainable Development (EU SDS) that was adopted in June 2006 foresees that Member States bi-annually report about how they address the priorities of the EU SDS. Belgium has published its first national report on implementing the EU SDS in June 2007. In the context of the 2009 review of the EU-SDS Belgium has actively participated in the Friends of the Presidency meetings.

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Mechanisms of Horizontal Integration

Horizontal coordination is undertaken by the Interdepartmental Commission for Sustainable Development (ICDO), which is responsible for drafting the Federal Plan for Sustainable Development as well as for coordination issues and overseeing its follow-up. The ICDO is chaired by the Minister competent for Sustainable Development, currently the minister of Climate and Energy, and composed of representatives from all Government ministries and from the sub-national levels.

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Evaluation and Review

A legal act of May 1997 established the need for an evaluation process. The implementation of the Federal Plan for SD 2004-2008 is the responsibility of each federal government member and each federal public service (FPS). Through an annual action plan, each FPS indicates which policy measures it will execute during that year and how it will execute these measures. The SD unit of each FPS prepares this action plan. Two monitoring mechanisms are in place:

The first is the reporting system within the Interdepartmental Commission for Sustainable Development (ICDO). In their annual reports to the ICDO, representatives of the Government ministries explain how the current Federal Plan is implemented. This allows the secretariat of the ICDO to supervise the implementation of the Federal Plan. Furthermore, the annual activity reports of the ICDO (including the activities of individual ministries) are submitted to the Federal Government and the Parliament and later made publicly available. The second type of monitoring mechanism are the biannual SD reports by the Task Force on SD of the Federal Planning Bureau. These reports contribute to the preparation of the next Federal Plan as well as to political decision-making and the public debate in general. Since 1999, five reports have been published. The fifth evaluation report entitled 'Sustainable Development Indicators, Objectives and Visions' was issued in October 2009. Here you may find a brief outline in English.

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Indicators and Monitoring

Sustainable development indicators (SDIs) are included in the biannual SD reports by the Task Force on SD of the Federal Planning Bureau. Based on this reporting, the Task Force drew up a "Strategic table with SDIs", containing 88 indicators on 51 issues. All these indicators are classified within the DPSR framework (driving force, pressure, state, response).

The fifth Federal Report on Sustainable Development, published by the Federal Planning Bureau in October 2009, contributes to the debate on instruments for measuring the progress of societies. It presents a large structured set of 88 indicators and a concise set of 18 indicators reflecting policy priorities. The report also discusses some synthetic indicators, such as the ecological footprint and the human development index. Based on the analysis, the report formulates ten recommendations on tools for measuring progress. The report is available in French and Dutch.

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Participation

A legally mandatory general consultation period of three months on the draft Federal Plan for SD has to be organised during the preparation of each plan.

As far as stakeholder involvement is concerned, the Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FCSD) plays an important role in the process of drafting the Federal Plans. The FCSD consists of representatives of the employers’ federation, trade unions, energy suppliers, consumer protection organisations, environmental protection organisations, development cooperation organisations and scientific experts. Firstly, the Federal Government is obliged to submit the draft Federal Plan to the FCSD. The FCSD has then 90 days to submit an advice to the Government. Secondly, when drawing up the Federal Plan, the Government has to give an explanation when not taking into account the advice of the FCSD.

For a detailed documentation of all advisory and participatory councils (for SD and/or the environment) in this country, please go to the EEAC website at http://www.eeac-net.org/bodies/belgium/belg_frame.htm and click on one of the listed institutions.

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Sub-national activities

The Flanders Region created the first Flemish Strategy for SD adopted by the Flemish government in 2006. The Flemish Strategy for SD focuses on:

• Building on international agreements and realising synergy with national and international commitments. The Flemish Strategy for SD is based on internationally agreed texts and the EU SDS, in the context of the Flemish policy;
• Realising synergy between and integration of the social, ecological and economic aspects of sustainable development;
• Within the Flemish public administration, a working group on SD has been established (with a delegate of each department) that coordinates the policy for SD between all departments. A ‘Team Sustainable Development’ is responsible for the coordination and presidency of this working group.
• The commitment of and cooperation between the parties involved: the government, companies, civil society, stakeholders, etc, with an emphasis on the responsibility of each party. Ownership is of key importance. Cooperation between the Flemish government, stakeholders, local governments, advisory bodies and scientific institutions is vital.
• Striving for good governance: the way governance is executed and evaluated is essential.

The Flemish Parliament Act on SD provides the basis for ensuring a continuing commitment to sustainable development. Also on the basis of the Flemish Parliament Act on SD, 12 thematic projects will be executed in cooperation between the different departments. The 12 themes are based on themes described in the EU SDS:

• sustainable building and housing
• corporate social responsibility
• education for sustainable development
• sustainable agriculture
• environment and health
• sustainable mobility
• sustainable use of water
• sustainable consumption and production patterns
• scientific research and innovation policy
• sustainable spatial planning
• gender
• global fight against HIV/AIDS

Since the ratification and promulgation of the Flemish Parliament Act for the promotion of sustainable development on 18 July 2008, Flanders now has a legal basis, just like the federal government, which guarantees continuity in the sustainable development policy.

More information :
Flemish Government, Services for the General Government Policy Department, Team Sustainable Development
Oda Walpot (Director)
Ine Baetens (International policy)
Boudewijnlaan 30, bus 20, room 7A17
1000 Brussel
Tel. 02-553 54 44 - Fax 02-553 59 59
ine.baetens@dar.vlaanderen.be
oda.walpot@dar.vlaanderen.be
www.vlaanderen.be/duurzameontwikkeling

The Walloon Region adopted a project of decree to integrate environmental, social and ethical clauses in its public contracts:

• The Government adopted the final version of an initial circular on 23 April 2009, published in the Official Belgian Gazette on 13 May 2009.  This circular pertains to the use of lubricants compatible with the environment in hydraulic installations for rivers in the Walloon Region. 
• A second circular adopted by the Government, likewise on 23 April, was published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 26 May 2009.  This circular pertains to intrusive exotic species.
• The third circular concerns copying and printing paper. It will be published soon.
• The fourth circular concerns the ecological performance of vehicles (it should be noted that the department responsible for these purchases had already anticipated that it would be adopted, and already uses Ecoscore in these contracts). The circular will also be published soon.

Some departments have already included environmental clauses in their specifications, on a voluntary basis (by relying on the federal guidelines for sustainable procurement, the Ecoconso network, etc.). Other circulars should be drawn up from the outset of the new legislatures and that a framework law targeting the objectives will be enacted.

More information:
Raphaël LAMBOIS
Attaché Développement Durable
Direction de la Politique Environnementale
DGARNE
SPW -Service Public de Wallonie
PROMIBRA 2 - 07 - +0711
Avenue Prince de Liège 15
5100   Jambes (Namur)
Belgium
email: raphael.lambois@spw.wallonie.be
phone: +32 (81) 33.63.01

Brussels-Capital Region: With regard to SD, the policy of the Brussels-Capital Region relies on several concrete legislative acts, such as the Regional Development Plan (RDP) or the Regional Land Use Plan (Plan Régional d’Affectation du Sol, PRAS).

Adopted in 2002, the Regional Development Plan (RDP) is a strategic orientation plan which sets the development objectives and priorities for the region. It covers all the issues over which the region has jurisdiction or which contribute to its development: housing, economy, employment, mobility, environment, security, research, heritage, tourism, commerce, culture, and social policy. The RDP heads up other plans developed over the last few years, such as the Regional Land Use Plan (PRAS), in effect since 29 June 2001, which constitutes the reference plan for land development. The municipalities can also adopt their own municipal plans, such as Municipal Development Plans (Plans Communaux de Développement, PCD), Special Land Use Plans (Plans particuliers d'affectation du sol, PPAS) or Municipal Zoning Regulations (Règlements communaux d'urbanisme, RCU).

In addition, the Brussels-Capital Region implements wide-ranging environmental action plans, e.g. the Iris Plan, a regional transport plan, includes a series of measures dealing with urban facilities, public transport (metro, RER), automobile traffic, pedestrians, bicycles and transport of goods to decrease the need for motorised transport or the Air-Climate Plan aims to decrease pollutants emitted by road traffic through in particular a policy of reduction in road traffic volume and technological improvement of the vehicles in operation.

Moreover, Brussels Environment, the regional administration for the environment and energy, is integrating several of its initiatives in favour of SD into the socio-economic context of the region. Its activities are directed toward all those involved: businesses, public administrations, households, and schools.

Activities to promote the local Agendas 21 of the municipalities: “Agenda Iris 21” call for projects: In its governmental agreement of 2005-2009, the government of Brussels committed itself to the path of S, notably through the support of Local Agendas 21. In this context, the Minister of the Environment and her Brussels Environment administration launched a first call for projects to the municipalities in 2005. As of 2007, a new initiative was launched to promote real Local Agendas 21 by means of an “Agenda Iris 21” call for projects to the municipalities and CPAS (Public Social Welfare Centres) of the Brussels Region who wish to become involved in the definition of their Local Agenda 21 or implement projects which move toward more SD. In the framework of the first call for projects in 2008, 8 municipalities and one CPAS were able to get involved, with the financial and methodological support of the region. In addition, 5 more targeted projects were also supported. Following the second call in 2009, 4 additional municipalities and 3 CPAS also became involved in the elaboration of their local Agenda 21. Four specific pilot projects have also been accepted for 2009. In all, 12 municipalities and 4 CPAS are currently pursuing this approach in the Brussels-Capital Region.

More information:
Pascale ALAIME
Bruxelles Environnement - IBGE
Service DD et Eco-comportement
Gulledelle 100
1200 Bruxelles
Belgium
email : pal@ibgebim.be
phone : +32 (2) 775.77.50
fax : +32 (2) 775.76.21

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This Country Profile has been last updated on: Wednesday, 10 February 2010

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