Single country profile
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Belgium|
Content: |
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Basic information
| Year of approval of the SD strategy and updates |
A framework for a National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) was agreed on in April 2014, however due to the adoption of the 2030ASD the NSDS will be adjusted in September 2016. Being a federal state, adopting and adjusting a NSDS requires the coordination between the Federal State, the Communities (Flemish, French and German-speaking) and the Regions (Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels-Capital). Art. 7bis of the Belgian Constitution establishes that every federal entity is pursuing the objectives of a sustainable development, in its social, economic and environmental dimensions, taking into account solidarity between generations. The federal entities are on an equal footing but have powers and responsibilities for different fields. The implementation of the SDGs is therefore a shared responsibility between these authorities taking into account their respective competencies. To achieve a NSDS and in view of furthering coherence in the implementation of SD policies in Belgium, an Interministerial Conference for Sustainable Development (IMCSD) – gathering the respective ministers in charge of SD and Development Cooperation of the different authorities – was established in 2012. This SD interministerial conference has been mandated to follow-up the implementation of the Agenda in Belgium including by to coordinating the preparation of reports on progress made and challenges faced. As a federal state, Belgium also has a Federal Strategy for Sustainable development and Regional Strategies for Sustainable Development, which all have the same status. Federal State: • The Interdepartmental Commission for Sustainable Development (ICSD), which is in charge of the planning and monitoring part of the process; supported since 2002 by the Federal Public Planning Service for SD, transformed in 2013 into the Federal Institute for Sustainable Development • The Task Force on Sustainable Development (TFSD) of the Federal Planning Bureau (FPB) in charge of the reporting part on current situation and policy evaluations and on forecasting • And the Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FCSD), as the stakeholders advisory council, to organize the participation of major groups to SD policy-making. The Act of May 1997 defines a federal Long Term Vision (LTV) on sustainable development. This LTV was adopted by Royal Decree in 2013. It contains 55 long terms (2050) objectives and proposes a set of indicators to report on the progress towards reaching these objectives. The LTV is the reference framework for the federal Strategy on SD and the activities of the institutions defined in this Act. The Act of May 97 also calls for the preparation of Federal Plans for Sustainable Development and federal Reports on Sustainable development. As a consequence of the institutional setup of Belgium, the objectives of the Federal Plan for Sustainable Development (FPSD) only concern the federal and not the regional level. The first Federal Plan for Sustainable Development (FPSD) was valid for the period 2000-04, drafted by the TFSD of the FPB and further elaborated by the ICSD. The second FPSD was scheduled to run from 2004-08 and prepared by the ICSD. This second FPSD has been extended due to the revision of the Parliamentary Act of May 1997 and remains the current federal SD Plan. A draft of third plan had been prepared in 2008 but first delayed: revising the Act in 2010 to simplify certain instruments led to long discussions, and eventually cancellation because in 2011 the ICSD needed time to prepare the LTV. As such it was not possible to update the draft of the third plan. In 2013 the ICSD began to prepare a new draft of third plan, the current government received the draft in January 2015. However, a public consultation which is a mandatory step of the process has yet to happen. Due to this delay there is the opportunity to update the draft to the 2030ASD. Seven Federal Reports on Sustainable Development have been published from 1999 to 2015 by the Federal Planning Bureau and serve as a basis for the Federal Plans. The first and sixth contain a critical assessment on the implementation of the commitments made since 1992. The five other reports also assess the situation, the strategy and the carried out policies. They also describe foresight scenarios up to 2050 and transversal tools to translate these commitments into reality. The reports are communicated to the federal minister in charge of SD, as well as to the ICSD, the Council of Ministers, the legislative chambers, the Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FCSD), the governments of the regional authorities as well as to all official international organizations which were established as a result of or were associated with the multilateral SD Conferences. Flanders The first Flemish strategy for SD was developed in 2006, to a large extent based upon the thematic priorities of the European SD strategy (EU SDS).The second Flemish strategy for SD was adopted on 29 April 2011. Based upon the experiences and the intense revision of the first strategy for SD, the second strategy for SD has resulted in a strategic note with a long term vision and objectives that incorporate the existing action plans of the Flemish Government (Flanders in Action, Pact 2020) for the short and medium term. The idea being that an effective strategy for SD should link, strengthen, inspire and align existing plans. In March 2016, the Flemish Government presented its new strategic outlook for the future: “Vision 2050: a long-term strategy for Flanders”. This forward-looking policy document sets out a vision for an inclusive, open, resilient and internationally connected region that creates prosperity and well-being for its citizens in a smart, innovative and sustainable manner. The third Flemish Strategy for SD is integrated in this long term strategy. For this, the evaluation of the previous Flemish Strategy for SD was taken into account.
Vision 2050 is supported by several key areas of action (‘transition priorities’) initiated by the Flemish Government: - Circular economy - Smart living - Industry 4.0 - Lifelong learning and a dynamic professional career - Healthcare and welfare - Transport and mobility - Energy
The implementation of these transition priorities will be cross-sectoral and in collaboration with innovators, entrepreneurs and stakeholders. Therefore a new governance model was developed, inspired by transition management principles.
Download the complete document ‘Vision 2050: a long-term strategy for Flanders’ here (only available in Dutch; an English overview will be available soon). Wallonia According to the decree and following a first strategy adopted in October 2013, the second Walloon sustainable development strategy was adopted on the 7th of July 2016. This second strategy aims at putting in concrete form some paths of transition and contributes to the implementation of the 2030 SD Agenda and the SDGs. It also aims at improving the social responsibility and the exemplary nature of the public services in Wallonia. The strategy includes 4 chapters: · The first chapter provides a long term vision by 2050 around the following four axes: living in Wallonia, living in the world, living beyond 2050 and governance. It gives direction to all the Walloon actors to continue the transition to a sustainable development in Wallonia. · The second chapter consists in a diagnosis which describes the current situation in Wallonia using 40 indicators. · The third chapter deals with short and mid-term objectives. Given the international agenda, the SDGs are used in this framework. · The fourth chapter includes a focused action plan which complements other existing and future plans such as the 4.0 Marshall plan (revival plan developed for the Walloon economy) or the plan to fight poverty. It comprises 100 actions related to the shift in consumption and production patterns in food, energy and resources and to cross-cutting tools such as participative dynamics, information and awareness raising, education and research, social responsibility of private and public organizations, sustainable public procurement and involvement of Wallonia at the international level. A public consultation on the long-term vision and the action plan, first and fourth chapters of the strategy, was undertaken from end of February 2016 to the 1st of May. The outcome of the consultation has been taken into account in the final text. In parallel to this consultation, the public was invited to post on the website commitments or projects aiming at contributing to the priorities of the action plan and therefore to the transition to a sustainable development in Wallonia.
Brussels-Capital
Region On 5 December 2013, the Government adopted a draft of the Regional Sustainable Development Plan. This plan is a strategic tool to address the challenges mentioned above in a comprehensive and coherent manner. It sets priorities to make the Brussels-Capital Region more attractive, more inclusive socially, economically, more competitive, more creative in research, greener and efficient in the use of energy and resources. The current government is planning to launch a public consultation on the Regional Sustainable Development Plan in the following months. It will be adapted to take into account the outcome of the public consultation and to meet priorities of the current governmental agreement (2014-2019). Through its “agenda‐Iris‐21” programme, Brussels Environment also provides financial and methodological support since 2007 to municipalities and public centres for social assistance (CPAS) implementing local Agenda 21 projects. In practice, it includes several chokepoints: a preliminary diagnosis, consultation of stakeholders and the drafting of a concerted action plan (or program) involving all stakeholders. The support program of municipalities and CPAS "Iris Agenda 21" is carried by Brussels Environment, the environmental administration in the Brussels-Capital. This support takes the form of an annual call for projects. Two types of projects are eligible: 1. The implementation of a Local Agenda 21 ( the 6th call was launched in 2016) 2. The realization of an exemplary sustainable project (Call for thematic projects launched every year since 2012) The Partner for the Agenda Iris 21 is the Association of the City and the Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region (AVCB/VSGB) which provides training, support, advice and information to all participants. After 8 years of support, 26 local Agenda projects have been financed (17 municipalities and 9 Social centers). 21 Local Agendas 21 have been politically approved and are implemented. To support the implementation, a financial support via calls for thematic projects is offered by the Brussels Capital-Region.
German speaking community |
| Type of SD strategy |
The national SD strategy has long term goals inspired by the 2030ASD which are pursued by all federal authorities. It provides coherence for strategies elaborated by every Belgian federal authority. The federal SD strategy is a ‘report-plan-do-check-act-cycle’ governed by law. It outlines a program of measures (Federal Plan SD) the Federal Government has to implement in view of its international and European engagements relating to sustainable development, as well as to the objectives contained in the long-term vision for SD. The Flanders SD strategy is a long-term strategy which focuses on several key areas of action initiated by the Flemish Government: the seven transition priorities. It endorses the 17 SDG’s. The Wallonia SD strategy is a long-term and broad strategy which includes a more targeted action plan, focused on changing consumption and production patterns in 3 fields (food, energy and resources) and on cross-cutting tools. It complements other existing and future Walloon global or sector-specific plans. The
Brussels-Capital Region strategy |
| Lead ministry/institution in the SD strategy process |
National Federal Federal Institute for Sustainable Development Simon Callewaert (attaché international
policy) Federal Planning Bureau, Task force Sustainable development
Flanders Sustainable Development Unit Filip François Nancy Matthys Filip.francois@kb.vlaanderen.be Nancy.matthys@kb.vlaanderen.be www.do.vlaanderen.be Wallonia The department on Sustainable development was set up in July 2012 by the Walloon Government. It is under the General Secretariat of the Walloon Administration. Department of Sustainable Development Natacha ZUINEN (Head of Department) Michel AMAND (Director of the Sustainable development
strategies Unit) The
Brussels-Capital region The German speaking community Internet: www.oliver-paasch.be / www.dglive.be http://www.dglive.be/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-3494/6320_read-37232/ |
| Link to the SD strategy document |
Federal The full
list(s) of NSDS objectives as identified by a study
commissioned by Eurostat can be downloaded here: Federal Plan
for SD 2004-2008 - Objectives Flanders http://www.vlaanderen.be/int/europese-unie/en/news/vision-2050-long-term-strategy-flanders Wallonia http://www.wallonie.be/fr/strategie-wallonne-de-developpement-durable The full list(s) of NSDS objectives as identified by a study commissioned by Eurostat can be downloaded here: |
| Further information about the SD strategy process |
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Mechanisms of Vertical Integration
National — sub-national linkages
In the context of the forthcoming national strategy for sustainable development, technical working groups with representatives of each level of governance are set-up to prepare the decision of the Interministerial Conference for Sustainable Development. There is one administrative steering group, a working party on NSDS, a working party on sustainable public procurements and a working party on international policy.
On the level of local governments, Local Agenda 21 initiatives have been developed by numerous municipalities. The municipalities also receive support of their respective regional government to boost sustainable Development.
EU linkages
The renewed EU Strategy for Sustainable Development (EU SDS), 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.
The 2010 Federal Act on SD extends the duration of the new FPSD from four to five years to better match with the respective EU and regional legislation cycles.
The first Flemish strategy for SD was based on the European Strategy for SD (EU SDS).
Mechanisms of Horizontal Integration
At the national level, an administrative steering group under authority of the Interministerial Conference for Sustainable Development is in charge for the supervision of technical working groups’ activities.
At the federal level, horizontal coordination is undertaken through the Interdepartmental Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD) and through the sustainable development units (SDU) created in the respective federal administrations. Additional institutions involved are the Task Force on Sustainable Development (TFSD) of the Federal Planning Bureau (FPB), the Federal Institute for Sustainable Development (IFSD) and the Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FCSD).
The ICSD as mechanism of horizontal policy coordination is responsible for:
• preparation of the preliminary draft and the draft of the Federal Plan (FPSD);
• coordination of the development and update of the Long-term Vision for SD;
• coordination of the report by its members which provides information about the implementation of the measures through which each administration has contributed to the objectives of the FPSD;
• coordination of policy regarding sustainable development (e.g. through working groups on public procurements, CSR, international policy, …).
Reference can be made to various outcomes of the mechanisms for horizontal policy coordination, inter alia the Federal Plans for Sustainable Development; Action plans in line with the FP from the SD units of the various federal administrations; opinions by the FCSD; reports by the members of the ICSD; and evaluation reports of the FPB.
Next to those institutions, the Sustainable Impact Assessment (SIA) tool has been integrated in a Regulatory Impact Assessment since the January 2014. The long term vision for sustainable development gave the structure to new ex ante impact assessment tool and the past experience of the SIA has been taken into account to improve the quality of the process. More information on http://ria-air.fed.be.
At the Flemish level, horizontal integration is undertaken through the Working Group on Sustainable Development (WGSD) consisting of representatives of the different Flemish departments. There are two groups: one on policy and one on implementation. The Flemish sustainable development policy is the main topic of the first working group. The implementation working group exchanges good examples and inspires the implementation of sustainable behaviour and practices inside the Flemish administrative organisations. Besides this, a centre of expertise on sustainable development is being formed, in which more Flemish entities are involved.
As far as the Brussels-Capital Region is concerned, the Brussels Office of planning (“Bureau Bruxellois de la planification”) is in charge of the design and monitoring of studies and strategic development plans, included the Regional Sustainable Development Plan. The draft foresees as well the establishment of a support committee to support and stimulate the process.
At the Walloon level, horizontal integration is undertaken mainly through the implementation of the SD strategy. Indeed the strategy is the project of the whole Government and its implementation is under the responsibility of different Ministers and administrations each of them being in charge of the implementation of specific measures within the action plan. An independent sustainable development advisory unit has also been established in 2013. This unit is consulted by the Government as regards compliance with SD principles of certain projects or legislative proposals. Here are some of the features of this new instrument: (a) Policy proposals in the very early stages (global policy overview) are submitted to the advisory unit by policy makers; (b) All other policy proposals may be submitted to the unit, either by policy makers or by officials from the administrations in charge of policy design; (c) The unit may also put forward its own proposals on any relevant subject to policy makers; (d) The resulting assessment contains recommendations for improving the policy proposal; (e) Governmental ministers are obliged to provide arguments when recommendations are not taken into account; (f) The integrated assessment is carried out on the basis of sustainability criteria, grouped in five categories, which are then refined using a holistic approach including horizontal and vertical integration, intra- and intergenerational equity, participation; (g) The advisory unit is eager to exchange views with other organisations carrying out SD assessments on public policies.
Evaluation and Review
At the national level, there is not a dedicated mechanism in this regard. Every federal authorities have its own process.
At the federal level the 2010 Federal Act on Sustainable Development stipulates inter alia: (1) the duration and content of the planning and reporting cycle; (2) the composition of the Interdepartmental Commission on Sustainable Development; (3) the alternation in the focus of the Federal SD Report on current situation and policy evaluations and on SD long term forecasting; (4) the possibility for a new government to change the Federal Plan SD.
The original Act has been revised in July 2010. The revised Act calls for inter alia the development of a long-term vision for SD, based on which a new SD policy will be prepared that is deemed necessary to achieve the long-term objectives determined by the vision. This long-term Vision has to comprise goals for 2050, intermediary goals by decennia and indicators for monitoring progress of implementation. These elements of the vision have been agreed by the Federal government on May 17 2013 and are endorsed through a Royal Decree, as an implementation of Article 7bis of the Belgian Constitution and in view of Belgium’s international commitments on SD.
The 2010 Federal Act on SD also takes into account lessons learned during previous reviews undertaken, as it:
• takes into account the changed international context related to SD,
• promotes vertical integration by a stronger focus on cooperation among the various levels,
• integrates the monitoring and reporting procedures as components of a coherent learning cycle,
• reaffirms the Sustainability Impact Assessment procedure,
• allows for increased flexibility in the development and implementation of future Federal Plans for SD, providing a new government with the possibility to change a plan during its life span.
The 2010 Federal Act on SD puts forward two distinct provisions for internal review:
• The report by the members of the Interdepartmental Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), which contains Information on the implementation of the measures through which the administrative unit they represent aims to contribute to the objectives of the Federal Plan (FPSD). This report is to be completed at least 18 months prior to the agreed completion date of the FPSD.
• The Federal Report on Sustainable Development, drafted by the Task Force on Sustainable Development (TFSD) of the Federal Planning Bureau (FPB). This is divided into two parts: a status and evaluation report and a foresight report looking at future developments. The status and evaluation report needs to be published at least 15 months prior to the completion date of the FP.
The timing of submission of both reports (18 and 15 months prior to the completion date of the FP) is specifically decided to support and allow the integration of lessons learned into the design of the subsequent FPSD.
At the Flemish level evaluation is obliged through the Flemish decree for SD: the new Strategy for SD must incorporate an evaluation of the previous strategy. The insights of the evaluation were taken as starting point for the third Strategy for SD, Vision 2050. There were several important findings and recommendations:
- a long term strategy is important to tackle the challenges for SD
- the principles of transition management are a good framework
- a uniform approach for all transition processes is not appropriate, however focusing on a number of principles for SD is essential
- focus on a few priorities, not an extensive list of actions
- a unifying and guiding position for de third Strategy for SD is needed
Brussels-Capital Region
The draft of the Regional Sustainable Development Plan proposes a framework to assess the impact of its implementation on social, economic and environmental situation of the region.
Thematic evaluations, framed by considerations such as the nature of the measures, the type of beneficiaries and the objectives) on the priorities of the Regional Sustainable Development Plan will conducted. These evaluations will consist in measuring, at specific times , the effects of concrete actions and in assessing these effects through assessment criteria such as the effectiveness, efficiency and coherence.
According to the draft currently available, a comprehensive report published every 5 years will prepare the next Regional Sustainable Development Plan or partial changes in the one in force.
Wallonia
The evaluation of the Walloon sustainable development strategy is foreseen by decree: each new strategy must include an evaluation of the previous strategy.
Indicators and Monitoring
At the national level, the Interfederal Institute for Statistics has created a working group on indicators to monitor the implementation of the SDG’s. In a first step, the working group should provide, by June 2017, an inventory of existing indicators in Belgium (at the federal, regional and community levels) that correspond to the UN proposed indicators to monitor sustainable development goals.
At the federal level, the 2010 Federal Act on SD stipulates that within the development of the long-term vision, indicators must be used to assess whether the objectives are achieved. Sustainable development indicators are published by the Task Force on Sustainable Development (TFSD) of the Federal Planning Bureau (FPB) as part of the Federal Reports on Sustainable Development. The latest set, updated in June 2016, was conducted on the basis of 31 indicators from the database of existing sustainable development indicators at the Federal Planning Bureau. These 31 indicators were chosen to form a first progress report from Belgium on the implementation of the 17 SDGs. These 31 indicators are part of a larger set of about eighty indicators, published on the web site with SD indicators. In June 2017, a new update of these indicators will be published.
The Interdepartmental Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD) and the public services monitor the implementation of the Federal Plan measures. The analysis of these data by the TFSD resulted in the construction of an indicator on the Plan implementation.
Flanders
At the Flemish level there is the Research Centre of the Flemish Government which publicises an overview of regional indicators (VRIND), every year. Some indicators can be related to SD. In 2016 this Centre prepared the sdg-indicators and they are an active member of the Interfederal Institute on Statistics.
Brussels-Capital Region
The draft of the Regional Sustainable Development Plan proposes a framework to monitor the implementation of actions included in the plan. Indicators will be defined by each public administration or agency in order to monitor the implementation of the actions foreseen in the Regional Sustainable Development Plan, and follow step by step its achievements. These indicators are limited to operational measures and differ from those used in the framework of the evaluation. This approach implies to establish a process for gathering information, reporting and analyzing the state of play of the actions included in the plan. All public administration or agencies in charge of one or more measures will report the evolution of their implementation, both the achievements made and the results obtained. These information and monitoring data are an essential source for the evaluation exercise.Wallonia
At the Walloon level, a list of sustainable development indicators has been elaborated. Those indicators are used in the diagnosis of the SD strategy. They reflect the economic, environmental and social trends in Wallonia and help report on the transition of Wallonia to a sustainable development.
In the framework of the SD strategy, a mechanism will be put in place to monitor the achievement of the various actions of the action plan.
In addition one of the 100 measures in the action plan foresees the elaboration of a barometer in order to evaluate the progress made in Wallonia on its way towards sustainable development.
Another action of the SD strategy foresees the elaboration of a report on the implementation of the SDGs in Wallonia every 3 to 4 years and for the 1st time in 2017.
Participation
At the national level, the updated Framework for a National Strategy for Sustainable Development will be submitted to advisory councils of the federal authorities.
At the federal level the 2010 Federal Act on SD describes the following consultation provisions linked to the preparation of the new FP:
• The Interdepartmental Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD) is responsible for preparing a preliminary draft of the SD plan, which is then subjected to a legally mandatory consultation of the population. During the 60 days consultation, the Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FCSD) has to formulate its opinion on the preliminary draft plan.
• The scope and method for consulting the population is decided by the Minister on the basis of a proposal by the ICSD.
• The ICSD subsequently has 60 days to examine the FCSD opinion and the feedback from the consultation and to prepare a draft of the new plan.
• The draft plan is submitted then to the government. The government has to state the reasons for deviating from the FCSD’s unanimous opinions.
The Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FSCD) plays a central role, as it
• expresses opinions on measures related to the federal and European sustainable development policy implemented by the federal government; provides a forum for exchange of views; proposes scientific research and stimulates the active participation of public and private sector organizations as well as the wider public;
• performs these missions at the request of the federal ministers and the legislative chambers or on its own initiative.
With regards to the outcome of the consultations undertaken to date, there has been a wide response from experts and civil society in the preparation of the Federal Plans in 2000, 2004, 2008. In addition, there is a large body of opinions issued by the FCSD on the federal policy for sustainable development, whether at the request of the federal ministers or on its own initiative (available on http://www.cfdd.be)
At the Flemish level, the Decree on Sustainable Development states that sustainable development is an inclusive, participatory and coordinated process. The current Government of Flanders decided to integrate the third VSDO in Vision 2050. Vision 2050 was developed through a participatory process. In this process several departments and agencies were involved. In addition, two meetings with stakeholders were held (in total 140 participants). The objectives of the meetings were: (1) to inform the stakeholders about the content and the process, (2) to create a shared vision through feedback and input from the stakeholders, and finally (3) to appoint transition priorities for Flanders. Finally a formal request for advice to the Strategic Advisory Councils was made.
Stakeholder involvement has for a long time been a key point in Flanders. Flanders has experience with participation in the transition process of sustainable housing and living. Transition arena’s offer stakeholders the opportunity to participate. Participation has an essential role in the implementation of Vision 2050.
In Brussels-Capital Region the current government is planning to launch a public consultation on the Regional Sustainable Development Plan in the following months. It will be adapted to take into account the outcome of the public consultation and to meet priorities of the current governmental agreement (2014-2019).
Furthermore, the Regional Sustainable Development Plan foresees to reinforce the participation of the concerned actors for specific measures.
In Wallonia, the decree on the Walloon SD strategy foresees the stakeholder participation in the elaboration, implementation and follow up of the SD strategy. In the framework of the elaboration of the 2nd SD strategy, a public consultation was undertaken in order to receive comments and suggestions of civil society on the draft long term vision and action plan. Furthermore, the 2nd strategy includes in its action plan several measures to ensure the participation of civil society.
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.eu/councils/belgium and click on one of the listed institutions.
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.eu/councils/belgium and click on one of the listed institutions.
Sub-national activities
[No information available]
This Country Profile has been last updated on: Tuesday, 22 November 2016
For the sources used in the country profiles, please click here.
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