Belgium (Flemish region)
Country Introduction
Belgium is a Federal State. Over the years many competences have shifted from the national to the regional level. The Federal and regional governments each have their own responsibilities and powers and co-exist independently.
The departments of foreign affairs, defense, justice, finance, social security, health and domestic affairs operate at the Federal level. The Federal state only has very little responsibilities when it comes to the national territory: the national railways, seaports and site and landscape protection.
Regions have power in fields that are connected with their region or territory. The Flemish Region, the Brussels-Capital Region and the Walloon Region have power relating to the economy, employment, agriculture, water policy, housing, public works, energy, transport (except Belgian Railways), the environment, town and country planning, nature conservation, credit and foreign trade. They also have powers relating to scientific research and international relations in those fields. They are responsible for the supervision of the provinces, communes and intercommunal utility companies.
In addition to the three Regions, the Federal State has three Communities: the Flemish, French and German-speaking Communities. The Community has power for culture (theatre, libraries, audiovisual media, etc.), education, the use of languages and matters relating to the individual which concern on the one hand health policy (curative and preventive medicine) and on the other hand assistance to individuals (protection of youth, social welfare, aid to families, immigrant assistance services, etc.). They also have power in the field of scientific research in relation to their powers and international relations associated with their power.
The Provinces are responsible for everything in its territory that is of provincial interest. The provinces have extensive power in the fields of education, social and cultural infrastructures, preventive medicine and social policy. They also deal with the environment, with highways and waterways, the economy, transport, public works, housing, use of official languages, etc. Provinces are subject to supervision from higher authorities. The supervision is of course limited to the fields for which the Communities and the Federal State hold powers.
The Communities have power relating to public works, social welfare, maintaining public order, housing, education, etc. In its plans, it is naturally subject to the supervision of the higher authorities, specifically the Federal State, the Communities, the Regions and the provinces.
Key Literature
Handboek ruimtelijke ordening en stedenbouw (B. Hubeau/W. Vandevyvere)(30/06/2008)
In het najaar van 1999 verscheen op initiatief van het tijdschrift Ruimtelijke Ordening en Stedenbouw (T.R.O.S.) een boek over het nieuwe decreet ruimtelijke ordening dat toen enkele maanden oud was.
Het decreet van 18 mei 1999 maakte een volledige vernieuwing uit van de basiswetgeving inzake de ruimtelijke ordening voor het Vlaams Gewest. Op het vlak van de planning werd de keuze voor het systeem van structuurplanning bevestigd, in het vergunningenbeleid maakte men de gemeenten autonomer en het handhavingsbeleid werd gemoderniseerd. Een reeks overgangsbepalingen moest de overgang van beleid en praktijk volgens de oude decretale bepalingen naar een werking volgens het nieuwe decreet begeleiden. De decreetgever stelde een overgangsperiode van 5 jaar in. Het decreet trad in werking op 1 mei 2000.
Stedenbouw en ruimtelijke ordening in het Vlaamse Gewest (M. Boes) (01/07/2008)
Het wettelijke kader van de ruimtelijke ordening in het Vlaamse Gewest is vrij complex. Tengevolge van een strenger optreden van de overheid tegen bouwovertredingen, en vooral ook door de gedwongen uitvoering van de herstelmaatregelen, wil elke verwerver van een onroerend goed de zekerheid hebben dat het vrij is van stedenbouwkundige overtredingen. De informerende rol van de notaris is in dit verband essentieel.
Om zijn rol als raadsman van de partijen op correcte wijze te kunnen waarnemen, moet de notaris ook zicht hebben op de hele wetgeving, en niet alleen op de bepalingen die betrekking hebben op zijn verplichtingen sensu stricto.
Dit werk geeft dan ook een volledig overzicht van de regelgeving, met de belangrijkste rechtspraak en rechtsleer, van het decreet van 18 mei 1999.
Bijzondere aandacht gaat uit naar die bepalingen die de notariële praktijk in het bijzonder aanbelangen, meerbepaald in verband met de informatie die de notaris moet verstrekken aan de partijen en aan de overheid, de bepalingen in verband met de handhaving en de herstelmaatregelen.
Uitgeverij Larcier, 2006
Kroniek ruimtelijke ordening 2005-2006 (G. Debersaques ) (09/07/2008)
In dit artikel wordt allereerst een algemeen overzicht gegeven over de belangrijkste in de regelgeving gewijzigde decraten alsook de voornaamste rechtspraak van de hoogste rechtscolleges. De regelgeving en jurisprudentie kwamen tot stand tussen in januari 2005 en 30 november 2006.
T.B.P. 2007/1, pp. 15 e.v
Handboek ruimtelijk bestuursrecht (G. Van Hoorick) (15/07/2008)
In het Handboek Ruimtelijk bestuursrecht worden de vergunningen in het algemeen, de onteigening, de ruimtelijke ordening en stedenbouw, en de bescherming van het onroerend erfgoed (monumenten, stads- en dorpsgezichten, landschappen, en archeologisch patrimonium) en de milieuvergunningen behandeld. Het boek wordt gebruikt als cursus in de Bachelor en Master in de rechten, aan de Universiteit Gent, Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid, doch het richt zich – onder meer door de uitgebreide verwijzingen naar wetgeving, rechtspraak en rechtsleer – eveneens tot de beroepswereld (magistratuur, lokale besturen, administraties, advocaten, adviesbureaus enz.).
Relevant Websites (click on heading to open site)
Ruimtelijke Ordening in Vlaanderen (10/03/2008)
(Not available in English)
NOFDP (21/07/2008)
Spatial Planning in the INTERREG IIIB project nofdp
Acknowledging that the effects of climate change are increased by loss of forested areas up streams, sealing of surfaces by urbanisation and infrastructure, building of residential areas and economic activities zones in river beds, canalization of rivers, it is clear that flooding should be addressed by sound spatial development and planning.
New initiatives for long lasting flood damage prevention through spatial planning and urban development are extremely necessary. In order to obtain the highest sustainable spatial development collaboration between the different parties is extremely important. In the nofdp project therefore we explore the national planning methodologies and planning instruments and the relevant EU-directives, national laws and policies in North West Europe with regard to their possibilities and problems related to the integrative approach of water management and ecological aspects.
In this context the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP 1999) provides the political framework for the implementation of sectoral policies with spatial impacts. This jointly accepted document stimulates the co-operation of regional and local authorities across national boundaries by the execution of the INTERREG-programs.
Brief Overview of Country System
Description of the Belgian Spatial Planning System (15/07/2008)
Since 1970 the Belgian regions have been acquiring complete and autonomous planning powers which was previously a national competence. As a result Belgium is made up of three different and independent planning systems. Each creating their own decrees, policies and plans.
Decrees
The regions have each developed their own Decrees for spatial planning:
- Flemish region: Decreet betreffende de ruimtelijke ordening (2003)
- Wallonian region : Code Wallon de l’aménagement du territoire, de l’urbanisme et du patrimoine (C.W.A.T.U.P.) (2003)
- Region of the Brussels-Capital : Ordonnance Organique de la planification et de l”Urbanisme (1991)
Plans and policies
In the Flemish region plans and policies are made up at the Regional, Provincial and Municipal level. This is also true for Brussels, with the exception of the Provincial administrations which do not exist in Brussels.
In the Walloon Region the regional and municipal governments have most power with regard to spatial planning. The provinces only play an advisory role in relation to spatial planning and do not prepare spatial plans themselves. They do have responsibility for issuing building permits.
Approval of plans and policies
Most plans and policiesare subject to framework control which means that the more detailed plans at the lower levels should not contradict the more strategic plans at higher levels. Plans have to be submitted to a public enquiry; objections and remarks will be considered by a regional (in the Walloon region and region of Brussels) or provincial (in the Flemish region) Advisory Commission. Municipal plans, after consideration by an Advisory Commission in the region of Brussels and Walloon region, and after approval by the local Council, are submitted to the regional Minister who will take, or not, an approving decree conferring force of law to the plan.
Public enquiry
Each plan according to the zoning and planning legislation is submitted to public enquiry during which every person or organisation can comment and/or object. The enquiry is organised by municipal and provincial or regional authorities who in turn can object or propose amendments to sub-regional and regional plans. The advice of the Advisory Commissions on objections, etc, is not binding: the regional or local authority will make its own decision. No administrative appeal exists for regional and sub-regional plans; a request to the Council of State and damage claims however might be presented. Appeal against municipal plans is addressed to the Provincial Executive Board Députation permanente – bestendige Deputatie.