United Kingdom/Statute Book/Belgian Rights and Responsibilities

Belgian Rights and Responsibilities

The Belgian rights bill was approved by congress 8th August 2008.
It is seen as a comprimise between the UK government, and the group of Belgians living within the United Kingdom, for Belgian devolution. The bill not only contains information on Belgian devolution, but also on the rights and responsibilities that Belgians of the United Kingdom hold.

1) Rights

- The right to express themselves in their own language except in congress and regional council where an English translation is required

- The right to assemble in a Belgium Local Council to run the affairs of the 3 e- Belgian regions (Namur (Nameur), Antwerp (Antwerpen) and Brussels (Brussel))

- The right to receive government funding for the Belgian Local Council on the same formula as adopted by the e-uk regional council

- The right to set housing and company tax in the 3 e-Belgian regions

- The right to join an e-Belgian paratroop division under the command of a Belgian CO

- The right to seats in congress on the official e-rep proportionate basis of votes

- The right to ‘opt out of’ war with the Netherlands , should the e-uk government ever declare, or join in, such a war

- The right to receive MoD funding for any war that the Belgian division enters on behalf of the e-uk

- The right to nominate a congressman (which may be the party president) to negotiate any difficulties with the Minister for Minorities, to be appointed by the e-uk president

2) Responsibilities

- The responsibility to appoint a regional council representative to sit in the e-uk regional council and represent the affairs of the 3 e-Belgian regions.

- The responsibility to abide by all government policies adopted by congress (with the exception of a war with the Netherlands)

- The responsibility to accept the orders of the MoD (with the exception of the opt out clause. This means that the e-Belgian regions will not have the right to declare war or to fight against e-uk allies or to in any way go against an MPP that has been signed by the e-uk)

- The responsibility not to put forward a candidate for the e-uk presidency.

- The responsibility to negotiate any difficulties with a Minister for Minorities, appointed by the e-uk president.