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| Council of the Flemish Community Commission | |
|---|---|
| Name | Council of the Flemish Community Commission |
| Native name | Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie (VGC) Raad |
| Type | Community assembly |
| Jurisdiction | Brussels-Capital Region |
| Established | 1989 |
| Seats | 29 |
| Meeting place | Brussels |
Council of the Flemish Community Commission is the legislative assembly for the Flemish Community within the Brussels-Capital Region. It sits alongside the French Community Commission (COCOF) and the Common Community Commission (GGC/Coc), sharing the institutional landscape of Belgium's federal structure after state reforms culminating in the Saint Michael's and earlier accords such as the Lambermont Agreement. The council interacts with institutions like the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, the Flemish Parliament, and municipal councils including City of Brussels and Schaerbeek.
The council was created following constitutional reforms in the 1980s and the Special Act on Institutional Reform of Belgium (1989) which reorganized competencies among the Flemish Community, the French Community, and regional bodies such as the Brussels-Capital Region. Its establishment parallels developments affecting the Belgian State Reform (1988–1993), the creation of the Walloon Region and the evolution of the Flemish Community Commission as a response to linguistic and community questions arising since the Linguistic Struggle in Belgium and the implementation of rules from the Law on the Special Biology of Brussels era. Over time the council's role adapted to jurisprudence from the Cour constitutionnelle (Belgium), decisions of the Conseil d'État (Belgium), and political practice influenced by parties like New Flemish Alliance, Christian Democratic and Flemish, and Socialistische Partij Anders.
The council comprises delegates drawn from the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region who are members of the Dutch-language linguistic group, reflecting rules established by the Special Law on Institutions of 1988–1989. Leadership includes a presiding chair and bureau connecting to administrative services akin to those serving the Flemish administration in Brussels, while liaison occurs with entities such as the Flemish Community Commission (VGC) administration, the Flanders Investment & Trade network, and cultural agencies modeled on Flemish Community Services. Administrative oversight interacts with legal frameworks like the Belgian Constitution and institutional guardianship exercised through courts including the Court of Cassation (Belgium).
The council exercises competencies delegated by the Flemish Parliament for community matters in Brussels, including cultural policy affecting institutions such as the Royal Flemish Theatre, youth policy linked to organizations like Jeugdhulp, and welfare undertakings parallel to initiatives by the Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) in multiple municipalities. It sets policy within the confines of powers shared with the Common Community Commission and in coordination with francophone counterparts like COCOF on healthcare and bilingual services, and its remit has been shaped by notable laws including the Special Law on Brussels Institutions and precedents from cases adjudicated by the European Court of Human Rights.
Members are not elected in a separate direct poll but are drawn from the Dutch-language group of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, which itself is elected under proportional representation systems similar to those used in Belgian regional elections and governed by statutes such as the Electoral Code (Belgium). Membership reflects party representation from formations like Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats, Groen (political party), Workers' Party of Belgium, and the previously influential Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD), with mandates tied to the electoral fortunes in municipalities including Ixelles and Anderlecht. Replacement and vacancy procedures echo principles found in rules for the Federal Parliament of Belgium and regional assemblies.
Political groups within the council mirror the Dutch-language parties represented in the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region and coordinate with parliamentary groups in the Flemish Parliament and municipal factions in communes like Uccle and Saint-Gilles. Leaders are typically prominent figures from parties such as New Flemish Alliance and Christian Democratic and Flemish who also hold roles in bodies like the Brussels Government or serve as aldermen in municipal councils. Intergroup negotiation reflects coalition practices observable in bodies like the Government of Flanders and accords witnessed in the Paars-Groen coalitions at different levels.
The council meets in plenary sessions and committee meetings patterned after legislative bodies including the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region and follows procedures compatible with norms from the Belgian Standing Orders, administrative law overseen by the Council of State (Belgium), and transparency standards influenced by the Open Government Partnership-style practices. Minutes, agendas, and deliberations interact with administrative services comparable to those of the Flemish administration and may be subject to review by judicial institutions such as the Constitutional Court of Belgium when disputes arise.
Relations are structured through formal linkages with the Brussels-Capital Region institutions, the Common Community Commission, and municipal administrations across the nineteen Brussels municipalities, including cooperative arrangements with bodies like Brussels Airport Company stakeholders and cultural partners such as BOZAR. Coordination on bilingual services involves negotiation with francophone authorities represented in COCOF and regional bodies like the Brussels Regional Public Service (PRU/VRP), while cross-border and EU-level engagement references institutions such as the European Commission and networks including the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.
Category:Belgian politics