Belgium devolution - rationale and mechanisms, relationship to Essay

Belgium devolution - rationale and mechanisms, relationship to national and local government, extent of powers - Essay Example The rationale for Belgium devolution is elaborated with the help of following points: These differences between groups had led to significant conflicts inflicting upon the economic growth of Belgium, hindering appropriate policy making, instability of government regimes and leading to financial crisis in the country. 9 The division between two broader groups viz. French and Dutch communities based on language was spotted all over the country. Flanders and Wallonia, in particular, exhibited significant social and economic differences.11 The process of devolution and federalisation was initiated as a means to resolve the conflicts among regions and communities, and to bring them in cooperation with the federal government by empowering them with the rights central to their activism. 12 The rationale for devolution involved the sense that the Communities were entrusted with responsibilities that they were more engaged with i.e., the individual and state services. The power encompassing territorial scenario was assigned to the Regions. The federal government, on the other hand, kept with it the critical and significant aspects of state affairs. 14 In this way, the devolution separated the Regions and Communities in terms of responsibilities and activities, it empowered them and allowed them much liberty to exercise their rights towards the betterment of their specific areas and competencies. It was based on the logic that the individual efforts of Regions and Communities would lead to the collective betterment of Belgian public. Asymmetrical i.e. the authority exercised by Regions and Communities in different areas are different. For example, in Flemish area, the Regions and Communities share single authority. In the French speaking area, on the other hand, the Regions and communities have separate authorities with different governments and councils.16 There is no hierarchy of standards i.e. the Regions and Communities are granted