The Provinces

The DG is part of the Province of Liege.

The Belgian Federal State is divided into 10 provinces. The Brussels-Capital area is considered “province-free”, in other word, those powers usually exercised by the provincial authority are transferred to other bodies (Brussels Regional Parliament, Community Commission ...) in the nation’s capital.

Since the creation of the communities and regions, the provinces have lost importance as administrative structures. However, they can take initiatives in all fields that are of provincial interest and that do not fall directly under the aegis of other authorities.

The provinces of the Wallonian Region are:
Liege, Namur, Luxemburg, Hainault and Wallonian-Brabant,

The provinces of the Flemish Region are:
Flemish-Brabant, West Flanders, East Flanders, Antwerp and Limburg.

The Provincial Council

• is the parliamentary body for the province;
• is elected every three years;
• has between 47 and 84 members, depending on the population;
• decides all matters of provincial significance: internal administration, subsidy regulations, police regulations, provincial budget, levying of provincial taxes...

The Standing Committee

• is the executive body of the province and implements the decisions of the Provincial Council;
• has 6 members, elected out of the ranks of the Provincial Council;
• decides on matters of daily provincial administration;
• adjudicates any conflicts with regard to electoral procedure as well as any complaints concerning local authority or provincial taxation;
• delivers advised opinions for higher authorities.

The Provincial Governor

• is nominated by the regional government;
• fulfils, on the one hand, a provincial mandate as non-voting chairperson of the Standing Committee and non-voting participant at the Provincial Council;
• is, on the other hand, a civil servant employed by the federal government, entrusted with the implementation of federal, communitary and regional legislative norms;
• is responsible for the maintenance of public order and the security of persons and property within the province.