 | National Urban Policy of Belgium Introduction
Belgium is Europe’s most urbanised nation. 97% of its ten million people live in an urban area. Population density is 337 per square kilometre. Belgium has one city, Brussels, with a population over a million. Other major cities are Antwerp (452,000 inhabitants), Ghent (228,000 inhabitants), Charleroi (200,000 inhabitants) and Liège (184,000 inhabitants). They are followed by the medium-sized cities such as Bruges (116,000 inhabitants), Namur (105,000 inhabitants), Mons (91,000 inhabitants) and Leuven (90,000 inhabitants). Nine other medium-sized cities have a population of 60,000 or more: Aalst, La Louvière, Mechelen, Sint-Niklaas, Ostend, Hasselt, Tournai, Genk and Seraing. These cities are distributed amongst the three Regions of Belgium: Flanders (Dutch-speaking region in the north), the bilingual city region of Brussels, and Wallonia (French-speaking region in the south, with a German-speaking community on the eastern side). Flanders has made great economic strides in recent decades, but still has
more than its fair share of urban problems. The balance in the region’s towns
and cities is being disrupted by the wealthier section of the population
deserting the inner-city areas, where conflicts arise between migrants and the
remaining poorer section of the original population. These tensions produce
considerable support for extreme right-wing views, particularly in Antwerp.
The Brussels city region was established in 1989, on top of the city’s 19
original boroughs. 50% of Brussels’ jobs are filled by people from outside the
region while the unemployment rate inside it reached 22% in 2004. The wealthier
section of the population is also moving away from the city towards the two
other regions, causing significant financial problems for the Brussels Region.
Wallonia is characterised by urban deindustrialisation. It previously hosted
high concentrations of urban industry, particularly coal and steel, with
factories and production plants generally located close to the workers’ homes.
The relationship between living and working has now been disrupted.
Historical Background
Belgian cities have not escaped the combined economic, social and environmental problems common to many European cities: migration of the population to the suburbs, a lack of security, unemployment, pockets of poverty, problems of cohabitation, etc. Faced with the problem of structural under-funding, cities lack the resources to cope with these difficulties on their own. The need to focus on the urban dimension is felt at all levels of power in
Belgium, as it is in many other countries. At the regional level, urban
initiatives have been underway since the end of the 1970s. The federal
authorities placed an integrated urban approach on their agenda in 1999. The
main objective of urban policy at all levels is to keep cities liveable,
combining the three main functions: work, rest and play, to strengthen social
cohesion and support the economic development of urban areas.
Organisation
Belgium's federal structure influences the way urban policy is structured. Where other countries must cope with barriers between the various policy areas coming together in the city, in Belgium urban issues are also considered at the various political levels. Belgium in fact has a political and administrative structure based on the recognition, in its constitution, of three Communities (Dutch-speaking, French-speaking and German-speaking) and three Regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels Capital), to which the federal state has devolved wide-ranging powers. These include housing, urban planning, urban renewal (including structural funds), economic development or environment issues for the regions, or education and culture for the communities. The federal urban policy ensures that specific urban issues are considered in
various federal policy areas: fiscal, sustainable development, security,
employment, social integration, etc. The Flemish Region has made Flemish Urban
Policy one of its priorities – a sustainable policy which must provide
structural solutions. The principal challenge is halting the migration of
residents from the cities. The Brussels Capital Region has a strategic Regional
Development Plan. Based on an analysis focused on the city, this RDP is the
driving force for the region’s future development. The Region has also developed
specific urban policies within a perspective of integrated development of the
deprived districts. The main objectives are to maintain or bring back
inhabitants to the city and to improve its economic development and employment.
In the Walloon Region, the policy of urban renovation has always been part of
the trend towards regional development and town planning.
Current Issues/Key Programmes
A federal support programme was set up in 2000, focusing on those cities confronted most with the problems of underprivileged neighbourhoods. Federal authorities have earmarked €128 million for 15 cities and boroughs for 2005-2007, designed to implement an urban development programme meeting the following thematic objectives: integrated neighbourhood development, a vigorous economy and sustainable employment for the neighbourhood, strong social cohesion, a sound city in a sound environment and a better housing supply. A second federal support programme is also in place for large cities, devoted specifically to housing. Beginning in 2005, long-range contracts have been agreed with 17 cities and boroughs to implement an investment programme for providing additional affordable accommodation. An additional €70 million has been earmarked for this programme in 2005-2007. The aim of the Urban Fund is to provide Flemish towns and cities with
financial support for conducting a sustainable urban policy. In conjunction with
these towns and cities and the Flemish Community Commission, the Flemish
government intends to use the Urban Fund to achieve the following objectives:
1) increase the quality of life in cities, both at the urban and local level; 2) combat the separation of powers; 3) increase the quality of democratic government. The Urban Fund, with an annual budget of approximately €100 million, came
into effect on 1st January 2003. Prior to this it was the Social Impulse Fund
(1995-2002) which focused mainly on dealing with the issues of underprivileged
districts.
The District Contracts are revitalisation programmes put in place by the
Brussels Capital Region. These programmes are implemented in four vulnerable
districts each year together with the local borough authorities, providing
several different initiatives within a single district over a four-year period.
Issues covered include housing and redesigning public spaces, as well as the
creation or reinforcement of local infrastructures and amenities (social,
cultural, sporting and other). Special attention is devoted to the introduction
of participative activities during the District Contract period. In some cases
the District Contracts have been combined with Urban and Objective 2. This has
created a value increase for the public financing and has enabled support for
projects on a greater scale, such as the refurbishment or creation of areas
reserved for crafts or industrial activities.
In Wallonia, urban revitalisation programmes are designed, within a defined
area, to provide the improvement and integrated development of housing,
including commercial and service functions, through the introduction of
agreements bringing together the borough and the private sector. This involves
private involvement in the form of partnerships. The responsibility of the
authorities is limited to developing public areas.
|
| ||
| | |
