Belgium Question
 

Belgium is suffering from a potentially catastrophic rift within the nation. How does this effect their position within the European Parliament or the North Atlantic Council. Do their representatives still have voting rights or is it all on hold - just a thought:bored:

Random Belgium fact.
Some 95% of Belgians are hooked-up to cable TV; one of the highest take-up rates in the world. Cable services offer dozens of domestic and foreign channels, including Dutch and French TV stations.
Sorry. Won't do it again. Sorry.
But briefly; The Flemish parties want greater regional control while the Francophone parties want more rights for French speakers living in Flemish areas.
What are the chances of a resolution?

Is this anything to do with the "Conceptual Art" TV programme and newspaper articles earlier this year? It started with a fictional (but realistic) newsflash on Belgian TV that the Flemish areas were moving towards independence or something IIRC. I can't remember the exact concept - something about using a small comment to spark a huge debate? Again IIRC!

ap:oh:

AP, you do recall correctly, it was reported at the time as a well orchestrated spoof that got the Belgians all quite excited for a few hours.

Mark Mardell (BBC European correspondent) ran a piece recently on the issue of no government being in place despite the June elections, he offered that:

- the Flemish part is economically robust, profitable and could exist as an independent state.
- the Brussels area including EU, NATO, diplomats for both as well as national embassies (ie some countries have 3 separate delegations there), and European hubs/HQs for industry, could exist as a city state - cf Vatican.
- the Walloons (Frenchies in the south) have no economic potential and although they see themselves as French, the inhabitants of northern France can't stand them, so the Walloons need Belgium else they have nothing.

Name three famous (non-fictional) Belgians
 

1, Eddie Merckx; cyclist.
2, King Albert of the Belgiums; er King.
3, erm, ahh, oh yes, Hergé, author of the Tintin books.

Oh the joys of Belgian motorway journeys.

Aaaah Belgium and the Koksijde Airshow - some professional pi$$ artists there. Shame it was the dog$hit capital of Europe.

Belgium. Not quite Holland, not quite France. It's a bit like Luxembourg with more parking but less potential for points in Scrabble.

Good place for a pint and a plate of chips.:ok:

Diginagain, the usual question also disallows the king. How about Stella? Cousin of Rene who ran a cafe in Neuvion, a short roller skate ride from Abbeville?

With a name like that you are surprised?

Famous Belgians
 

Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone
Justine Henin and Kim Klistjers, tennis players
Jackie Ickx, 1960-70s F1 driver

Belgium, the most vile and horrific swear word in the universe.

Famous Belgians
 

Don't forget Jacques Brel

Brussels - the only capital city smaller than Carterton, but with much better restaurants.

I always understood that Belgium was the antonym of charisma!

Got to agree with SRT - great beer (over 650 varieties including stuff that was brewed in the UK prior to it being watered down in WW1 - the 'Tommy's' brought the recipes over with them - Stella and Jupiler are by far the weakest and are the kind of nats piss you drink when you're 15).

Great chips - and great restaurants - as with most continentals the Belgians love to eat out and have a fantastic late night bar culture, all ages from youngsters to retired people, with live bands etc. Brew the best Geneva - even the Dutch admit it.

Very cosmopolitan too - not many places where the check-out girls in the Supermarket will speak 4 languages as a matter of course.

Spent 4 days there with Brewerton on the Puma display crew in '84. What a great time. Dirt poor, but the aircrew fed us each day from barbies.

CG's 'Wish I hadn't said....' at the same place;

Had a sit in a CF 104, and remarked that the throttle lever was not falling very naturally to hand. Canuck pilot (says he was a canuck) groans quietly, and says in a pat on the head way; "It's not really in that position very often". Doh.

CG

Having worked here for over five years, and my Flemish goes no further than asking for two beers, it is not that bad! I now enjoy mayonaise with my frits and I don't have to cross the road when I see a group of youths coming towards me! Without a government for nearly 150 days things still run, G Brown take note. The trains are scruffy but cheap and run on time, they have more public holidays than us. Get caught speeding, pay your dues endex! Count the number of speed cameras on your fingers. High tax, good hospitals. BBC1 and 2 on cable, sorry no "corrie".

And I am sorry but Liege is the dog!!!! capital of Europe, you can smell it when it rains.

Belgium
 

Belgium has been without a government for 5 months and seems to be managing OK. Do you think Brown could follow example.

With the current shambles I thought he had been. :hmm: