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This article is about the Belgian federal region. For other uses, see Wallonia (disambiguation).
    Walloon Region

Région wallonne (French)
Wallonische Region (German)
Information
Official languages French, German
Capital Namur
Area 16,844 km²
ISO 3166-2 BE-WAL
Official website www.wallonie.be
Population
Total 3,413,978  (January 1, 2006)
Density 202 / km²
Institutions
Minister-President Rudy Demotte
Established 1993
Celebration day 3rd Sunday of September
Anthem Le Chant des Wallons
Location


Walloon Region in Belgium and its provinces
Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region, Wallonia
Flemish Community, French Community,
German-speaking Community


The Walloon Region, commonly called Wallonia, is one of the three Regions of Belgium. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Namur ( Namen in Dutch, Nameur in Walloon, Namurcum in Latin) is a City and municipality in Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of A minister-president (Ministerpräsident is the Head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments who presides over the council of ministers Rudy WG Demotte (born June 3, 1963 in Ronse) is a Belgian socialist Politician who served as Minister for Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music (in Music theory and religious contexts or more generally a song (or composition of Le Chant des Wallons (The Song of the Walloons is the anthem of Wallonia ( Belgium) The Flemish Region ( Dutch: Vlaams Gewest) is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium alongside the Walloon Region Wallonia, or Wallonie, (Wallonie Wallonien Wallonië Waloneye is the Meridional part of Belgium belonging to the Romance linguistic field The term Flemish Community has two distinct though related meanings Culturally and sociologically it refers to Flemish organizations media social and cultural The French Community of Belgium (Communauté française de Belgique Franse Gemeenschap van België Französische Gemeinschaft Belgiens is one of the three official communities The German-speaking Community of Belgium (Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft Belgiens DGB) is one of the three federal communities in Belgium. Wallonia, or Wallonie, (Wallonie Wallonien Wallonië Waloneye is the Meridional part of Belgium belonging to the Romance linguistic field Belgium is a federal state comprising three communities, three regions, and four language areas. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those

The region represents 33% of the population and 55% of the territory of Belgium. It is predominantly French-speaking but there are also German-speaking municipalities in the east. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. As the other regions, the Walloon Region has its own parliament and government and exercises its functions by the limits defined by the Belgian constitution. The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831 Since then Belgium has been a Parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of Ministerial Its capital is Namur. Namur ( Namen in Dutch, Nameur in Walloon, Namurcum in Latin) is a City and municipality in Its official languages are French and German. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages.

Contents

Geography

The territory of the Walloon Region is defined by the Belgian constitution: "The Walloon region is made up of the following provinces: The Walloon Brabant, Hainaut, Liège, Luxemburg and Namur. Walloon Brabant ( French: Brabant-Wallon, Dutch: Waals-Brabant; Roman Payis is a province of Wallonia in Belgium Hainaut ( French; English traditionally Hainault, Dutch: Henegouwen, German: Hennegau, Walloon List of Governors 1830 - 1831 Etienne de Sauvage (Liberal 1831 - 1832 Jean-François Tielemans (Liberal List of governors Jean-Baptiste Thorn (1830 – 1836 Victorin de Steenhault (1836 – 1841 Joseph de Riquet List of Governors 1830 - 1834 Goswin de Stassart (Liberal 1834 - 1840 Joseph Lebeau (Liberal 1840 - 1847 Edouard "[1]

This territory of 16,844 km² (55. 18% of Belgium) occupying the southern part of Belgium is also divided into 20 administrative arrondissements and 262 municipalities. The federalized country Belgium geographically consists of 3 regions of which only Flemish Region and Walloon Region are subdivided into 5 provinces The Walloon Region of Belgium commonly called " Wallonia " is divided into 262 municipalities, listed in the table below

Administrative divisions

The Walloon Region has an area of 16 844 km² (55. 18% of Belgium) and comprises the following provinces (see map right):

  1. Walloon Brabant
  2. Hainaut
  3. Liège
  4. Luxembourg
  5. Namur

Attributions

The constitutional system of Belgium grants the Walloon Region its own legislative and executive powers in the fields for which it is competent:

Emblems

Since July 15, 1998, the Walloon Region has had as emblems a flag, an anthem and a "national" day, though the Walloon Region doesn't represent a nation. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar)

The flag is a coq hardi de gueule sur fond d'or, "a bold red rooster on gold", designed by Pierre Paulus in 1913, and adopted in July 1998. [2] It is also the flag of the French Community of Belgium and they share the same "national" day, 27 September. The French Community of Belgium (Communauté française de Belgique Franse Gemeenschap van België Französische Gemeinschaft Belgiens is one of the three official communities Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again The anthem is Le Chant des Wallons ("the Walloons' song"), written by Theophile Bovy in 1900 and composed by Louis Hillier in 1901. Le Chant des Wallons (The Song of the Walloons is the anthem of Wallonia ( Belgium)

There is also a logo, a red “W arrow” with the baseline “WALLOON REGION”.

Cities

The largest cities in the region include, as of 2007's population figures: [1]

Politics

Main article: Politics of Wallonia

Since 23 April 1993, Belgium has been a federal state, geographically split into three regions and linguistically split into three communities. Charleroi (Tchålerwè is the largest city and municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. Liège (ljɛːʒ Older English: Luick, Walloon: Lidje, German: Lüttich; Latin: Leodium, Dutch Namur ( Namen in Dutch, Nameur in Walloon, Namurcum in Latin) is a City and municipality in Mons ( Dutch: Bergen, Picard: Mont) is a Walloon City and municipality located in the Belgian La Louvière is a Walloon City and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. Tournai (in Dutch Doornik, in Latin: Tornacum) is a Walloon City and municipality of Belgium Seraing is a Walloon Municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. Verviers is a Walloon City and municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. Mouscron (Moeskroen is a Walloon City and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. The Politics of Wallonia concern not only the Government of the region of Wallonia, but also that of the French Community of Belgium, the German-speaking Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The Walloon Region is one of the three (southern region, mainly French-speaking, with a population of 3,360,000), the two others being the Flemish Region (northern region, Dutch-speaking, with a population of 5,900,000) and the Brussels-Capital Region (bilingual French/Dutch with French majority, with a population of 980,000). Wallonia, or Wallonie, (Wallonie Wallonien Wallonië Waloneye is the Meridional part of Belgium belonging to the Romance linguistic field The Flemish Region ( Dutch: Vlaams Gewest) is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium alongside the Walloon Region

The Walloon region has a parliament (one chamber with 75 members elected for five years by direct universal suffrage) and a government responsible in front of the parliament. Its parliament exercices two functions:

The government of Walloon is directed by a political majority. The government numbers nine members with the president. Each member is called a ministre.

The composition of the parliament for the 2004-2009 legislature is as follows:

The head of the government, called Ministre-Président, is Rudy Demotte, member of the PS. The Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste PS is a Francophone Social democratic political party in Belgium. The Reformist Movement (Mouvement Réformateur MR is a Belgian French-speaking liberal Political party. The Humanist Democratic Centre ( French: Centre démocrate humaniste or cdH) is a Belgian Francophone Christian democratic The National Front (Le Front national is a small Belgian Far-right Political party. Ecolo (which officially stands for Écologistes Confédérés pour l'organisation de luttes originales confederated for the organisation of original struggles" but in Rudy WG Demotte (born June 3, 1963 in Ronse) is a Belgian socialist Politician who served as Minister for The Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste PS is a Francophone Social democratic political party in Belgium.

Economy

The Walloon economy experienced a strong development in the 19th century, especially in the regions of Liège and Charleroi, the so-called Sillon industriel. Liège (ljɛːʒ Older English: Luick, Walloon: Lidje, German: Lüttich; Latin: Leodium, Dutch Charleroi (Tchålerwè is the largest city and municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. The Wallonian sillon industriel or dorsale wallonne ( French for industrial valley or Wallonian backbone, respectively was an area Belgium was then the first country in continental Europe to undergo an industrial revolution in the early 1800s, mainly based on the iron and coal industries, which were both abundant in Wallonia. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 In 1842 John Cockerill (1790-1840), a British entrepreneur, founded the company Cockerill-Sambre, which would become one of the major producers of steel in Europe. Year 1842 ( MDCCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common John Cockerill ( August 3, 1790 - June 9, 1840) was a British entrepreneur the founder of the company Cockerill-Sambre. Cockerill-Sambre is a Belgian Steel manufactor located in Seraing ( province of Liège) on the Meuse River, and in Charleroi Raoul Warocqué (1870-1917), who made the coal mines of Mariemont a success, was the wealthiest person in Belgium. Raoul Warocqué ( Brussels, 4 February, 1870 – Brussels, 28 May, 1917) was a Belgian industrialist of

The profitability of these types of heavy industries started declining in the first half of the 20th century, which saw the center of industrial activity shift to the northern part of Belgium. Wallonia would be surpassed in economical development by Flanders only in the 1960s, when industrial production in the northern part of Belgium would catch up with Wallonia. The crisis in the steel industry led to a painful economic restructuring in Wallonia. Wallonia switched places with Flanders, regarding economical development. In 2004, the GDP per capita was €27,356 in Flanders, and €19,858 in Wallonia. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

The current Walloon economy is relatively diversified, although certain areas — especially around Charleroi and Liège — are still suffering from the steel industry crisis, with a high unemployment rate of up to 30% in some regions, while the south of the region, bordering Luxembourg benefits from its neighbour's economic prosperity, with a lot of Belgians working on the other side of the border (called frontaliers). Luxembourg (Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small Landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by The restoration of economical development is high on the political agenda.

The Ardennes area south of the Meuse River is a popular tourist destination with a rich cultural heritage, with places such as Bastogne, Dinant, Durbuy, and the famous balneotherapy of Spa. For the political subdivision of France see Ardennes (department. The Meuse (in Dutch and in German: "Maas" in Latin: "Mosa" in Celtic:"Mus" (the rootword presumingly Bastogne ( Dutch: Bastenaken, German: Bastenach, Luxembourgish: Baaschtnech) is a Belgian municipality ||-||-||} Dinant is a Walloon City and municipality located on the River Meuse in the Belgian province of Namur Durbuy is a Walloon City and Municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. Balneotherapy (from Latin balneum "bath" the treatment of Disease by Bathing. The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as Balneotherapy, Spa towns or Spa resorts offering such treatment or the medication

Science and technology

Wallonia is home to several science and technology organizations. Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Technology is a broad concept that deals with a Species ' usage and knowledge of Tools and Crafts and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt

See Science and technology in Wallonia. Science and technology in Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium ( Europe) is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ A version of the Belgian constitution in English can be found on the Website of the federal government
  2. ^ Wallonia - Walloon Region (Belgium). This is the list of Ministers-President ( Prime ministers of the Walloon Region, one of the three regions of Belgium. TEC (from Transport En Commun in French) is the public transport company in Wallonia, Belgium. The Walloon Parliament (Parlement wallon formerly Walloon Regional Council or Conseil régional wallon) is the Parliament of the Walloon Region ( Flags Of The World.
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