Belgium
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- February 7, 1831; revised on July 14, 1993 to create a federal state; amended several times, last in 2019
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- civil law system based on the French civil code; recognizes ICJ jurisdiction as compulsory with reservations
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral Parliament, Senate (Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French) and Chamber of Representatives (Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (composed of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, tax, and military; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a president and 5-6 judges); Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit matters; magistrate courts; justices of the peace
RELIGIONS
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, non-believer/agnostic 20.2% (estimate 2018)
From the country
- OCTOBER 24, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
In a European Parliament debate on the war against...
In a European Parliament debate on the war against terrorism, Green Party MEP Paul Lannoye (Belgium), expressed his concern about any extradition agreement with the United States, where the death penalty could apply
- OCTOBER 23, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Union welcomed candidate country Turkey's...
The European Union welcomed candidate country Turkey's approval of constitutional reforms but urged Ankara to show more flexibility over Cyprus
- OCTOBER 22, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
European Union ambassadors pulled out of Eritrea in...
European Union ambassadors pulled out of Eritrea in protest at a crackdown on political dissent and a free press in that country
- OCTOBER 22, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
US President George Bush asked European Union leaders...
US President George Bush asked European Union leaders to consider a range of new measures to fight terrorism, including improvements to border controls and transportation safety, officials said
- OCTOBER 15, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Two leading human rights organisations appealed to...
Two leading human rights organisations appealed to the European Union not to approve security measures which could harm individual freedoms following the attacks on the United States
- OCTOBER 6, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
EU leaders hope to agree by December 6 two key measures:...
EU leaders hope to agree by December 6 two key measures: a common definition of terrorist offences and the introduction of a European arrest warrant that would make extradition between states almost automatic
- OCTOBER 6, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
While US and European leaders are moving to accelerate...
While US and European leaders are moving to accelerate extradition procedures for terrorism suspects, capital punishment remains a sticking point
- OCTOBER 4, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Parliament congratulated the Union for...
The European Parliament congratulated the Union for having successfully directed the Durban Conference on Racism [August -September 2001] onto the road of compromise
- OCTOBER 4, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Parliament adopted a resolution in which...
The European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it calls on the Vietnamese authorities to abolish the death sentence (and, in the meantime, guarantee the implementation of a moratorium) and to ratify the second optional protocol to the International
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
European Union President, Belgium's Justice Minister...
European Union President, Belgium's Justice Minister Marc Verwilghen, said neither Osama bin Laden nor his followers [wanted for the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US] would be handed to the US if caught in Europe because the EU would not extradite
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Efforts to agree a European Union-wide extradition...
Efforts to agree a European Union-wide extradition deal with the United States are running into trouble over the death penalty
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Union is rethinking its refusal to send...
The European Union is rethinking its refusal to send accused terrorists to face trial in the United States, which has capital punishment