Assembly of the Flemish Community Commission

The Assembly of the Flemish Community Commission (Dutch: Raad van de Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie, VGC) is the legislative body of the Flemish Community Commission, the institution responsible for community affairs for Dutch-speaking residents of the Brussels-Capital Region. Often described as the "Parliament of the Flemish in Brussels," it consists of the 17 Dutch-speaking members of the Brussels-Capital Parliament. The Assembly sets policy for education, culture, welfare, and health, and it approves the annual budget of the VGC while overseeing the College, the executive organ composed of the two Dutch-speaking ministers and the Dutch-speaking state secretary of the Brussels-Capital Government. The Assembly's origins lie in the successive Belgian state reforms. The 1989 Brussels Act established the Brussels-Capital Region with its own parliament, first installed after the elections of 18 June 1989. The two language groups in that parliament each formed their own council with decision-making powers over certain community matters. The 11 Dutch-speaking members formed the Assembly of the Flemish Community Commission, which first met officially on 14 July 1989. In 2001, the Lombard Agreement stipulated that each language group in the Brussels-Capital Parliament must have at least 17 members, and since the 2004 elections the Assembly has consistently had that size. The Assembly's legislative powers are limited to the specific community competences of the VGC, such as subsidies for education, welfare, health, culture, youth, and sport. It also has the right to question and interpellate the College. The Assembly elects a president, a vice-president, and a Bureau at the start of each legislative term; the Bureau handles daily administration and becomes an "Extended Bureau" when faction leaders join. The Assembly's work is supported by a Griffie headed by a griffier, who attends Bureau meetings and keeps minutes. The Assembly is housed in historic buildings and new construction at Lombardstraat 61-67 in Brussels, next to the Brussels Parliament building. It engages with the public through YouTube broadcasts of meetings, an Instagram page, and a dialogue right that allows citizens to submit questions to members.

The Assembly of the Flemish Community Commission (Raad van de Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie) was created as part of the Belgian state reforms that established the Brussels-Capital Region. The 1989 Brussels Act provided for the creation of the Brussels-Capital Region with its own parliament, which was first installed after the elections of 18 June 1989. The two language groups in the parliament each formed their own council with decision-making powers over certain community matters. The 11 Dutch-speaking members formed the Assembly of the Flemish Community Commission, which first met officially on 14 July 1989. In 2001, the Lombard Agreement stipulated that each language group in the Brussels-Capital Parliament must have at least 17 members. In practice, since the elections of 2004, the Assembly has consistently had 17 members. The Assembly is the legislative organ of the VGC and can issue ordinances, though its legislative power is limited given the specific community competences of the VGC, such as subsidies for education, welfare, health, culture, youth, and sport. The Assembly must also approve the VGC budget annually and oversees and interpellates the College. The Assembly's services are housed in historic buildings and new construction at Lombardstraat 61-67 in Brussels, next to the Brussels Parliament building. At the start of each legislative term, the Assembly elects a president, a vice-president, and a Bureau. The Bureau handles daily administration and becomes an "Extended Bureau" when faction leaders participate. The Assembly's work is supported by a Griffie headed by a griffier, who attends Bureau and Extended Bureau meetings and keeps minutes.

• 2004

  Since the elections of 2004, the Assembly has consistently had 17 members.

• 2001

  Lombard Agreement stipulates that each language group in the Brussels-Capital Parliament must have at least 17 members.

• 1989

  Brussels Act establishes the Brussels-Capital Region and its parliament; the 11 Dutch-speaking members form the Assembly of the Flemish Community Commission, which first meets on 14 July 1989.

Legislative assembly for Dutch-speaking community affairs in Brussels

1. 1Home - raadvgc.beraadvgc.be
2. 2Raad van de Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Assembly of the Flemish Community Commission - Wikidatawikidata.org