Area:  Total: 30,510 sq km Land: 30,230 sq km Coastline: 64 km  Population: 10,182,034 (July 1999 est.) Source: CIA Worldfact Book (1999)

Belgium   Basic Data Contacts CSD Data Other Links Country Contacts Belgian Federal Government Ministry for Consumer interests, Health and Environment Ministry for Economy and Scientific Research Government of the Flemish Community Ministry of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Government     (Source:  CIA World Factbook 1999)     OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the following information. The information was taken from Belgium's submission to the 5th and 7th Sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: January 1999). For further information on Belgium's social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Belgium at:  http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/belgium/index.htm   Integrated decision-making Belgium ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on 13 November1998. Decision-making structure The Federal and Regional Governments share responsibilities for ensuring integrated planning and implementation of Belgium's National Policy on Oceans.  The Federal Ministry and the Flemish Region share the responsibility for integrated coastal zone management. A co-operation agreement is in preparation. The Federal Ministry is represented by the Management Unit of the Mathematical Model of the North Sea (MUMM) which is the Management of the Marine Ecosystem Department of the Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs. The activities of the Flemish Region are undertaken by the Nature Division of the Environment, Nature, Land and Water Management Administration (AMINAL), and the Water Infrastructure and Sea Division of the Ministry of the Flemish Community. The responsibility for marine environment protection from land ñbased activities is shared by the Federal Government and the three Regions: Flemish Region, Brussels Region (Brusselís Institute for Environmental Management, IBGE-BIM) and Walloon Region (General Direction for Natural Resources and the Environment, DGRNE). The responsible body for the marine environment protection from sea-based activities is the Federal Ministry. Sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources is the responsibility of the Fisheries Sector of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. For the overall co-ordination of environmental matters, an Inter-ministerial Commission for Environment has been set up. The international activities are co-ordinated under this commission, at the level of officials, by a Co-ordination Committee on International Environmental Policy, in the framework of which a Steering Group on the North Sea and Oceans is working. A Steering Group on Nature Conservation, which is competent for the protection of marine species and habitats, works within this framework. The integrated coastal zone management issues are discussed in a inter-ministerial steering group in which are represented: the Federal State Secretary of Environment, the Flemish Minister of Environment, the Flemish Minister of Public Works, Transport and Town and Country Planning and their administrations, the Province of Western Flanders, MUMM, AMINAL, AWZ-Waterways Coast Division (competent for coastal protection and harbours), AROHM-Spatial Planning Division and the Institute of Nature Conservation.  Moreover, a co-operation agreement between the Belgian State and the Flemish Region on the preservation of the North Sea against environmental effects from the dumping of dredging material was signed on 12 June 1990. A working group of officials has been established within this framework. The dialogue between the Federal authorities and the Regional Governments has improved considerably as the sea contamination from land-based sources is one of the major policy issues, and most of the related actions are responsibilities of the Regions.   Policies, legislation and major programmes The precautionary approach is the leading principle on which Belgium bases its commitments. Belgium fulfils its obligations related to marine environment and the sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources within the frameworks of various global and regional conventions, and the European Union (EU). The Belgian policy relating to the North Sea aims at a full enforcement of the commitments taken within the international framework related to marine affairs. This international framework forms the basis for a new Law concerning the Protection of the North Sea which is being prepared by the Federal Ministry responsible for marine environmental protection. It will provide for:    an obligation for all users of the marine environment to take account of the principles of prevention, precautionary approach, sustainable management, compensation for damage;  a polluter-pays obligation;  the creation of marine protected areas of five possible types;  the effective protection of a number of species;  the prohibition of introduction of alien species or genetically modified organisms;  ship traffic schemes to preserve protected areas;  contingency planning for accidental pollution as well as a regime of compensation and restoration;  a procedure of environmental impact statements and studies for activities subject to a licence or authorisation;  enforcement through a reinforced control and high penalties.  The Flemish Government has designated an important part of the coastal dunes and of the salt marshes along the Belgian coast as special protection zones in the framework of the European Bird Directive. The Decrees on the Protection of Coastal Dunes of 14 July 1993, 21 December 1994 and 29 November 1995 designated 1,100 hectares as protected dune areas or agricultural areas of importance for the dunes. The Proposal of the Candidate-SACís includes all important salt-marsh and dune-areas along the Belgian coast. It was approved by the Flemish government on 14 February 1996 in execution of the EU Habitat Directive.  The Flemish Region has established its Environmental Policy Plan 1997-2001 that covers several items such as the implementation of the Third North Sea Conference in relation to dangerous substances, the inventory of the fauna of the coastal sandbanks, a restoration plan for coastal dunes, the restoration of intertidal mudflats and the development of an intertidal sea inlet.  A major Law on the Protection of the Marine Environment is approved by the Government and currently under discussion at the Parliament. This will form the legal basis for several intended actions like the setting up of marine natural reserves. The Law on Product Norms was adopted by the Government on 25 July 1998, and it is submitted to the Parliament for adoption. This bill has the following aims: to provide a solid legal foundation for an integrated, sustainability-directed product policy with an eye to protecting the human environment and public health; to offer a legal basis for an easy conversion of the EU Directives on Hazardous Substances, hazardous preparations, pesticides and packaging; and to encourage a product policy that is aimed at the promotion of sustainable products and consumption patterns. A conditional permit and licensing system is in place for the dumping of dredged material. An extended legislation on environmental permits in the three Regions covers also most of the land-based activities.   Codes of practice Codes of practice have been established both by the government, for example the Codes of Good Agricultural Practices which are mandatory only in vulnerable areas; and by industry, for example Responsible Care established by the chemical industry. The guidelines, called the Ecosystem-Perspective for the Flemish Coast, were elaborated under supervision of the AMINAL-Nature Division of the Ministry of the Flemish Community for the management and sustainable use of sandy beaches, dunes and salt marshes along the Belgian coast, starting from an inventory of the scientific knowledge about these ecosystems. The development of Best Environmental Practice (BEP) concerning dredging activities was approved by the OSPAR Commission in 1993.   Financial incentives Belgium has a number of eco-taxes to reduce polluting effluents and to promote investments in environmentally sound technology.    Involvement of Major Groups in decision-making Most of the major groups are very well organised, and they have permanent access to activities within the frameworks of OSPAR and North Sea Conferences. At the national level, regular ad-hoc contacts take place on request. For example, the industry associations and official organisations of fishermen, representing mainly small-scale artisanal fishermen, participate in an advisory capacity in the national processes.   Status The major uses of the coastal areas in Belgium are tourism, fishing, mining (sand and gravel), and shipping and harbour development. The primary sources of land-based pollution are industry, municipal waste waters and agriculture. One of the major achievements of industry and public sewerage sectors is that there are no direct discharges any more. The primary sources of sea-based pollution are the oil discharges from ships and litter. Fishing represents 0.04 percent (landings/GIP) of the national economy. The methods to encourage sustainable fishing are in place in the European Common Fishery Policy. There are no Belgian vessels fishing on the High Seas.  In order to investigate the human activities and their negative impact on the environment of the ecologically most valuable part of the marine area, a LIFE-Nature project (covering also the terrestrial part of the area) was set up in 1997. The project, co-funded by the EC, is carried out by the Flemish and Federal administrations and two NGOs. Furthermore, the administrations competent for the environment, for the coastal defence and harbour-management, town and country planning, and tourism (sub-regional agency) collaborated to examine environmental and spatial consequences of public works and tourist activities in the coastal area. Belgium completed a programme for a fifty percent reduction of 36 hazardous substances (metals, solvents, pesticides, dioxines) in the North Sea between 1985-1995.  Since 1991, MUMM has been organising aerial surveillance. The Belgian Marine Environmental Control Programme (BELMEC) has two main aims: the detection and evaluation of marine pollution by ships which is not only useful to detect illegal polluters or to assist in combating the pollution resulting from an accident. It seems also to be the best method to evaluate an order of magnitude of the pollution from this source. A general surveillance of the marine area by observing oceanographic, ecological and biological phenomena as well as the human activities is also undertaken. Belgium has an intensive monitoring and research program, including up to 200 working days at sea per year. The present program lasts for five years (1997-2001) and forms a scientific support for the marine environmental policy of the government. The Federal Government funds a number of research and monitoring projects dealing with the sustainable management of the North Sea and the conservation of natural values of the marine environment. Furthermore, the Federal Government provides access to and use of an oceanographic vessel (BELGICA) for research and monitoring projects of universities and other institutions.  Other major activities include the following: preparation of an emergency plan in case of maritime accident; update of inventories on the fluxes of substances towards the North Sea; treatment of waste water; installation of black boxes in dredgers (for sand and gravel exploitation); and the creation of marine and semi-terrestrial (beaches, mudflats, salt marshes, dunes, etc) coastal nature reserves and the development of the corresponding management plans.  The main constraints to implementing effective programmes to address ocean affairs are the following: at the national level, there is a non-balance between manpower available and the timeframe needed for consultation with all the concerned parties. At the international level, there are difficulties in establishing clear practical priorities and with the trend in developing new measures without paying enough attention to the effective implementation of the existing ones. Capacity building, education, training and awareness-raising Belgium participates in the training and exchange of expert programmes organised by the European Commission in the field of counter-pollution measures at sea. These programmes have proved to be a valuable learning ground. Sharing experiences between the neighbouring countries has improved international co-operation.  Awareness-raising events related to sustainable coastal management are organised in the framework of the current LIFE-Nature programme. A major exhibition on sustainable development is currently taking place at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Important sections are devoted to the oceans, the coastal zone and the estuaries.   Technology The determining factor for decision-making in the choice of technologies is the international definition of the sectoral Best Available Technologies. The BAT principle is commonly developed and applied, for example in the choice of environmentally sound techniques for dredging. The development of BAT to reduce polluting effluents from the textile industry in 1995 resulted in the approval of a recommendation on BAT by the OSPAR Commission in 1995 and of a recommendation on emission limits for that sector in 1996. Another technology related example is the collection of waste oil from ships. Information National information available to assist both decision-makers and planners working on coastal issues, fishery and other living resources, marine pollution, mineral resources, and the critical uncertainties include the following: Belgian contributions to international progress reports, quality status reports, assessment reports developed in the framework of OSPAR, the North Sea Conference system and the contributions to ICES, reports of the Belgian Marine Environmental Control Unit of the MUMM, and the national report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The sub-regional Flemish Environmental Agency (VMM) provides information on the monitoring of the quality of coastal bathing water. Comprehensive assessments on the state of the coastal and marine environments are completed every five years (Quality Status Reports of the North Sea).  There is no systematic use of GIS, but it is under development. A database on marine environment is currently under development and is planned to be operational for mid 1999. A number of sustainable development indicators pertaining to the coastal and marine environment are applied in Belgium (for example, algae index; releases of nutrients, metals, persistent organic pollutants; contamination of biota; and quality of bathing water). The indicators related to marine species have been developed and quantified by the European Union. Belgium is acting as lead country within OSPAR for the use of mineral surpluses as indicator of nutrient losses from agriculture into surface waters. This work is undertaken in relation to the eutrophication of coastal waters. In OSPAR, Belgium is also co-lead country for the elimination of PCBís in small applications. Another activity underway related to indicators is the reporting on the CSD indicators (e.g. algae index). Financing The sector of oceans and seas is financed by public budgets at Federal, Regional and European levels. Cooperation In addition to the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Belgium is party to the following international or regional marine related conventions:    Convention on Intervention on the High Seas in cases of Oil Pollution Casualties (INTERVENTION), 1969;  Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention), 1971;  Convention on Civil Liability in Maritime Carriage of Nuclear Material, 1971;  Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention 1972, amended by the 1996 Protocol);  International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modifid (MARPOL 73/78), including the Protocol on Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Chemical Pollution Casualties;  CITES, 1973;  Convention on the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC), 1976;  Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, 1979;  Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 1979;  Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), 1980;  Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean (NASCO), 1982;  Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (in progress);  The Bonn Agreement 1983;  International Conferences on the Protection of the North Sea (Bremen 1984, London 1987, The Hague 1990, Copenhagen 1993, Esbjerg 1995, Bergen 1997);  International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response, and Co-operation (OPRC 1990) (not ratified);  Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992;  Convention on the Protection of the North-East Atlantic Marine Environment (OSPAR), 1992; and  Agreement for Co-operation in dealing with Pollution if the North Sea by Oil and other Hazardous Substances (1983/89).  Belgium submits a number of projects to the European Union (EU) for funding. Belgium participates actively in the regional conventions such as OSPAR, International Conferences on the Protection of the North Sea, and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). It also participates in the European Environment and Climate and Marine Sciences and Technologies (MAST) research programmes.    Other Links Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR)

 
 
 
 
 

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