A structured administration

Belgium is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy in which three powers are exercised: the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.

The legislative assembly, the Walloon Parliament, votes on decrees and exercises control over the executive, i.e. the Walloon Government, which participates in the drafting of decrees and takes decisions concerning affairs within the scope of its powers.

The Walloon administration is made up of two ministries: the Ministry of the Walloon Region and the Walloon Ministry of Equipment and Transport. In addition, a number of enterprises and public bodies of regional interest are vested with specific missions.

At the present time, the powers of the Walloon Region concern the following areas:

• agriculture and rural renewal
• development of the territory and town planning
• economy and foreign trade
• employment and vocational training
• the environment, water and nature conservation
• housing
• the local authorities, subsidized works and sports infrastructures
• scientific research, the new technologies and energy
• international relations
• health and social affairs
• tourism and heritage
• regional transport, mobility and public works.