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The abolition of the political institutions of the Belgian provinces, as provided in the government declaration of 7 June 1977, puts into question the usefulness of these institutions. Light is thrown on policies at the provincial level, now & in the near past, by means of a brief functional & financial analysis. Juridical & institutional limitations have a restraining influence on the functioning of the provinces. A task analysis shows that provinces are primarily concerned with traditional tasks (eg, education traffic), & that they have also concerned themselves with modern social welfare tasks (eg, culture & community organization). Belgian provinces have very limited means. As a result, their current expenditures do not exceed 3% of all current public expenditures. This shows the relatively small importance of the provinces in the total government structure. 10 Tables. Modified HA.

An important element in the debate on the hollowed State is the extent to which the subsidiary idea caused a decrease in dominance of the central State & led to a multifaceted process of decentralisation. A case in point is the recent regionalisation of the competency to organise local government in Belgium. Based on Page & Goldsmith's three dimensions in intergovernmental relations between central & local government (functions, discretion & access), we test the discourse of the reform of the local government in Flanders to its practice. It is argued that the principles of a subsidiary founded municipal autonomy, a growing fiscal & functional discretion & a personal disentanglement of local & central decision-makers was inspired by northern European models of government relations. These, however, are only partially being confirmed by the praxis of the reforms, as the main principles of the existing southern European models persist. Adapted from the source document.

A report of a policy evaluation of the personnel situation in Belgium's amalgamated municipalities, investigating the degree to which amalgamation has achieved its objectives & which instruments have contributed to that achievement. It appears that the number of personnel in local administration grew more than in regional ones, particularly in public welfare agencies. This growth is probably due more to social evolution than to the amalgamation operation. The fact that large municipalities have relatively more personnel than small ones is not due to increase of the population. The diachronic study of the % of total expenditures for personnel shows that they have decreased, which could indicate a scale effect. However, there is insufficient information to ascribe this change to amalgamation. It is concluded that amalgamation as a policy measure has not brought many changes in policy implementation, which is explained by the lack of a strategy for change. It does not suffice merely to pass a law to bring about fundamental change. 11 Tables, 1 Figure, 1 Appendix. Modified HA.

A review essay on books by (1) M. Boogers, Lokale politiek in Nederland. De logica en dynamiek van plaatselije politiek ([Local Politics in the Netherlands. The Logic and Dynamics of Local Politics] Den Haag: Lemma, 2007); & (2) H. Reynaert [Ed], De kerktorenpolitiek voorbij? Lokale politiek in Vlaanderen ([The Churchtower over Politics? Local Politics in Flanders] Brugge: Vanden Broele, 2007).

Amalgamation of various Belgian municipalities has not led to an increase of administrative power or authority. However, distance between the citizen & the administration has increased: geographically, creating problems in outlying residential zones regarding intramunicipal service provision; socially, in terms of the increase of the influence of & importance attached to the municipal executive body; & organizationally, in terms of the expansion of the tasks of the administrators. The political policy structures have also been profoundly changed: the national parties have gained in influence; political instability has increased; the operation of local policy organs has changed; & the municipal councils have acquired a more intellectually oriented professional composition. 13 Tables. Modified HA.

Lists the major officials of the Walloon & the French Community governments, 1981-2000.

With the local elections in 2006, new organizational schemes have been applied by the Flemish government to the 308 municipalities. These schemes included institutional reform aimed to change the outset of local government. In this article we studied the influence of these reforms in practice. Are they actually carriers of change? We thereby focused on the direct aspects linked to these reforms. While many instruments of reform had indirect intended effects, acceptance & action among key decision-makers (both voters & local governors to the extent of their discretion) to use them directly becomes crucial. Our analysis has shown that, with some exceptions, direct autonomous space for action was only limitedly used, hence reducing the chances for indirect change. While it is still too early to fully assess the foreseen indirect effects, in our opinion it is crucial to understand the nature of these local reforms within the central (Flemish) bargaining arena. The latter seems to have transformed the new schemes of local governmental organization to the path-dependent art of the political feasible. Tables, Figures. Adapted from the source document.