Belgium is a federal state, consisting of 3 Communities (the Flemish Community, the French Community and the German-Speaking Community) and 3 Regions (the Flemish Region, the Walloon Region and the Brussels Capital Region). There is NO hierarchy between the federal, the Community and the Regional levels [...]

Each entity has its specific area of responsibility. The federal level has the competence on important policy fields such as justice, social security, employment and tax legislation. The responsibilities of the Region are linked to its “territory” and include environment, agriculture, urban planning, housing,... The competences of the Communities are “person-related” matters such as Education, Health care, Culture, Youth [...]

The federal ‘Belgian’ level of government only has limited competence in youth matters (e.g. some aspects of judicial youth protection), but there is no youth policy at the Belgian level. The Communities are competent for youth and youth policy, so it is on this level that most explicit ‘youth policy instruments’ can be found.

The Communities have a minister responsible for Youth, a parliamentary commission and a number of administrative departments with ‘youth’ in their title and a large number of specific youth-related budget items. Given the fact that every Community has its own Minister for Youth, this means Belgium has three.

In the case of Belgium, the internal priorities identified were as follows:

In the Flemish Community:

• The divide in the level of schooling which causes a political and socio-economic dichotomy
• The ideological and cultural divide which makes that (still) some target groups are not reached: does multiculturalism work?
• The role of the government/public authorities: up to what extend [sic] should it be steering; what is it the citizen can and/or should expect? The positioning of Youth Work in society?

In the French-speaking Community:

• The Youth Policy Plan is currently in preparation in the French-speaking Community. The process is already engaged and will continue during 2011 at least. The Cabinet of the Minister for Youth would like to get feedback, comments and suggestions on the methodology, the content, the process on the way.

In the German-speaking Community:

• Development of flexible instruments and methods, enabling a comprehensive and quality youth policy, based on knowledge and information - therefore:
• Two main projects of the actual youth policy: a) reform of formation and training (in youth work) of young people, youth workers, youth leaders and b) creation of a new framework for/of youth policy.

Both should be reached by:

• The new funding decree for youth work. This decree will start in 2012. It will allow a better transversal approach in order to respect in a more holistic way young people’s life, enhance participation of young people and participation of the youth sector in the design and in the implementation of youth work, allow evaluation on the basis of quality and not only on the basis of quantity, reinforce the participation of the municipalities in design and implementation of youth policy.