In the conversation that MONEDA ÚNICA held with Francisco Fernández Fábregas, Ambassador of Spain, Belgium was presented as a country of great economic interest, which significantly occupies fourth place in terms of GDP in relation to the rest of the member countries of the European Union.
One of the key characteristics for understanding the country, as noted in the interview, is its rich cultural diversity, the most illustrative example of which is the official status of three languages that divide the country into two main areas: the French-speaking and the Flemish, since the German-speaking area is very localized. The Embassy emphasizes the respect and tolerance shown towards this regional and linguistic diversity, which is immediately apparent simply by looking at street signs, which display both French and Dutch.
The concept of Community is crucial to understanding the country as a whole, as reflected in its financial autonomy, which stands at 65%. "Its federal structure does not prevent Belgium from uniting as one when it comes to fighting for the country," the Ambassador points out.
Belgium is an unknown country, and Brussels is the linchpin, the point of consensus between the two Belgian regions: Wallonia and Flanders. "Belgium is a model country," the Ambassador adds, "whose essential virtue is dialogue and agreement; every decision is made by consensus, demonstrating its non-dogmatic and prudent nature."
The country's innovative aspect extends to its system of government; there are eight political parties divided into two representative poles of left and right. The Christian Democratic Party is the only one not represented in Parliament. It is significant that there is no far-right movement like the one occurring in other European countries, a consequence of the country's remarkable stability. Likewise, the Belgian monarchy is considered a point of reference for other countries.
"It highlights the respect and tolerance shown in the treatment of this regional and linguistic variety."
Belgium has commonalities with Spain, according to the Ambassador, so Spaniards can feel very comfortable in the country that currently receives 18% of the Spanish population.
It's important to note that only about 10% of Brussels' population is Belgian. While Brussels is similar in size to Madrid, its population is roughly one-third the size of Spain's capital.
Concluding the introduction of the country, the Ambassador points out that when speaking of Belgium, one must inevitably refer to the close relationship it maintains with the other two Benelux countries: the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
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