BRUSSELS – Belgium’s highest court, the Council of State, has criticised the proposals to split Brussels-Hal-Vilvorde into two.

In its judgment, the Council said it does not reject the idea of making Hal-Vilvorde a part of Flanders, but it criticised plans for managing the electoral boundaries.

Under the plans, Flemish politicians would still be present in the Brussels parliament while French-speaking politicians in the area would lose a part of their electorate.

The Council says that could be discriminatory and has therefore passed the decision on the change onto the federal parliament for further debate.

[Copyright Expatica 2004]

Subject: Belgian news