> Language use

 

Languages may be freely used in Belgium. The public authorities, however, regulate the use of languages for administrative matters, education, industrial relations in companies and legal matters.

Remember that Wallonia has two linguistic regions : the French linguistic region and the German linguistic region.

The French Community is competent for the use of languages in the French linguistic region, except for the communes with linguistic facilities, where the use of languages comes under the Federal Authority.

The Federal Authority remains competent for the use of languages in the German linguistic region, whose 9 communes are communes with linguistic facilities. The German-speaking Community is, however, competent for the use of languages in educational establishments created, subsidised or recognised by the public authorities in the German linguistic region. The Federal Authority remains competent for the use of languages in legal matters throughout Belgium.

legal basis :
Constitution, art. 30, art. 129 et art. 130