Language Research

4. Minority groups: To what extent are minority groups in this country disadvantaged by their language?

Updated (September 2008)

THE EU COMMISSION IS SEEKING EXPLANATION FROM THE BELGIAN AUTHORITIES OVER THE LANGUAGE RULE IN FLANDERS

The European Commission is seeking an explanation from the Belgian authorities over complaints by French-speaking inhabitants who say they are discriminated against buying public housing in the town of Zaventem because they do not speak Dutch.

A justice spokesperson said the commission sent a letter on 22 August for clarification about reports that a number of Dutch-speaking communes are making the use of their regional language a condition for access to public homes.

In March, a United Nations committee expressed concern that Belgium's Flemish community had adopted a decree “restricting access to social housing to persons who speak or make the commitment to learn Dutch”. The committee voiced concern that the town of Zaventem, near Brussels, was restricting the sale of public land to Dutch-speakers or people committed to learning Dutch.

The language divide is a long-running problem in Belgium; the divide has been at the root of a political crisis in the kingdom, which borders both France and the Netherlands, amid a struggle by Flanders to win more powers.

Only the Brussels capital region is officially bilingual with, for example, road signs in both languages.

The French community regards the housing language rules as thinly veiled measures to keep them out of Dutch-speaking Flanders.

The Flemish authorities, on the other hand, argue that the rules are there to foster community spirit in the Dutch-speaking region, so that everyone can talk to their neighbors.