LANGUAGE POLICIES FOR

INTEGRATION/CITIZENSHI
P IN BELGIUM AND
FLANDERS
BELGIUM
 BELGIUM
Overview:
Before, French is the only language used by the public
authorities
In 1898, a Law of Linguistic Equality placed Dutch on
equal footing with French. It was not until after the
Treaty of Versailles that German was considered to be an
issue.
Following the failure of the law of 31 July 1921, which
favoured bilingualism throughout the kingdom, the law of
28 June 1932 determined four linguistic regions.
Belgium is a federal state, with 4 relatively
autonomous regions and governments:

1. Flanders in the north, where the language is

Dutch ("Flemish"),
2. Wallonia in the south, where the language is
French,
3. East Cantons where the language is German
4. The centrally located Brussels, which is
officially bilingual (French and Dutch). .
 BELGIAN NATIONALITY

There are conditions related to integration which vary depending on

situations. In order to obtain nationality, one has to proof the following :

• Knowledge of at least one of the 3 national languages (German, French and Dutch)
• Social integration through a diploma, a training session or a professional
experience (5 years’ uninterrupted work) or attendance at an officially recognized
integration programme organised by the competent authority.
• If the person has not yet lived legally in Belgium for 10 years, economic
participationthrough work (minimum 468 days) or through payment of social
security contributions (minimum 6 trimesters)
• If the person has lived in Belgium for over 10 years, participation to community
life.
 INTEGRATION PROGRAM

Programs include:
☑ language courses
☑ civic education
☑ vocational training
 L E G A L P R OV I S I O N S C ON C E R NI N G T HE
L I N G U I S T I C I N T E G R AT I O N O F MI G R AN T S AN D
P U B L I C FA C I L I T I E S F O R L I NG U I S T I C T R A I NI N G
AVA I L A B L E T O T HE M

THE FRENCH COMMUNITY  THE FLEMISH COMMUNITY

• In a decree of 14 June 2001, the French
Community implemented a provision
known as ‘bridging classes’ designed to
teach and facilitate the integration of
children newly arrived to the country.
• Bridging classes aimed to implement
intensive language teaching in French
(reduced numbers of students,
supplementary lessons) for children
aged between two and a half and 18
years, who had moved to Belgium
within the last year and not yet
mastered the French language. 
• As for the Flemish Community, the
decree of 28 February 2003 created a
citizenship competition
(Inburgering).
• This welcome policy for newly arrived
residents includes a training
programme where one of the purposes
is to learn Dutch. 
• With the  support of the Flemish
Community, immigrants are offered
language assistance by the commune. 
FLANDER
S
L I V I N G T O G E T H E R I N D I V E R S I T Y – L I N G U I S T I C I N T E G R AT I O N I N F L A N D E R S

•Civic Integration
•Second Language
Learning
 CIVIC INTEGRATION

1. Living Together in Diversity

2. Civic Integration Program
• A language course: Dutch as a second langauge
• A social orientation
• A career orientation
3. Shared Responsibility
 SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING

1. Target Group
2. Three Providers
•The Center for Basic Education
•The Center for Adult Education
•The University Language Center
3.Wide variety of Language Courses
4.Dutch Language Houses
Thank you for
listening! |( ￣ 3
￣ )|