Municipalities with linguistic facilities

The municipalities with linguistic facilities or municipalities with facilities (Dutch: "faciliteitengemeenten", French: "communes à facilités") are Belgian municipalities with special law provisions to protect rights of their (historic) linguistic minorities. They are so-called 'municipalities with a special status'.

Related Topics:
Dutch - French - Belgian - Municipalities - Linguistic - Minorities

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Basically, in these municipalities it is possible to relate with the local and federal administration, in another language than the official language of the Region within which the municipality lies.

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For instance, in those municipalities, French-speakers in Flanders and Dutch-and German-speakers in Wallonia, and French-speakers in the German language area may obtain administrative documents from local public authorities or from certain federal authorities in their mother tongue. In addition, legislation on municipalities also provides for equal public funding for primary schools for the language minority, as well as information in the minority language from the national railway company. For public services and documents from intermediate authorities (such as the provincial and regional authorities), such rights do not exist, or to a very limited measure (e.g. certain summary information).

Related Topics:
Flanders - Wallonia

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