* This blog is based on: (PDF 2a)

References

[1] van Dam, D. & Nizet, J. (2002) Wallonie Flandre, des regards croisés, Presses Universitaires de Namur & De Boeck Université, Bruxelles.
[2] See Drewe, P. (2010) Mixed scanning new style: a useful planning tool for Poland? (unpublished).
[3] Drewe, p. (2010) Innovation - a way out of the economic crisis for cities and regions? publication forthcoming.
[4] Ritsema van Eck, J. et al (2006) Vele steden maken nog geen Randstad { Many cities don't make yet a Randstad} NAi & Ruimtelijk Planbureau, Den Haag.
[5] Stroobants, J.-P. (2010) Le sort de Bruxelles, enjeu de tous les scénarios catastrophe en Belgique, Le Monde, 29 Avril.

8.

Where does Brussel, the third region, come in? We propose to treat this question at the level of Belgium comparing the latter to the Randstad Holland. The functioning of the Randstad has been analyzed in terms of:

* specialization (based on comparative advantages)
* integration or interaction
* complementarity or specialization leading to integration

* symmetry as opposed to hierarchy [4]

However weak and vulnerable the nation state, Brussels is positioned asymmetrically and hierarchically vis-a-vis the agglomerations of Flanders and Wallonia: both as capital region and capital of Europe. One can also expect a specialization as far as inter-firm relations are concerned, especially at the global level. The journey-to-work pattern reveals a high degree of integration: 34% of those working in Brussels live in Flanders as against 19% living in Wallonia. Thus it seems difficult 'to take Brussels out of Belgium', to create 'Brussels & Wallonia', 'Brussels & Flanders' or 'Brussels DC'. It has for example been estimated that if Flanders would have to pay taxes to 'Wallonia & Brussels', the total amount would equal the amount that Flanders today transfers to Wallonia in order to cover its social security deficit.

The economic weight of Brussels is somewhat weakened by its high unemployment rate: 16.3% in 2005 (21.5% of those aged 15 to 24 are unemployed; 51.7% are long-term unemployed). To this one has to add serious financial, linguistic and functional problems insufficiently catered for by the Flemish-dominated Federal State [5]. The 'Confederation model' - Brussels 'managed' by both Flanders and Wallonia - (recently proposed by Flanders) seems much less attractive than an inclusion of Brussels in a cross-border corporation between Flanders and Wallonia. This would require, among others, a strategic vision on Brussels as capital of both Belgium and Europe as well strategic projects aiming at solving Brussels' current problems, but also introducing, for example, large projects in the 'quartier européen'.

7.

How about cross-border cooperation between Flanders and Wallonia from the viewpoint of the intercity-network experience?

Here are the ingredients:
* complementary qualities of the constituent cities
* actual flows of persons, goods, services and information between them
* physical links of material infrastructure

* immaterial infrastructure, that is various forms of organizational links allowing for consultation and exchange of information

The criterion of complimentarity has already been covered. Actual flows and physical links are a matter of facts. Wat is really vital here is the immaterial infrastructure linking the two regions. A thorough diagnosis of the regards

croisés [1] is beyond the scope of this blog. The immaterial infrastructure revolves around groups of actors. Business firms, knowledge centers, and public authorities (including political parties) have to decide upon cross-border cooperation as a voluntary action. This is, no doubt, the weakest link. Should not the cooperation first be seriously discussed by Socialists, Christian Democrats, Liberals and Ecologists within each party among politicians from both regions?

Jacques Delors, faced with regional disparities within the EU, postulated the aim for solidarity (which is nowadays referred to as socio-economic cohesion).

At the end of the day, a cross-border cooperation between Flanders and Wallonia, too, is an act of solidarity. A narrowly defined Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) implies a refusal of what Ivekovic has called the vertical principle and 'father-figure' which enables to communicate with others over a higher office and to belong to it.

6.
Wallonia tries to promote technological innovations focusing on selected clusters of economic activities (clustering et grappage). It is an open question whether these clusters classify as innovative environments [3]. An important concentration of innovative businesses, however, is found in the Louvain-la-Neuve/Wavre area. Although officially belonging to Wallonia, this area is rather part of the Brussels agglomeration. Transterritorial networks are a typical ingredient of innovative environments. Flanders is involved via Leuven in a cross-border network with Eindhoven and Aachen. Note that Flanders has known a 'Third Industrial Revolution', centered on Leuven. What about Wallonia? Do the clusters have a transterritorial dimension, extending for example to Flanders? What about Flemish companies already present in Wallonia or considering locating there? The euroregional position of Liege vis-à-vis Maastricht, Aachen and Heerlen does not seem to have resulted in a real cooperation.

5.

The next step speaks for itself. One needs a strategic vision as well as strategic projects as known from the so-called mixed-scanning approach [2]. And one should also investigate the possibilities offered by ICT.

Two points ask for further comment though: a common spatial development perspective and an innovative environment.

Flanders and Wallonia do not really share a common, that is to say 'Belgian' spatial development perspective. Once upon a time, a global structural sketch has been produced for the Benelux. The latter had a certain symbolic value as a EU avant la lettre. Should it be revived at the price of adding two external borders to the internal one between Flanders and Wallonia?

4.

So far there is no sign of a will to embark in a cross-border cooperation between Flanders and Wallonia. The country first has to acknowledge the existence of an internal border. This should not be too difficult in a country where even political parties are organized along regional lines, where national elections are in fact regional elections.

It will not be easy to identify complimentarities between the two regions. The economic disparities dominate. It is clearly a strong-weak constellation in favor of Flanders (while once upon a time it has been the other way round). Adopting an other measure of wealth and a long-term perspective, however, may help to identify complementarities. The foremost indicator of per capita GDP tends to both underestimate and overestimate the real wealth of regions. It neglects social or non-market benefits or goods. Wallonia has more space and nature to offer with major settlements being situated in the valleys. Social costs, on the other hand - also not included in the measurement - tend to overestimate wealth. As the social costs of production, consumption and distribution are linked to population density, they can be expected to reach a higher level in Flanders (and Brussels). Wallonia, however, has to rid itself from the environmental damage it has inherited from its industrial past. These are just a few reflections on how to establish complimentarities between the two Belgian regions. This may also include cultural, social and intellectual complimentarities [1].

3.

Border regions, in order to be a real laboratory of European integration, must fulfill a number of conditions:

* Cross-border cooperation is essentially a voluntary action

* Socio-economic complimentarity is a key factor in cross-border cooperation

* Without a strategic vision and strategic projects there is no real cross-border cooperation

* Given the spatial proximity of the regions involved, cross-border cooperation requires a common spatial planning perspective

* The creation or reinforcement of an innovative milieu is a vital strategic project for a successful cross-border cooperation

* Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can be a strength and/or an opportunity in cross-border cooperation

2.
Flanders and Wallonia also belong to different economic worlds: Flanders ia more than a third richer than Wallonia and the latter has an unemployment rate more than twice as high as Flanders.
Instead of continuing with the list of differences between the two regions, we recommend to deal with Flanders and Wallonia as a case for cross-border cooperation. To do so we are going to use six theses based on (national) border regions in Europe; lessons from intercity networks and a comparison between Belgium (including Brussels) with the Randstad Holland.

Flanders & Wallonia: a case for cross-border cooperation

1.

Among the Flemish population of Belgium one finds supporters of independence. There are other examples in Europe such as Scotland, Corsica, Catalonia or the Basque country. But these are vertical conflicts, sometimes even violent between the regions in question and central government. In Belgium we have more of a horizontal conflict and therefore a case of inter-regional boundaries and, perhaps, of inter-regional cooperation. The focus is on Flanders and Wallonia. But there is also Brussels which further complicates the matter. Apart from the status quo, three possibilities exist: 'Brussels & Wallonia' (the French-speaking but not the French Community); 'Brussels & Flanders' the Flemish Community; and 'Brussels DC'. More about Brussels later.

Flanders and Wallonia are once again separated by a language barrier. Communication between the regions even seems to have become less easy since the Flemish prefer English as a second language to French and the Walloons stay basically 'mono-lingue'. Higher education is segregated along language lines. Ever since the spectacular splitting of the Catholic University of Leuven in 1968, the Flemisch Leuven became increasingly integrated into an English-speaking network, quite different from the French-speaking network of Louvain-la-Neuve.