Belgium is a country with complex institutional arrangements. This is especially true in environmental matters, because in this area, the Federal government and the Regions share responsibility for the implementation.

This also means that a large number of stakeholders and partners implement the environment policy in our country and contribute to environmental protection at national, European and international level. Therefore, cooperation is primordial between the different public environmental authorities.

In fact, the environmental policy developed by Belgium is based on the position statements given in international conventions, made binding by international treaties, materialised by operational strategies and the European legislation, finally adopted by Member States for implementation within their national framework.

This environmental policy is scientifically based: it is based on data and indicators that are regularly published in reports produced by the Federal government and by the Regions. It also undergoes various evaluation processes, for which the main instrument at the Federal level is the Strategic Environmental Assessment.

In order to strengthen this environmental policy, financial resources can be mobilised through European programmes or subsidies granted by the Federal minister.