Belgium moves step closer to decentralisation

Belgian political leaders moved closer on the 5 January 2011 to endorsing a blueprint for state reform that would transfer a significant amount of power to regional authorities, as part of efforts to revive stalled negotiations to form a government.

However, on the 6 January 2011, Johan Vande Lanotte, the royal mediator tasked with forming a new government stepped down. 'There is insufficient political will to continue the negotiations,' he said.

BBC News, 6.1.11: Belgian mediator resigns over government deadlock http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12128723

France24, 6.1.11: Belgian mediator gives up on resolving government deadlock http://www.france24.com/en/20110106-belgian-government-mediator-resigns-deadlock-french-flemish-johan-vande-lanotte

De Morgen, 6.1.11: Cowboys shoot down hopes for government (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/451631-cowboys-shoot-down-hopes-government

BBC News, 11.1.11: Belgium's King Albert rejects mediator's resignation http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12163817

ESO: Background information: Belgian general election, 2010 http://www.europeansources.info/record/belgian-general-election-2010/

ESO: Background information: New bid to break Belgian deadlock over government http://www.europeansources.info/record/new-bid-to-break-belgian-deadlock-over-government/

Deutsche Welle, 6.1.11: Belgium’s Flemish separatists block talks on coalition http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14753518,00.html

EurActiv, 7.1.11: Belgium political crisis hits new low http://www.euractiv.com/en/elections/belgium-political-crisis-hits-new-low-news-501056

---