Benelux
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Benelux
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 Location of Benelux in Europe
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| Official languages | Dutch and French, non-official: Frisian, German and Luxembourgish. | |||
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| Website http://www.benelux.be/ |
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The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe that includes three neighboring monarchies, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (België/Belgique/Belgien - Nederland - Lëtzebuerg/Luxembourg/Luxemburg), which lie in the north western European region between France and Germany. The name is formed from the beginning of each country's name; it was possibly created for the Benelux Customs Union,[1] although according to The Economist it was coined somewhat earlier, in August 1946, by that newspaper's correspondent in Belgium.[2] However, it is now used in a more generic way. The Benelux region has a total population of about 27,562,217 and occupies an area of approximately 74,640 km² (28,819 sq mi). Thus, the Benelux has a population density of 369/km² (956/sq mi).
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[edit] History
The treaty establishing the Benelux Customs Union was signed on September 5, 1944, by the governments in exile of the three countries in London, and entered into force in 1948. It ceased to exist on November 1, 1960, when it was replaced by the Benelux Economic Union after a treaty signed in The Hague on February 3, 1958. It was preceded by the (still existent) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union, established on July 25, 1921.
Its founding contributed to the founding of the European Union (EU), though the immediate precursors to the EU were founded later (the ECSC in 1951 and the EEC in 1957)[3]. The three countries were also founding members of these organizations, together with West Germany, France, and Italy. Article 306 of the EC Treaty stipulates that The provisions of this Treaty shall not preclude the existence or completion of regional unions between Belgium and Luxembourg, or between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, to the extent that the objectives of these regional unions are not attained by application of this Treaty.
[edit] Politics
A Benelux Parliament (originally referred to as Interparliamentary Consultative Council) was created in 1955. This parliamentary assembly is composed of 21 members of the Dutch parliament, 21 members of the Belgian national and regional parliaments, and 7 members of the Luxembourgish parliament.
The treaty establishing the Benelux Economic Union (Benelux Economische Unie/Union Économique Benelux) was signed February 3, 1958 and came into force in 1960 to promote the free movement of workers, capital, services, and goods in the region. Its secretariat-general is located in Brussels. The unification of the law of the three Benelux countries is mainly achieved by regulations of its Council of Ministers, that only bind the three states, but are not directly applicable in their internal legal orders. There is also a large number of Benelux conventions in a wide range of subject matters.[4]
[edit] Law
In 1965, the treaty establishing a Benelux Court of Justice was signed. It entered into force in 1975. The Court, composed of judges from the highest courts of the three States, has to guarantee the uniform interpretation of common legal rules. This international judicial institution is located in Brussels.
The Benelux is particularly active in the field of intellectual property. The three countries established a Benelux Trademarks Office and a Benelux Designs Office, both situated in The Hague. In 2005, they concluded a treaty establishing a Benelux Organisation for Intellectual Property which replaced both offices upon its entry into force on September 1, 2006.
[edit] Geography, Demographics and Languages
Dutch and French are the official languages of the Benelux and its institutions. Out of the total of 27.2 million people living in the member states 22.5 million (83 percent) speak Dutch and 3.9 million (14 percent) speak French, of whom 3.4 million are Walloons and 0.5 million are Luxembourgians (the latter also speaking German and Luxembourgish), whereas 3% is bilingual Dutch-French (inhabitants of Brussels Capital Region, appr. 1 million). Although it is not an official language of the Benelux and its institutions, Belgium and Luxembourg recognise German as one of the official national languages. In fact, there is a small German speaking community in Belgium seated in and around the town of Eupen. (See German-speaking Community of Belgium)
[edit] Sports
In 2000, Belgium and the Netherlands jointly hosted the UEFA European Championship. In June 2007, representatives of the three countries announced they would bid, as a single political entity, for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[5]
[edit] Future
The treaty establishing the Benelux Economic Union will expire in 2010. It will probably be replaced by a new legal framework, taking into account the evolutions since the 1950s, both within the three member states and concerning European integration.
[edit] References
- ^ Revue de l'Institut International de Statistique (1947) Vol. 15, No. 1/4. ( page 43
- ^ Going Dutch
- ^ Benelux memorandum (18 May 1955)
- ^ Benelux in a nutshell. General Secretariat of the Benelux. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
- ^ "Benelux countries launch 2018 World Cup bid", ESPN, June 27, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Benelux Economic Union - Official site
- Benelux Parliament - Official site
- Benelux Court of Justice - Official site
- Benelux Office for Intellectual Property - Official site
