Belgium's economic and monetary affairs Research Paper

Belgium's economic and monetary affairs - Research Paper Example Belgium consists of two major nationalists, the Flemish speaking north, and the French speaking Walloons in the south. The other subset arises from Brussels, the Bilingual capital, where the two major nationalists share official ranks. It is also a constitutional monarchy that experiences lots of tension and political instabilities, as the two major cultural groups in the separate regions, fail to reconcile their differences for the coalition governments to run effectively. Belgium, as a founder member of European Union has been an active contributor to pursue European integration, fully signed up to main measures of closer co-operation, comprising of Euro and Schengen convention (â€Å"Belgium and Luxembourg,† civitas.org.uk). Belgium hosts lots of General European institutions and meetings. The headquarters of EU, venue of EU council presidencies, EESC, and CoR institutions strongly linked to EU are all based in Brussels (â€Å"Belgium and the European,† belgium.be). With continued active participation in the EU, the Belgian’s lives, country policies and identity has been structured, due to common EU policies and objectives. In turn, Belgium has influenced European policymaking in economics and the finance sectors. With the country having the chance to hold seatings of major European Union institutions and meetings, the politicians within its region fully participate in decision making processes. Other nations could feel neglected as Belgium, United Kingdom, and Germany influence most of the decisions, but at the same time the power to object lies with the majority, which most of the countries do not show full commitment to. Even if Belgium is part of the small member states of the EU, it is well conversant with EU’s objectives, and takes advantage of been host to major EU functions, where personnel and policy experts actively participate, enhancing their argumentative power, which influences policy making that could favors

Separation of church and state Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Separation of church and state - Essay Example The religious beliefs have however had a visible role in the national culture, as well as in the daily American lifestyle. Should the separation of religions and the state hold? If so why should the state and religion be separated? If no, why should there not be a wall between the state and the church? Thesis statement: There should be a wall between the church and the state. The freedom of religion, as in the constitution of the land bars the government from creating any laws that either proclaim any religion as the one of choice or forbid the existence of any. This brings in freedom to individual citizens to be able to be part of any religious organization or none at all. The freedom is translated to public schools where no school is supposed to base its education on a religious perspective. This serves to maintain respect of individual beliefs. In this regard, most schools totally avoid religious connotations to anything. The respect realized, due to the governments stand is there fore a vital stimulant to healthy cohabiting as people would not feel offended fro belonging to a certain religious wing or not belonging to one. Government’s stand on there being a wall between the church and the state is necessary in downplaying religious discriminations and interference, necessary for peaceful coexistence. Due to this prevailing freedom, government properties such as buildings or any other venues are not allowed to discriminate against any entities that would seek to use the facilities, based on their religious affiliations. The government, however, protects the citizens from individuals who would try breaking the law on religious grounds. The government, as well, ensures that religion is not used as a basis to deny others of the basic rights such as voting, tenancy etc. The freedom of religion prohibits the government from interfering with the practice of any religion or imposing of policies that can interfere with the running of the religions. With the a bove points in focus, the government’s delineation from religious activities is vital in creating room for citizens of many backgrounds to coexist peacefully. From a political stand, the establishment of the separation-of-the-church-from-the-state clause in the constitution was very essential maintaining sobriety in the use of state funds. The clause acts to bar any religious organization from using government resources for their interest or to push their agenda. In this regard, a religion, irrespective of the majority public backing cannot enforce their ideas to their benefit, through the use of government resources. The clause, therefore seeks to tame the more popular religions from exhibiting control or dominance over the less popular religions. The neutrality of the government, hence, allows people to freely exercise their beliefs. The clause prevents those who may wish to force a particular belief on others from doing so. Such cases are students being forced to pray in s chool irrespective of their affiliations, people who may wish to erect religious monuments in government property or sticking to various religious accords in public. The clause allows the government to support programs that might have religious affiliations, but have a public advantage. Such a program is the school voucher program that grants vouchers to students to attend private schools that are religious in nature. Such funding, though might seem to have religious backing by the government, is