VVSG (Flemish Cities & Municipalities)

Belgium’s densely populated northern region is heavily populated as well as being a key transit route between the UK and northern Europe

Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern region of Belgium, has six million inhabitants living in five provinces – Antwerp, Limburg, East Flanders, West Flanders and Flemish Brabant. It accounts for 60 per cent of the Belgian population, the majority living in urban areas (97%). Belgium has one of the highest population densities in Europe. Its most densely inhabited area is the Flemish Diamond between Antwerp, Leuven, Brussels and Ghent.

The Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (Vereniging van Vlaamse Steden en Gemeenten or VVSG) represents the 308 local municipalities in Flanders. It promotes the interests of its members and facilitates cooperation between members, and with provincial, regional and national authorities, as well as with communities and institutions inside and outside Europe.

VVSG supports its members by:

• Developing and supporting initiatives that enhance the quality of local policy-making and local democracy
• Organising seminars for councillors and municipal employees
• Distributing information to local authorities via new media, periodical, books and a documentation service
• Negotiates with trade unions and government on behalf of its members.

“Among its responsibilities VVSG deals with local mobility policy. Cities and municipalities have lots of issues and options when it comes to planning traffic circulation, road congestion, parking policy, taxis, road safety, education and awareness, enforcement, sustainable transport, traffic signs and mobility management,” said VVSG Transport staff member Erwin Debruyne.

“Following decriminalisation of parking offences the Flemish cities and municipalities face two problems, identifying foreign offenders and enforcing the payment of fines against them. This is especially a problem in tourist areas, the larger cities and municipalities near the border and ports.

“Parking enforcement problems can subvert local parking policy and native citizens complain that they have to pay fines while foreign offenders don’t.

“For both these problems a European solution is needed. We believe that through the SPARKS Network we can raise awareness of the issues we face with European decision and policy makers and offer practical suggestions for a solution as well as exchange experiences with other network members.”

For further information on VVSG visit www.vvsg.be