How do Belgium’s community councils influence language and education?

In Belgium, the community councils hold primary authority over cultural matters, which explicitly includes the use of language and education. Following constitutional reforms that transitioned the country into a federal state, these councils were established to represent the major language communities: Flemish, French, and German.1

Their influence manifests in several key ways:

• Education Management: The communities oversee parallel systems of primary and secondary public schools, ensuring that instruction is provided in the respective language of the community. In the Brussels-Capital Region, for example, the French- and Flemish-language communities manage these school networks, allowing families to choose between the two language systems.23
• Cultural and Linguistic Oversight: Beyond schooling, the councils exercise authority over the use of language in public life and cultural affairs. This includes the management of public broadcasting services, such as the Belgian Radio-Television of the French Community (RTBF) and the Flemish Radio and Television Network (VRT), which operate autonomously to serve their respective linguistic populations.14
• Political Representation: The community councils also play a role in the national political process, as they are responsible for designating certain members of the Senate.5