What's up in Europe? | Page 19

Economics BELGIUM Economic Regional Differences by Melinda and Natasha We can see that the economy of the 3regions are based on different things. And it makes differences between those regions. We can’t talk about the econmy of Belgium without talking about the regional diffences between Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. First of all Brussels is the politicale, economics and curlturale European capital, a lot of European institutions take place in Brussels. Commuters come from all Belgium and also from neighbour countries to work in Brussels. Then we have the Flemish region where the ports of Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent take place, the port of Antwerp is the second largest European sea port. It is with the diamonds commerce and the chemistry industries the principal source of the Flemish economy. The last region is Wallonia wich is one of the most important steel-making centres in Europa. The economy of Wallonia is based on his machanical industries, space technology, biotechnology, glassworks and chimicals and electrical engineering. The GDP ( gross demoestic product ) is the biggest in Brussel with 61 353€/cap, then we have Flanders with 28 554€/cap and the last is Wallonia with 21 909€/cap. Another differences between the regions is the unemployement, 20% in Brussels, 5,2% in Flanders and 13,2% in Wallonia. But with the Marshall plan * , which is an initiative to help the Walloon economy, scientist believe that Wallonia will catch up the economic level of Flanders in 2087 because those last years Wallonia has a better grouth tah Flanders. So maybe one day the economy is the 3 regions is going to be equal. * the first Marshall plan was a American initiative to help Europa, in wich the United Sates gave economic support to help rebuild European economies after the World War II