Principles of the Flemish Movement in Connection with the State Reform

1979

Beginselen van de Vlaamse Beweging in verband met de staatshervorming

Political statement

Dutch

1979

Overlegcentrum van Vlaamse Verenigingen Brussels (BE)

Following the reformation of the Belgian state into a federal structure (see the Congrès National Wallon & Herman Vos’ earlier proposals for state reform) in 1970, a next endeavour followed in the ensuing years to further clarify and specify the federal state structure. This ultimately resulted in a proposal for state reform called the “Egmontpact”, which could rely on the support of the Flemish-national party Volksunie. Heavy protests however ensued the publication of the pact, including from numerous social-cultural associations and pressure groups associated with the Flemish movement, formally called the “Overlegcentrum van Vlaamse verenigingen” (Coordination Center of Flemish association). This document, which specifies the principles of the most important cultural associations of the Flemish movement, is an indication of the political tense context following Belgian state reform. The failure and heavy protests would ultimately contribute to the formation of a new political party, the Vlaams Blok.