Belgium is a federal state composed of Communities and Regions
Background
The budget negotiations in today's Belgian news are federal negotiations, and they can only be read against Belgium's layered state structure.
Belgium is a federal state, composed of communities and regions.
The concept of community refers to persons who make up a community and the bond that unifies them, namely their language and culture; Belgium has the Flemish, the French and the German-speaking Communities.
The regions were established on the basis of economic interests and are the Flemish Region, the Brussels Capital Region and the Walloon Region.
The European Union's country profile for Belgium records that decision-making powers are divided between three levels of government: the federal government, three language-based communities and three regions, which are legally equal but hold powers in different fields.
The Federal State keeps foreign affairs, defence and justice among its competences.
In plain words
Community A language and culture based entity in Belgium — Competent for education, culture and person-related matters.
Region A territory based entity in Belgium — Competent for economy, employment and territory-related matters.