The German-speaking Community within a Europe of the Regions
The DG holds a guaranteed seat in the EU Parliament and is also represented in the EU Council of Ministers whenever subjects that fall within its autonomous competence are being treated. It is represented by its Prime Minister in the Committee of Regions.
The DG may draw up treaties with European partners; it also ratifies EU decisions that lie within its areas of competence.
Tumultuous history
It was a long and tumultuous journey before the German-speaking Belgians finally found their modern home within the Belgian federal state. They changed nationality no less than four times in the last 150 years, three of these changes coming between 1919 and 1945.
After the Congress of Vienna in 1815 the area now known as the DG and the Walloon district of Malmedy were ceded to the Kingdom of Prussia. From 1870 they belonged to the German Empire. After the First World War, Germany was required to surrender Eupen, Malmedy and St.Vith to Belgium as war reparations.
In 1940 Hitler annexed Eupen-Malmedy. The men of the region had to report for mustering into the German armed forces. More than 3,000 of the 8,700 soldiers signed up never returned. In September 1944 the Eastern Cantons, as they were known, were liberated by allied troops. The Belgian state once again assumed sovereignty. Shortly thereafter, beginning on the 16th December 1944, the Belgian Eifel and Walloon Malmedy suffered devastating damage in the Ardennes offensive.
After 1944, a cleansing hysteria gripped Belgium. A court file was drawn up for almost every second East Belgian; one in six adults was either arrested or interned.
The German-speaking region was initially recognized by the Language Laws of the early 1960s. As a result of further reforms to the Belgian state, the DG was gradually able to increase its autonomy.