Europe has a tangible influence on numerous aspects of the daily life of Belgians, starting with their money. Since 2002, Belgians have had no need to change their currency when travelling to Helsinki, Lisbon or Ljubljana. So far, sixteen countries in the Union have already adopted the euro, the single European currency.
Our mobile telephones are also affected by European policy, with roaming charges for text messages and calls between Member States of the EU regulated at European level.
More and more students are taking advantage of the Erasmus programme to attend a course in another European country. Sometimes, this discovery of a different country and culture is the reason they later go and settle abroad, which is also an easy exercise in the European Union.
And entrepreneurs have not been forgotten; with the adoption of the Services Directive, it is now much easier to start trading in another country in the Union.
Brussels, a mini-Europe
The influence of Europe in Belgium is also felt in the daily lives of the inhabitants of Brussels, the capital of both Belgium and Europe. Home to the European institutions and the head offices of numerous international companies, Brussels now has one of the most multicultural populations in the world, with a mixture of languages and cultures making it a sort of mini-Europe.