VGC: the Flemish Community Commission

The VGC (Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie) is the Dutch-speaking counterpart of COCOF. It manages Flemish community matters in Brussels: culture, education, welfare, sport. The VGC plays a central role for the Dutch-speaking community in Brussels and its institutions.

Governance

The VGC Assembly consists of the 17 parliamentarians from the Dutch language group of the Brussels Parliament. Its College consists of the Dutch-speaking members of the regional government. Unlike COCOF, the VGC does not have decree-making power: it adopts 'verordeningen' (regulations), not decrees.

Competences

Dutch-speaking culture — Education — Welfare and social assistance — Sport — Reception and integration — Training. The VGC manages a network of Dutch-speaking institutions in Brussels: community centres, libraries, youth centres, etc.

Link with the Flemish Community

The VGC is structurally closer to the Flemish Government than COCOF is to the French Community government. Flanders invests heavily in its Brussels institutions through the VGC, considering Brussels as its capital. This strong link means that Dutch-speaking institutions in Brussels are often better funded per capita than French-speaking institutions.