The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe that includes three neighboring monarchies, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (België/Belgique/Belgien - Nederland - Lëtzebuerg/Luxembourg/Luxemburg), which lie in the north western European region between France and Germany. The name is formed from the beginning of each country's name; it was possibly created for the Benelux Customs Union,^[1] although according to The Economist it was coined somewhat earlier, in August 1946, by that newspaper's correspondent in Belgium.^[2] However, it is now used in a more generic way. The Benelux region has a total population of about 27,598,666 and occupies an area of approximately 74,640 km² (28,819 sq mi). Thus, the Benelux has a population density of 370/km² (958/sq mi).

ffff

Politics

A Benelux Parliament (originally referred to as Interparliamentary Consultative Council) was created in 1955. This parliamentary assembly is composed of 21 members of the Dutch parliament, 21 members of the Belgian national and regional parliaments, and 7 members of the Luxembourgish parliament.

The treaty establishing the Benelux Economic Union (Benelux Economische Unie/Union Économique Benelux) was signed February 3, 1958 and came into force in 1960 to promote the free movement of workers, capital, services, and goods in the region. Its secretariat-general is located in Brussels. The unification of the law of the three Benelux countries is mainly achieved by regulations of its Council of Ministers, that only bind the three states, but are not directly applicable in their internal legal orders. There is also a large number of Benelux conventions in a wide range of subject matters.^[3]

Law

In 1965, the treaty establishing a Benelux Court of Justice was signed. It entered into force in 1975. The Court, composed of judges from the highest courts of the three States, has to guarantee the uniform interpretation of common legal rules. This international judicial institution is located in Brussels.

The Benelux is particularly active in the field of intellectual property. The three countries established a Benelux Trademarks Office and a Benelux Designs Office, both situated in The Hague. In 2005, they concluded a treaty establishing a Benelux Organisation for Intellectual Property which replaced both offices upon its entry into force on September 1, 2006.

Geography, Demographics and Languages

Minority languages, regional languages and dialects in the Benelux

Sports

In 2000, Belgium and the Netherlands jointly hosted the UEFA European Championship. In June 2007, representatives of the three countries announced they would bid, as a single political entity, for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.^[4]

Future

The treaty establishing the Benelux Economic Union will expire in 2010. It will probably be replaced by a new legal framework, taking into account the evolutions since the 1950s, both within the three member states and concerning European integration.

References

See also

• Low countries
• Greater Netherlands

External links

• Benelux Economic Union - Official site
• Benelux Parliament - Official site
• Benelux Court of Justice - Official site
• Benelux Office for Intellectual Property - Official site

af:Benelux ar:?????? frp:Benelux be:???????? bs:Beneluks bg:???????? ca:Benelux cs:Benelux cy:Benelux da:Benelux de:Benelux el:????????? es:Benelux eo:Benelukso eu:Benelux fa:?????? fr:Benelux fy:Benelúks gl:Benelux ko:???? hr:Benelux id:Benelux is:Benelúxlöndin it:Benelux he:?????? lv:Benilukss lb:Benelux lt:Beniliuksas hu:Benelux államok mk:???????? ms:Benelux nl:Benelux ja:????? no:Benelux nds:Benelux pl:Benelux pt:Benelux ro:Benelux ru:???????? sq:Beneluksi simple:Benelux sk:Benelux sl:Beneluks sr:???????? sh:Benelux fi:Benelux sv:Benelux th:????????? vi:Benelux tr:Benelüks uk:???????? ur:??????? vec:Benelux zh:?????????