COMMUNES À FACILITÉS

   The communes à facilités comprise six towns that border the Brussels Capital Region (BCR) located within Flemish Brabant in which French-speakers have been granted rights to administrative services and education. They include Drogenbos, Linkebeek, and Rhode-Saint-Genesius on the south; Kraainhem and Wezembeek-Oppem on the east; and Wemmel to the north. French speakers now form the majority population in each of the six, and that reality, in face of the fact that by law the communes constitute an integral part of Flanders, will likely spawn continuing controversy. Claims that they form a natural extension of the bilingual BCR are countered by resolute Flemish opposition to any change in their status. Accords in 2001 strengthened their adhesion to Flanders.

   See also Federalization.