The Benelux

Introduction

The Benelux Union brings together the kingdoms of Belgium and the Netherlands as well as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The acronym 'Benelux' incorporates the names of the three countries (Belgique/België, Nederland, Luxembourg).

History

Sharing the same political destiny throughout long periods of their history, the three countries recognised the necessity of closer cooperation following the events of the First and particularly the Second World War.

The Benelux was founded on 5 September 1944, when the governments of the three countries (still in exile in London) signed a customs union agreement which came into effect on 1 January 1948. A series of agreements led to the Benelux Economic Union, established on 3 February 1958 in The Hague.

Subsequently, projects on a larger scale like the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community took over from an economic perspective. Consequently, the economic dominance of the Benelux made way for a more political cooperation on a wider variety of topics.

On 17 June 2008, the cooperation was renewed and now bore the name of The Benelux Union. Today it mainly concentrates on three key themes: the internal market and the economy, security and society, as well as sustainable and digital cooperation.

Functioning

The Benelux functions through several institutions:

the Committee of Ministers (Comité des ministres) is the highest decision-making body which determines the strategy and priorities of the Benelux cooperation;
the responsibilities of the Benelux Council (Conseil Benelux) include the preparation of files for ministers;
the Benelux Secretariat-General (Secrétariat général Benelux) initiates, supports and ensures cooperation in the fields of the economy, sustainability and security;
the Benelux Interparliamentary Consultative Council (Conseil interparlementaire consultatif de Benelux - Benelux Parliament) consists of 49 deputies from the three countries, who inform and advise their respective governments on Benelux issues;
the Benelux Court of Justice (Cour de Justice Benelux) promotes uniformity in the application of Benelux legislation (intellectual property, penalty payment, recovery of tax claims, protection of birds, equality in tax treatment). It has binding decision-making powers regarding the Benelux common legal provisions.

Moreover, the Benelux Organisation for Intellectual Property and the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property are responsible for intellectual property issues within the Benelux.

The presidency of the Benelux is held in turn by the three countries for a period of one year. The most recent Luxembourg presidency was in 2016.

News items on gouvernement.lu (in French and English)

Legislation (selection)

A) Main texts

New Benelux Treaty (since 2010): Law of 4 June 2009 approving the revision
- of the Treaty establishing the Benelux Economic Union, signed on 3 February 1958,
- the Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the Benelux Union,
- the Declaration
signed in The Hague on 17 June 2008 (in French - texts included in the document)

Benelux Economic Union (former Benelux treaty, in force from 1960 to 2010):
- Treaty establishing the Benelux Economic Union (3 February 1958 - PDF, in French)
- Modified law of 5 August 1960 approving the Treaty establishing the Benelux Economic Union, the Agreement containing the transitional conditions and the Protocol of signature, signed in The Hague on 3 February 1958 (in French)

B) Other texts (selection)

Customs union:
- Customs Convention between the governments of Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands (5 September 1944 - PDF, in French)
- Modified law of 23 July 1947 approving the Customs Convention signed in London on 5 September 1944 between the governments of Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as the Protocol of this Convention drafted in The Hague on 14 March 1947 (in French)
Unification of the customs territory:
- Convention on the unification of the Benelux customs territory (29 April 1969 - PDF, in French)
- Law of 18 December 1970 approving the Convention on the unification of the Benelux customs territory, signed in The Hague on 29 April 1969 (in French)
Removal of border controls:
- Protocol on the removal of controls and formalities at the borders within the Benelux and the removal of barriers to free movement (29 April 1969 - PDF, in French)
- Law of 28 January 1971 approving the Protocol on the removal of controls and formalities at the borders within the Benelux and the removal of barriers to free movement, signed in The Hague on 29 April 1969 (in French)
Benelux Court of Justice:
- Treaty on the establishment and status of a Benelux Court of Justice (31 March 1965 - PDF, in French)
- Modified law of 10 July 1973 approving the Treaty on the establishment and status of a Benelux Court of Justice, signed in Brussels on 31 March 1965 (in French)
Penalty payments:
- Benelux Convention providing a uniform law on penalty payments (26 November 1973 - PDF, in French)
- Law of 21 July 1976 approving the Benelux Convention providing a uniform law on penalty payments, signed in The Hague on 26 November 1973 (in French)
Nature / landscapes:
- Benelux Convention on nature conservation and the protection of landscapes (8 June 1982 - PDF, in French)
- Modified law of 14 July 1983 approving the Benelux Convention on nature conservation and the protection of landscapes, signed in Brussels on 8 June 1982 (in French)
Cooperation between territorial communities and authorities:
- Benelux Convention on cross-border cooperation between territorial communities and authorities (12 September 1986 - PDF, in French)
- Law of 31 July 1987 approving the Benelux Convention on cross-border cooperation between territorial communities and authorities, signed in Brussels on 12 September 1986 (in French)
Designs and models: Modified law of 16 May 2006 on the approval of the Benelux Convention on intellectual property (trademarks and designs or models), signed in The Hague on 25 February 2005 (convention text included in the document)

Road Transport Inspection: Law of 5 August 2015 approving the Benelux Treaty on cross-border cooperation for road transport inspection, signed in Liège on 3 October 2014 (treaty text included in the document)