Macro-environment analysis oI Belgium and Spain

ENVIRONMENT BELGIUM SPAIN

Natural
















Total area 30,528 sq km
Land 30,278 sq km
Water 250 sq km
Climate temperate; mild winters,
cool summers; rainy, humid,
cloudy
Terrain
Ilat coastal plains in northwest,
central rolling hills, rugged
mountains oI Ardennes Forest in
southeast
Natural resources:
construction materials, silica sand,
carbonates, arable land
Natural hazards:
Ilooding is a threat along rivers
and in areas oI reclaimed coastal
land, protected Irom the sea by
concrete dikes
Environment - current issues:
the environment is exposed to
intense pressures Irom human
activities urbanization, dense
transportation network, industry,
extensive animal breeding and
crop cultivation; air and water
pollution also have repercussions
Ior neighboring countries;
uncertainties regarding Iederal
and regional responsibilities (now
resolved) had slowed progress in
tackling environmental challenges

Total Area 505,370 sq km
Land 498,980 sq km
Water 6,390 sq km
Climate temperate; clear, hot summers
in interior, more moderate and cloudy
along coast; cloudy, cold winters in
interior, partly cloudy and cool along
coast
Terrain large, Ilat to dissected plateau
surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees
Mountains in north
Natural resources:
coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc,
uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites,
magnesite, Iluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite,
kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts, occasional Ilooding
volcanism Spain experiences volcanic
activity in the Canary Islands, located
oII AIrica's northwest coast; Teide has
been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by
the International Association oI
Volcanology and Chemistry oI the
Earth's Interior, worthy oI study due to
its explosive history and close
proximity to human populations; La
Palma, which last erupted in 1971, is
the most active oI the Canary Islands
volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other
historically active volcano
Environment - current issues:
pollution oI the Mediterranean Sea Irom
Macro-environment analysis oI Belgium and Spain

Natural

Geography - note:
crossroads oI Western Europe;
most West European capitals
within 1,000 km oI Brussels, the
seat oI both the European Union
and NATO


raw sewage and eIIluents Irom the
oIIshore production oI oil and gas;
water quality and quantity nationwide;
air pollution; deIorestation;
desertiIication
Geography - note:strategic location
along approaches to Strait oI Gibraltar;
Spain controls a number oI territories in
northern Morocco including the
enclaves oI Ceuta and Melilla, and the
islands oI Penon de Velez de la
Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas
ChaIarinas









Demographic











Ethnic groups:
Fleming 58, Walloon 31,
mixed or other 11
Religions
Roman Catholic 75, other
(includes Protestant) 25
Languages
Dutch (oIIicial) 60, French
(oIIicial) 40, German (oIIicial)
less than 1, legally bilingual
(Dutch and French)
Population
10,431,477 (July 2011 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years 15.9 (male
846,706/Iemale 812,486)
15-64 years 66.1 (male
3,475,404/Iemale 3,416,060)
65 years and over 18 (male
783,895/Iemale 1,096,926)
Median age:
Ethnic groups
composite oI Mediterranean and Nordic
types
Religions
Roman Catholic 94, other 6
Languages
Castilian Spanish (oIIicial) 74,
Catalan 17, Galician 7, Basque 2
Population
46,754,784 (July 2011 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years 15.1 (male
3,646,614/Iemale 3,435,311)
15-64 years 67.7 (male
16,036,556/Iemale 15,637,090)
65 years and over 17.1 (male
3,389,681/Iemale 4,609,532) (2011 est.)
Median age:
total 40.5 years
male 39.3 years
Iemale 41.9 years (2011 est.)
Macro-environment analysis oI Belgium and Spain

Demographic
Social
Cultural















total 42.3 years
male 41 years
Iemale 43.6 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.071 (2011 est.)
Urbanization
urban population 97 oI total
population (2010)
rate oI urbanization 0.4 annual
rate oI change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities - population
BRUSSELS (capital) 1.892
million; Antwerp 961,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
at birth 1.045 male(s)/Iemale
under 15 years 1.04
male(s)/Iemale
15-64 years 1.02 male(s)/Iemale
65 years and over 0.71
male(s)/Iemale
total population 0.96
male(s)/Iemale (2011 est.)
Education expenditures:
6.01 oI GDP (2007)
Literacy
deIinition age 15 and over can
read and write
total population 99
male 99
Iemale 99 (2003 est.)
Health expenditures:
11.8 oI GDP (2009)
Broadcast media:
a segmented market with the three
Population growth rate:
0.574 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world 145
Urbanization
urban population 77 oI total
population (2010)
rate oI urbanization 1 annual rate oI
change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities - population
MADRID (capital) 5.762 million;
Barcelona 5.029 million; Valencia
812,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
at birth 1.065 male(s)/Iemale
under 15 years 1.06 male(s)/Iemale
15-64 years 1.01 male(s)/Iemale
65 years and over 0.72 male(s)/Iemale
total population 0.96 male(s)/Iemale
Education expenditures:
4.3 oI GDP (2007)
Literacy:
deIinition age 15 and over can read and
write
total population 97.9
male 98.7
Iemale 97.2 (2003 est.)
Health expenditures:
9.7 oI GDP (2009)
Broadcast media:
a mixture oI both publicly-operated and
privately-owned TV and radio stations
broadcasting; overall, hundreds oI TV
channels are available including
national, regional, local, public, and
Macro-environment analysis oI Belgium and Spain

major communities (Flemish,

French, and German-speaking)
each having responsibility Ior
their own broadcast media;
multiple TV channels exist Ior
each community; additionally, in
excess oI 90 oI households are
connected to cable and can access
broadcasts oI TV stations Irom
neighboring countries; each
community has a public radio
network co-existing with private
broadcasters (2007)
nternet users:
8.113 million (2009)
international channels; satellite and
cable TV systems are accessible;
multiple national radio networks, a large
number oI regional radio networks, and
a larger number oI local radio stations
broadcasting; overall, hundreds oI radio
stations operating (2008)
nternet users:
28.119 million (2009)

Political
Government type:
Iederal parliamentary democracy
under a constitutional monarchy
Constitution
7 February 1831; revised 14 July
1993 to create a Iederal state;
amended many times;
Legal system:
civil law system based on the
French Civil Code; note - Belgian
law continues to be modiIied in
conIormance with the legislative
norms mandated by the European
Union; judicial review oI
legislative acts
National symbol lion
Disputes - international:
none

Government type:
parliamentary monarchy
Constitution:
approved by legislature 31 October
1978; passed by reIerendum 6
December 1978; signed by the king 27
December 1978
Legal system:
civil law system with regional
variations
National symbol Pillars oI Hercules
Disputes - international:in 2002,
Gibraltar residents voted
overwhelmingly by reIerendum to reject
any "shared sovereignty" arrangement;
the government oI Gibraltar insists on
equal participation in talks between the
UK and Spain; Spain disapproves oI
UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater
Macro-environment analysis oI Belgium and Spain

autonomy; Morocco protests Spain's

control over the coastal enclaves oI
Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands oI Penon
de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de
Alhucemas, and Islas ChaIarinas, and
surrounding waters; both countries
claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island);
Morocco serves as the primary
launching site oI illegal migration into
Spain Irom North AIrica; Portugal does
not recognize Spanish sovereignty over
the territory oI Olivenza based on a
diIIerence oI interpretation oI the 1815
Congress oI Vienna and the 1801 Treaty
oI Badajoz









Economy









Economy - overview
This modern, open, and private-
enterprise-based economy has
capitalized on its central
geographic location, highly
developed transport network, and
diversiIied industrial and
commercial base. Industry is
concentrated mainly in the more
heavily-populated region oI
Flanders in the north. With Iew
natural resources, Belgium
imports substantial quantities oI
raw materials and exports a large
volume oI manuIactures, making
its economy vulnerable to
volatility in world markets, yet
also able to beneIit Irom them.
Roughly three-quarters oI
Economy - overview:
Spain's mixed capitalist economy is the
13th largest in the world, and its per
capita income roughly matches that oI
Germany and France. However, aIter
almost 15 years oI above average GDP
growth, the Spanish economy began to
slow in late 2007 and entered into a
recession in the second quarter oI 2008.
GDP contracted by 3.7 in 2009,
ending a 16-year growth trend, and by
another 0.2 in 2010, making Spain the
last major economy to emerge Irom the
global recession. The reversal in Spain's
economic growth reIlected a signiIicant
decline in construction amid an
oversupply oI housing and Ialling
consumer spending, while exports
actually have begun to grow.
Macro-environment analysis oI Belgium and Spain

Economy


















Belgium's trade is with other EU
countries, and Belgium has
beneIited most Irom its proximity
to Germany. In 2010 Belgian
GDP grew by 2.1, the
unemployment rate rose slightly,
and the government reduced the
budget deIicit, which had
worsened in 2008 and 2009
because oI large-scale bail-outs in
the Iinancial sector. Belgium's
budget deIicit decreased Irom 6
oI GDP to 4.1 in 2010, while
public debt was just under 100
oI GDP. Belgian banks were
severely aIIected by the
international Iinancial crisis with
three major banks receiving
capital injections Irom the
government. An ageing
population and rising social
expenditures are mid- to long-
term challenges to public
Iinances.
GDP (purchasing power
parity):
$394.3 billion (2010 est.)
$386.7 billion (2009 est.)
$397.3 billion (2008 est.)
note data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$465.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2 (2010 est.)
Government eIIorts to boost the
economy through stimulus spending,
extended unemployment beneIits, and
loan guarantees did not prevent a sharp
rise in the unemployment rate, which
rose Irom a low oI about 8 in 2007 to
20 in 2010. The government budget
deIicit worsened Irom 3.8 oI GDP in
2008 to 9.2 oI GDP in 2010, more
than three times the euro-zone limit.
Spain's large budget deIicit and poor
economic growth prospects have made
it vulnerable to Iinancial contagion Irom
other highly-indebted euro zone
members despite the government's
eIIorts to cut spending, privatize
industries, and boost competitiveness
through labor market reIorms. Spanish
banks' high exposure to the collapsed
domestic construction and real estate
market also poses a continued risk Ior
the sector. The government oversaw a
restructuring oI the savings bank sector
in 2010, and provided some $15 billion
in capital to various institutions.
Investors remain concerned that Madrid
may need to bail out more troubled
banks. The Bank oI Spain, however, is
seeking to boost conIidence in the
Iinancial sector by pressuring banks to
come clean about their losses and
consolidate into stronger groups.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.369 trillion (2010 est.)
Macro-environment analysis oI Belgium and Spain

Economy


















-2.7 (2009 est.)
0.8 (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,800 (2010 est.)
$37,100 (2009 est.)
$38,200 (2008 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture 0.7
industry 21.9
services 77.4 (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.114 million (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 2
industry 25
services 73 (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.3 (2010 est.)
7.9 (2009 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-
24:
total 21.94
male 21.49
Iemale 22.49 (2009)
Population below poverty line:
15.2 (2007 est.)
Household income or
consumption by percentage
share:
lowest 10 3.4
highest 10 28.4 (2006)
nvestment (gross fixed):
20.4 oI GDP (2010 est.)
Budget:
$1.371 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.424 trillion (2008 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.41 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.1 (2010 est.)
-3.7 (2009 est.)
0.9 (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$29,400 (2010 est.)
$29,600 (2009 est.)
$31,000 (2008 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture 3.3
industry 26
services 70.7 (2010 est.)
Labor force:
23.09 million (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 4.2
industry 24
services 71.7 (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20.1 (2010 est.)
18 (2009 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total 37.85
male 39.08
Iemale 36.35 (2009)
Population below poverty line:
19.8 (2005)
Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
lowest 10 2.6
Macro-environment analysis oI Belgium and Spain

Economy
revenues $227.8 billion
expenditures $247 billion (2010
est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
48.9 oI GDP (2010 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4.1 oI GDP (2010 est.)
Public debt:
100.9 oI GDP (2010 est.)
100.4 oI GDP (2009 est.)
nflation rate (consumer
prices):
2.3 (2010 est.)
0 (2009 est.)
mports:
$285.1 billion (2010 est.)
$256.4 billion (2009 est.)
mports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and
equipment, chemicals, raw
diamonds, pharmaceuticals,
IoodstuIIs, transportation
equipment, oil products
highest 10 26.6 (2000)
nvestment (gross fixed):
22.5 oI GDP (2010 est.)
Budget
revenues $503.1 billion
expenditures $633.3 billion (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
35.7 oI GDP (2010 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-9.2 oI GDP (2010 est.)
Public debt:
60.1 oI GDP (2010 est.)
53.2 oI GDP (2009 est.)
nflation rate (consumer prices):
2 (2010 est.)
-0.2 (2009 est.)
mports:
$315.3 billion (2010 est.)
$287.7 billion (2009 est.)
mports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, Iuels,
chemicals, semiIinished goods,
IoodstuIIs, consumer goods, measuring
and medical control instruments




Technical





ndustries:
engineering and metal products,
motor vehicle assembly,
transportation equipment,
scientiIic instruments, processed
Iood and beverages, chemicals,
basic metals, textiles, glass,
petroleum
Agriculture - products:
sugar beets, Iresh vegetables,
ndustries:
textiles and apparel (including
Iootwear), Iood and beverages, metals
and metal manuIactures, chemicals,
shipbuilding, automobiles, machine
tools, tourism, clay and reIractory
products, Iootwear, pharmaceuticals,
medical equipment
Agriculture - products:
grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes,
Macro-environment analysis oI Belgium and Spain

Technical


Iruits, grain, tobacco; beeI, veal,
pork, milk
Airports:
43 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,826 km; oil 154 km; reIined
products 535 km (2010)
Railways:
total 3,233 km
standard gauge 3,233 km 1.435m
gauge (2,950 km electriIied)
Roadways:
total 153,595 km
paved 120,111 km (includes
1,763 km oI expressways)
unpaved 33,484 km (2008)
Waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular
commercial use) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
cargo ports (tonnage) Antwerp,
Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge
container ports (TEUs) Antwerp
(8,662,891), Zeebrugge
(2,209,715)

sugar beets, citrus; beeI, pork, poultry,
dairy products; Iish
Airports
154 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 9,359 km; oil 560 km; reIined
products 3,441 km (2010)
Railways:
total 15,293 km
broad gauge 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge
(6,950 km electriIied)
standard gauge 1,392 km 1.435-m
gauge (1,054 km electriIied)
narrow gauge 1,954 km 1.000-m gauge
(815 km electriIied); 28 km 0.914-m
gauge (2010)
Roadways:
total 681,298 km
paved 681,298 km (includes 15,152 km
oI expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
1,000 km (2009)
Ports and terminals:
Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao,
Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia
(Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de
TeneriIe (Canary Islands)

Students
Badulescu Claudia
Fodor Andreea

Hermenean Eduard
Rautoiu Elena