Council of ministers. Minutes of meetings

Collection

Title (official language):: Conseil des ministres. Procès-verbaux des reunions

Scope and content:: The finding aids for this fonds (available on paper and digitally) provide an overview of the topics and legislative proposals treated during the meetings of the Conseil des ministres (in chronological order). The following issues were notably discussed: expulsions, refugees, the situation of aliens in Belgium, hospitalisation of Jews (5th of May 1939), aid to Jewish refugees (19 May 1939, May 1939), conditions of admission of Jewish refugee children to state middle schools ( June 1939), “the question of Jewish refugees” (14 July 1939), etc.

Administrative/biographical history:: Like the function of Prime Minister, the Conseil des ministres / Ministerraad (Council of Ministers) was not enshrined in the Constitution. In theory, the Council of Ministers only acts in exceptional circumstances. In practice, it has played a key role since the 19th century. It was only officially introduced in 1970. Following the constitutional reform of 1993, the number of its members was reduced to 15, and senators and members of Parliament could no longer be members of the bureau of the Council of Ministers. The main policy lines of the country’s government are decided at the sessions of the Council of Ministers, where legislative proposals, decrees necessitating the intervention of different ministers, appointments of high state functions, etc. are discussed. Select ministerial commissions or committees are set up to deal with particular issues or to offer advice that is subsequently submitted to the Council. Since 1953, the head of cabinet of the Prime Minister is also the secretary of the Council of Ministers. (G. Coppieters, « De Ministerraad ", in P. van den Eeckhout & G. Vanthemsche (ed.), Bronnen voor de studie van het hedendaagse België 19e – 21e eeuw. Tweede herziene en uitgebreide uitgave, Brussel, Koninklijke Commissie voor Geschiedenis / Commission Royale d’Histoire, 2009, pp. 317-321; A.-M. Pagnoul, Chancellerie du Premier Ministre. Inventaire d’archives. 1944-1965, T 40, Bruxelles, ARA-AGR, 1989.)

Subject terms:: Children; Education; Education--Schools and universities; Expulsion; Health and medical matters; Health and medical matters--Hospitals; Migration; Migration--Immigration; Refugees

Finding aids:: R. Laurent, Répertoire numérique des microfilms de complément ou de sécurité conservés aux Archives générales du Royaume, I 253, Bruxelles, ARA-AGR, 1994; L. Verachten, Notulen van de Ministerraad. Procès-verbaux du Conseil des Ministres (1916-1949), 2 vol., I 252, Bruxelles, ARA-AGR, 1994; K. Devolder, Notulen van de Ministerraad. Procès-verbaux du Conseil des Ministres (1940-1945), 2 vol., I 252, Bruxelles, ARA-AGR, 1994.