The Federal Government
The power of the Federal State covers everything connected with the public interest. In the general interest of all Belgians, the Federal State manages the public finances, the army, the judicial system, social security, foreign affairs as well as substantial parts of public health and home affairs.
The Federal State retains a considerable "common heritage". This includes the judicial system, the army, the federal police, social security and important laws in the field of social security (unemployment, pensions, child benefit, health insurance), public debt, monetary policy, prices and incomes policy, protection of savings, nuclear energy, state-owned companies (such as Belgian Railways and the Post Office), and the federal scientific and cultural institutions. The federal state is also responsible for the obligations of Belgium and its federalised institutions towards the EU and NATO.
The Federal Government's powers also cover everything that does not expressly come under the remit of the Communities or Regions. It can also exempt and restrict powers of the Communities and the Regions.
The Communities
The Communities have powers relating to culture (theatre, libraries, audiovisual media, etc.); education; the use of languages; and matters relating to the individual which concern health policy (curative and preventive medicine) and assistance to individuals (such as the protection of youth, social welfare, aid to families and immigrant assistance services). Their remit also extends to scientific research and international relations associated with these areas.
The Regions
Regions have powers in fields that are connected with their region or territory in the widest meaning of the term. The Flemish Region, the Brussels-Capital Region and the Walloon Region have powers relating to the economy, employment, agriculture, water policy, housing, public works, energy, transport (except Belgian Railways), the environment, town and country planning, nature conservation, credit, foreign trade, supervision of the provinces, communes and inter-communal utility companies.
They also have powers relating to scientific research and international relations in those fields.
The Communities
The Regions
Source: http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/federale_staat/
