Belgium Currency
Belgium (06/05)
The federal government ran a 7.1% budget deficit in 1992 at the time of the EU’s Treaty of Maastricht, which established conditions for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) that led to adoption of the common Euro currency on January 1, 2002. Among other criteria spelled out under the Maastricht treaty, the Belgian Government had to attain a budget deficit of 3% by the end of 1997; Belgium achieved this, with a total budget deficit in 2001 (just prior to implementation of the Euro currency) that amounted to 0.2% of GDP. The government has balanced the budget every year since. Belgium’s accumulated debt remains high, at 96% of 2004 GDP. ... [Read More]
Belgium
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: While most forms of monetary transactions are available (cash, credit cards), U.S. money orders cannot be negotiated in Belgium. Personal checks may only be cleared through a bank at which a person holds an account and clearance can take from two to four weeks. Banks and exchange facilities may refuse U.S. dollar denominations of $50 and $100 if they are not equipped with devices to identify counterfeit currency. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are widespread in Belgium and accept most U.S. ATM cards to withdraw funds. Travelers seeking to purchase Euros are more likely to find a more favorable exchange rate at banks than at money exchange facilities located at tourist locations, train stations, and airports. Please see our information on customs regulations at http://tr ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
On May 1, 1998, Belgium became one of the 11 EU member states that agreed to form a de facto currency union (European Monetary Union — EMU) with a single currency, the Euro. On January 1, 1999, exchange rates were irrevocably fixed among Euro zone currencies, with one Euro equal to BF 40.3399. Transportation AutomobilesLast Updated: 5/4/2004 4:50 AM ... [Read More]
Tips for travelers to Tanzania - "Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"
1 1 For updated information, please see the Tanzanian National website at http://www.tanzania.go.tz/index2E.html. 1 1 TRAVEL BY ROAD: Travel by land within Tanzania is very difficult due to poor 1 road conditions, frequent shortages of spare parts, and dangerous driving practices. Tanzania has a 50,000-kilometer road 1 network of which 40,000 kilometers are unpaved. During the rainy seasons (February-April and October-November), many of these 1 roads are impassable. Public transportation is often irregular and undependable; thefts occasionally occur on inter-city 1 buses and trains. Drivers should exercise extreme care and drive defensively, especially during rush hours, to reduce the possibility 1 of a motor vehicle accident. Think "left" at all times.1 To bring an automobile into Tanzania from a neighboring country, we strongly recommend the traveler obtain a valid 1 carnet, available from most travel ... [Read More]
Background Notes: European Community
Background Notes: European CommunityPA/PCSource: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public AffairsDate: Jan 15, 19911/15/91Category: Country DataRegion: EuropeCountry: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, PortugalSubject: Trade/Economics, EC[TEXT]Official Name: European Community (EC). Also referred to as the European CommunitiesPROFILEBackgroundHeadq ... [Read More]
Luxembourg (10/04)
Luxembourg has long been a prominent supporter of European political and economic integration. In efforts foreshadowing European integration, Luxembourg and Belgium in 1921 formed the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) to create an inter-exchangeable currency and a common customs regime. Luxembourg is a member of the Benelux Economic Union and was one of the founding members of the European Economic Community (now the European Union). It also participates in the Schengen Group, whose goal is the free movement of citizens among member states. At the same time, Luxembourgers have consistently recognized that European unity makes sense only in the context of a dynamic, transatlantic relationship and have traditionally pursued a pro-NATO, pro-U.S. foreign policy. ... [Read More]
American Embassy Dar es Salaam
1 1 For updated information, please see the Tanzanian National website at http://www.tanzania.go.tz/index2E.html. 1 1 TRAVEL BY ROAD: Travel by land within Tanzania is very difficult due to poor 1 road conditions, frequent shortages of spare parts, and dangerous driving practices. Tanzania has a 50,000-kilometer road 1 network of which 40,000 kilometers are unpaved. During the rainy seasons (February-April and October-November), many of these 1 roads are impassable. Public transportation is often irregular and undependable; thefts occasionally occur on inter-city 1 buses and trains. Drivers should exercise extreme care and drive defensively, especially during rush hours, to reduce the possibility 1 of a motor vehicle accident. Think "left" at all times.1 To bring an automobile into Tanzania from a neighboring country, we strongly recommend the traveler obtain a valid 1 carnet, available ... [Read More]
M) Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
Since 1997, the Superintendency of Banks and Other Financial Institutions (SBIF) has implemented controls to prevent and investigate money laundering including stricter customer identification requirements and the reporting of currency transactions and suspicious activity. These controls apply to all banks (commercial, investment, mortgage, private), savings and loan institutions, financial rental agencies, currency exchange houses, money remitters, money market funds, capitalization companies, and frontier foreign currency dealers. The institutions are also required to report currency transactions of more than U.S. $10,000 (or local currency equivalent), and suspicious transactions to a National Financial Intelligence Unit (UNIF) created in 1998 under the SBIF. The UNIF analyzes the suspicious activity reports and refers those deemed proper for further investigation to the appropriate enforcement authority, which could be the National Guard, Technical Judicial Police, or the Office of ... [Read More]
Mauritania (03/05)
Major suppliers--France 20.8%; Asia: 18.1%; Africa: 11%; Belgium: 8.8%; U.S. 3.5%. Currency: Ouguiya (UM). ... Information on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal Government Officials" listing in this publication). ... [Read More]
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