Federal government 1992 - Belgium ratifies Maastricht Treaty on European union. 1996 - Paedophile murder case exposes corruption among judiciary and police. 1999 - Belgium adopts the euro for banking and accounting purposes. Euro coins and notes will be introduced in January 2002. 1999 - Dioxin contamination scandal.
Many nations ban Belgian food exports.
New centre-right coalition takes power, led by Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. It is Belgium's worst rail accident in 25 years.