1958 - Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg form Benelux Economic Union to promote free movement of workers, goods and services in the region. Federal government 1992 - Belgium ratifies Maastricht Treaty on European union. 1998 - Paedophile murder case exposes corruption among judiciary and police. 1999 - New euro currency introduced. 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.