Economy of Belgium force. One of the founding members of the European Community, Belgium strongly supports deepening the powers of the present-day European Union to integrate European economies further. About three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Together with the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium is also one of Benelux member states. Belgium's public debt is about 105% of GDP. The government succeeded in balancing its budget during the 2000–2008 period, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth and foreign direct investment dropped in 2008. In 2009 Belgium suffered negative growth and
Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium The Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium; ) represents interests of Taiwan in the European Union and Belgium in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a "de facto" embassy. It was established in 1976 as the Chambre de Commerce Sino-Belge. It was later renamed Far East Trading Services, Inc. Since the closure of the Luxembourg City office in 2002, it has also been responsible for relations with Luxembourg. The Luxembourg office had been established in 1975 as the Centre Sun Yat-sen. The Office is headed by a Representative,