[Menydh]

I too believe that the Walloons could be the main beneficiaries of a break-up, above the Flemish.

Though not through a state of total independence. While it is true that small states (such as Liechtenstein) have been fairing extremely well through long time, it is also true that such states have long established --and therefore solid and stable-- commercial and financial structures that have been the key to their relative success.

An independent Wallonia would still have to create such structures... and hope that they would work in a rapidly changing Europe. Or it could wrap itself around Brussels, and stagnate as a peripheral region for eurocracy services provider. With the many consequences that this would entail.

On the other end, the same that the author mentions a confederation system of Flanders with The Netherlands, a possibility for Wallonia could be a similar deal with France. Easy to be beneficial for the Walloons.

The details of such a deal, however, are important as they could spark the debate about other regions now a part of the French State, but with mixed ethnic influences or own ethnic identity. Or at the very least, given than any deal of reunion would undoubtedly be done under special circumstances which are unlikely to be covered by the Constitution of the French Republic, it would require a reform of the Constitution and consequently create a precedent that could be used by other territories.

As for Flanders, the article mentions a supposed excitement about a confederation from the Dutch. But it doesn't say a word on the feelings of the Flemish.

All in all, an interesting news article if it was not meant to be an analysis, even if only a summarized one.