Common Community Commission (COCOM)
The Common Community Commission (COCOM) regulates and manages matters common to the two communities in the Brussels-Capital Region. Cocom is also an institution for dialogue, which makes it possible to achieve maximum coherence between the policies pursued by the French and Flemish Communities in the Brussels-Capital Region.
The Common Community Commission (Cocom) plays a fundamental role in the Brussels region in the areas of assistance for individuals and Health. Created in 1989, Cocom is a fourth Community entity, alongside the French, Flemish and German-speaking Communities.
The Common Community Commission (Cocom) primarily regulates and manages individual-related matters (Health and Individual Assistance) in the Brussels region. It is responsible for people (Brussels residents, but also those who benefit from the services of health and individual assistance institutions) and for more than three hundred bilingual establishments and services (hospitals, CPAS, care services, reception centres, etc.) in these areas. Cocom - and more precisely the Cocom Administration - also integrates within its structure the Observatory of Health and Social Affairs, a study service on health and assistance to individuals in the Brussels region.
In the context of the Institutional Agreement for the sixth State Reform of 2011, Cocom has been entrusted with important additional competences for the benefit of Brussels residents and the institutions, centres and services established in the Brussels region.
Scope of action
Cocom focuses its activities on:
- all Brussels residents (French, Dutch and allophone residents alike);
- bi-communal health and individual assistance institutions (municipalities, public social welfare centres (CPAS) and any private institution which, on account of its organisation, does not depend on one of the two French or Flemish Communities);
- all beneficiaries of these institutions.
Institutions
The Common Community Commission comprises a legislative body (the Joint Assembly) and an executive body (the Joint Board).
Joint Assembly of the Common Community Commission
The Joint Assembly of the Common Community Commission is made up of the 89 members of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region. The 89 Brussels deputies are therefore members of both the Brussels Parliament and the Joint Assembly of the Common Community Commission.
Joint Board of the Common Community Commission
The Joint Board of the Common Community Commission (FR/NL)External link is made up of ministers of the Government of the Region but not the secretaries of state. The Joint Board is headed by the minister-president of the Government.
Agendas and Decisions of the Joint Board are available online on Editoria websiteExternal link.
Office and services of the Joint Assembly
The Office and services of the Joint Assembly are the same as those of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region.
