* 1970: The Belgian state was restructured into three regions: Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital Region. This was a significant step towards decentralization and recognizing the distinct identities within Belgium.
* 1980: Further decentralization occurred, with more powers transferred to the regions.
* 1989: The Brussels-Capital Region was granted a special status, becoming a bilingual region with its own parliament and government.
* 1993: Belgium's federal structure was further solidified, with the regions gaining even more autonomy and responsibility.
Therefore, while the Flemish Region was officially recognized in 1970, its development into a fully autonomous region was a gradual process spanning several decades.