There is something funny about all of this. Even the most fervent of Flemish nationalists, like Bart De Wever, do not believe in the big-bang scenario. The ultimate goal of De Wever and his small but influential party N-VA may be the end of Belgium, but De Wever himself sees this happening in an “effervescent tablet scenario” – a slow diluting of the nation rather than a big explosion.

The false image of Belgium promulgated by the foreign press probably stems from the French speakers’ fear that Flanders has a hidden agenda directed at dismantling Belgium. The truth is that, no matter how much French speakers’ attitudes may get on their nerves, the majority of the Flemish do not want Belgium to disappear. Unlike the French speakers, however, they do not get all that passionate about it.

This image of a nation forever on the verge of imploding, flawed though it may be, is not what you need when you are in charge of the European presidency. How can you hope to find agreement between 27 member states if you cannot even hold together one country? This is one of the reasons why prime minister Yves Leterme organised a “ministerial super council” to which every minister from each of this country’s six governments was invited.

The super council took place in the Egmont palace, normally reserved for large diplomatic meetings. There may be a metaphor in this somewhere, but the reason was also practical: the Egmont palace is large enough, and it forms the perfect setting for inviting the foreign press to see just how united we can be.

But there are dark clouds on the horizon. Behind the scenes, former prime minister Jean- Luc Dehaene is working to find a solution to the divisive issue of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde. So far, nothing is known about this, but Dehaene has extended the original deadline of Easter (which led to De Standaard concluding that “Easter has been postponed this year”). Also, even outside the Egmont gates, ministers of the Flemish and federal governments quarreled.

Conclusion? Not all is well in this country. It never was, and it never will be. But don’t expect a big bang any time soon.