Abstract: Over the last five decades Belgium has evolved into a federation with the aim of pacifying the divergent preferences of its constituent communities. In the light of the ongoing pressure on the current Belgian federal model, this article questions what other models might be appropriate for the Belgian political system. To that end, we take stock of three theoretical approaches used to describe the European Union, consider the extent to which they accord with the features of the Belgian federation, and discuss what remedies they might offer the Belgian case. The three approaches germane to the EU are: the intergovernmental or confederal model; the supranational or federal model; and the intermediary demoicratic or federation of states model. To this end, we pay specific attention to the relationship between the demos and the demoi, as well as between executive and legislative functions within and across government levels.