The Walloon parliament officially approved plans on Wednesday to grant city status to the commune of Libramont-Chevigny, which will become the French-speaking region's 70th city by royal decree.
The decree was approved unanimously by Walloon MPs who recognised the settlement's essential role in the development and economy of the Ardennes region. Libramont is home to nearly 12,000 Belgians and is currently the fifth most populous municipality in the province of Luxembourg.
Libramont is well known for its annual agricultural festival, which attracts around 200,000 visitors over four days. The city is also a transport hub, linking Brussels, Luxembourg City, Namur and Arlon by rail.
The city is of significant historical significance, home to traditional Ardennes architecture and monuments honouring the Ardennes offensive during the Second World War, also known as the Battle of the Bulge.
The bill to recognise the municipality, first tabled by liberal Mouvement Réformateur (MR) MP Anne Laffut, was supported by all the members of the Walloon parliament. François Huberty, MP for centrist Les Engagés, told local media that the new status would "strengthen the attractiveness and influence of the entire region."