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Brussels (Belgium) is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter. However it is important to note that the EU has no official capital with no plans to declare one. The city hosts the official seats of the European Commission, Council of the European Union, European Council and a second seat of the European Parliament.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Two chances 1.2 Early expansion 1.3 Merger 1.4 Edinburgh and the European Council 2 Status 3 Quarter 3.1 Commission - Berlaymont 3.2 Council - Justus Lipsius 3.3 Parliament - Espace Léopold 3.4 Other buildings 4 Demographics and economic impact 5 Future 5.1 Rebuilding 5.2 Pedestrian squares 5.3 Political status 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Further information: Location of European Union institutions#History

In 1951, leaders signed the Treaty of Paris which created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), and with this new community came the first institutions; the High Authority, Council of Ministers, Court of Justice and Common Assembly. A number of cities were considered, and Brussels would have been accepted as a compromise, but the Belgian government put all its effort into backing Liège,^[1] opposed by all the other members, and was unable to formally back Brussels due to internal instability.^[2]

Agreement remained elusive and a seat had to be found before the institutions could begin work, hence Luxembourg was chosen as a provisional seat, though with the Common Assembly in Strasbourg as that was the only city with a large enough hemicycle (the one used by the Council of Europe). This agreement was temporary, not even "provisional" and it was the intent that they would move to Saarbrücken as a "European District" which did not occur.^[3][4]

The 1957 Treaties of Rome established two new communities, the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). These shared the Assembly and Court of the ECSC but created two new sets of Council's and Commissions (equivalent to the ECSC's High Authority). Discussions on the seats of the institutions were left till the the last moment before the treaties came into force, so as not to interfere with ratification.^[5]

Brussels waited till only a month before talks to enter is application, which was unofficial backed by several member states. The members agreed in principle to locate the executives, councils and the assembly in one city, though could still not decide which city, so they put the decision off for six months. In the meantime, the Assembly would stay in Strasbourg and the new commissions would meet alternatively at the ECSC seat and at the Castle of the Valley of the Duchess, in Brussels (headquarters of a temporary committee). The Councils would meet wherever their Presidents wanted to.^[6] In practice, this was the Castle in Brussels's until autumn 1958 when it moved to central Brussels: 2 Rue Ravensteinstraat.^[7]

Brussels missed out in its bid for a single seat due to a weak campaign from the government in negotiations, despite widespread support from the people. The Belgian government eventually pushed its campaign and started large scale construction, renting office space in the east of the city for use by the institutions. On 11 February 1958, the six governments conclude an unofficial agreement on the setting up of community offices. On the principle that it would take two years after a final agreement to prepare the appropriate office space, full services are set up in Brussels in expectation of a report from the Committee of Experts looking into the matter of a final seat.^[8]

While waiting for the completion of the building on Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée/Blijde Inkomstlaan, offices moved to 51-53 Rue Belliardstraat on 1 April 1958 (later exclusively used by the Euratom Commission), though with the numbers of Civil Servants rapidly expanding, services are set up in buildings on Rue de Marais/Broekstraat, Avenue de Broquevillelaan, Avenue de Tervurenlaan, Rue d'Arlon/Aarlenstraat, Rue Joseph II/Jozef II-straat, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat and Avenue de Kortenberglaan. The Belgian government further provides newly built offices on the Mont des Arts/Kunstberg (22 Rue des Sols/Stuiversstraat) for the Council of Ministers' Secretariat and European Investment Bank.^[9][10]

A Committee of Experts deemed Brussels to be the one option to have all the necessary features for a European capital: a large, active metropolis, without a congested centre and poor quality of housing; good communications with other member states' capitals, including to major commercial and maritime markets; vast internal transport links; an important international business centre; plentiful housing for European civil servants; and an open economy. Furthermore, it was located on the border between the two major European civilisations, Latin and Germanic, and was at the centre of the first post-war integration experiment: the Benelux. As a capital of a small country, it also cannot claim to use the presence of institutions to exert pressure on other member states, it being more of a neutral territory between the major European powers. The Committee's report was approved of by the Council, Parliament and Commissions, however the Council was still unable to achieve a final vote on the issue and hence put off the issue for a further three years despite all the institutions now leading in moving to Brussels.^[11]

The decision was put off due to the varied national positions preventing a unanimous decision. Luxembourg fought to keep the ECSC or have compensation, France fought for Strasbourg and Italy, initially backing Paris, fought for any Italian city in order to thwart Luxembourg and Strasbourg. Meanwhile, Parliament passed a series of resolutions complaining about the whole situation of spreading itself across three cities, though unable to do anything about it.^[12]

The 1965 Merger Treaty was seen as an appropriate moment to finally resolve the issue, the separate Commissions and Councils were to be merged. Luxembourg, concerned about loosing the High Authority, proposed a split between Brussels and Luxembourg. The Commission and Council in the former with Luxembourg keeping the Court and Parliamentary Assembly, together with a few of the Commissions departments. This was largely welcomed but opposed by France, not wishing to see the Parliament leave Strasbourg, and by Parliament itself which wished to be with the executives and was further annoyed by the fact it was not consulted on the matter of its own location.^[13]

Hence, the status quo was maintained with some adjustments; The Commission, with most of its departments, would be in Brussels. As would the Council, but in April, June and October it would meet in Luxembourg. In addition, Luxembourg would keep the Court of Justice, some of the Commission's departments and the secretariat of the European Parliament. Strasbourg would continue to host Parliament.^[14][15][16]

In Brussels, staff continued to be spread across a number of buildings, on the Rue Belliardstraat, Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée/Blijde Inkomstlaan, Rue du Marais/Broekstraat and at Mont des Arts/Kunstberg.^[16] The first purpose built building was the Berlaymont building in 1958, designed to house 3000 officials which soon proved too small, causing the institution to spread out across the neighbourhood. Yet, despite the agreement to host these institutions in Brussels, its formal status was still inclear, and hence the city sought to strengthen its hand with major investment in buildings and infrastructure (including the Brussels Metro: Schuman station). However, these initial developments were sporadic with little town planning and based on speculation.^[17]

However the 1965 agreement was a source of contention for the Parliament which wished to be closer to the other institutions, it began moving some of its decision making bodies, committee and political group meetings to Brussels.^[18] In 1983 it went further by symbolically holding a plenary session in Brussels, in the basement of the Mont des Arts Congress Centre. However the meeting was a fiasco and the poor facilities partly discredited Brussels' aim of being the sole seat of the institutions.^[19] However, things looked up for Brussels when Parliament gained its own plenary chamber in Brussels in 1985 for some of its part-sessions.^[18] This was done unofficially due to the sensitive nature of the Parliaments seat, with the building being constructed under the name of an "international conference centre".^[17] The Parliament's half-move to Brussels was unsuccessful challenged by France in the Court of Justice, Parliament's victory led it to build full facilities in Brussels.^[20]

In response the Edinburgh European Council of 1992 adopted a final agreement on the location of the institutions. According to this decision, which was subsequently annexed to the Treaty of Amsterdam,^[18] the Parliament, although required to hold some of its sessions, including its budget session, in Strasbourg, extra sessions and committees could meet in Brussels. It also reaffirmed the presence of the Commission and Council in the city.^[21]

Shortly before this summit, the Commission moved into the Breydel building. This was due to asbestos being discovered in the Berlaymont forcing its evacuation in 1989. The Commission threatened to move out of the city which would have destroyed Brussels's chances of hosting the Parliament, thus the government stepped in to build the Breydel next to Berlaymont in 23 months, ensuring the Commission could move in before the Edinburgh summit. Shortly after Edinburgh, Parliament bought the its new building in Brussels. With the status of Brussels now clear, NGOs, lobbyists, advisory bodies and regional offices started basing themselves in the quarter near the institutions.^[17]

In 2002 it was agreed that the European Council should also be based in Brussels, having been moving between different cities as the EU's Presidency rotated. From 2004 all Councils were meant to be held in Brussels, however some extraordinary meetings are still held elsewhere. The reason for the move was in part due to the experience of the Belgian police in dealing with protesters and the fixed facilities in Brussels.^[22]

Like Washington D.C., Brussels is a centre of political activity with ambassadors to Belgium, NATO and the Union meaning there are more ambassadors based in the city than in the US capital. There's also a greater number of press corps in Brussels with media outlets in every Union member-state having a Brussels correspondent (although little representation of US press) and there are 10,000 lobbyists registered.^[23]

The Commission employs 25,000^[23] people and the Parliament employs about 5000 people^[24]. Because of this concentration, Brussels is a preferred location for any move towards a single seat.^[25][26]

There are two further cities hosting major institutions, Luxembourg and Strasbourg. At present the rail link between the three EU capitals is weak and there are plans for a high speed rail link from Brussels to the other two cities.^[27]

Most of the institutions are located within the European Quarter of Brussels, which is the unofficial name of the area corresponding to the approximate triangle between Brussels Park, Cinquantenaire Park and Leopold Park (with the Parliament's hemicycle extending into the latter). The Commission and Council are located in the heart of this area near to the Schuman station at the Schuman roundabout on the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat. The European Parliament is located over the Brussels-Luxembourg station, next to Luxembourg Square.^[16]

The area itself was historically residential, an aspect which was rapidly lost as the institutions moved in. Historical and residential buildings, although sill present, have been largely replaced by modern offices. These buildings were been built not according to a high quality master plan or government initiative, but according to speculative private sector construction of office space, without which most buildings of the institutions would not have been built.^[28] However, due to Brussels's attempts to consolidate its position, there was large government investment in infrastructure in the quarter.^[17]

Further information: Berlaymont building

The most iconic structure is of course the Berlaymont, the primary seat of the Commission. It was the first building to be constructed for the Community, originally built in the 1960s. It was designed by Lucien De Vestel, Jean Gilson, André Polak and Jean Polak and paid for by the Belgian government (who could occupy it if the Commission left Brussels). It was inspired by a UNESCO building in Paris, designed as a four-pointed star on supporting columns, and at the time an ambitious design.

Originally built with flock asbestos, the building was renovated in the 1990s to remove it and renovate the ageing building to cope with enlargement. After a period of exile in the Breydel building on the Avenue d'Auderghem/Oudergemlaan, the Commission reoccupied the Berlaymont in 2005 and bought the building for 550 million euros.

The president of the Commission occupies the largest office, near the Commission's meeting room on the top (13th) floor. Although the main Commission building, it houses only 2,000 out of the 20,000 Commission officials based in Brussels. In addition to the Commissioners and their cabinets, the Berlaymont also houses the Commission's Secretariat-General and Legal Service.

Across the quarter the Commission occupies 865,000m² in 61 buildings with the Berlaymont and Charlemagne buildings the only ones over 50,000m². Due to the accession of 12 new members in 2004 and 2007 staff has risen by 2,250 demanding an extra 35,000m² of office space. There are concerns that further buildings within the district will create a "ghetto effect". In response to this problem the Commission has, since 2004, begun decentralising across the city to areas such as avenue de Beaulieulaan and rue de Genèvestraat in Evere.^[29][30] Neither the Parliament or Council have followed suit and the policy of decentralisation is unpopular among the Commission's staff.^[31]

Further information: Justus Lipsius building

Across the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat from the Berlayont is the Justus Lipsius building which houses the Council of the European Union and the European Council. The Council's secretariat had originally been based in the city centre, and then in the Charlemagne building joining the other European buildings centred on the Schuman roundabout.^[15][16] From 2013 they will move info Résidence Palace next door once it has been renovated and the LEX building beyond that was occupied by the Council in 2007.^[31]

Further information: Espace Léopold

The Parliament's buildings are located to the south between Leopold Park and Luxembourg Square, over Brussels-Luxembourg Station which is underground. The complex, known as the "Espace Léopold" (or "Leopoldsruimte" in Dutch), has two main buildings: Paul-Henri Spaak and Altiero Spinelli which cover 372,000 m². The complex is not the official seat of the Parliament with its work being split with Strasbourg (its official seat) and Luxembourg (its secretariat). However the decision making bodies of the Parliament, along with its committees and some of its plenary sessions, are held in Brussels to the extent that three quarters of its activity take place in Brussels.^[32]

The Parliament buildings have recently been extended with the new D4 and D5 buildings being completed and occupied in 2007 and 2008. It is believed the complex now provides enough space for Parliament for the next ten to fifteen years with no major new building projects foreseen.^[31]

The Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions together occupy the Delors building, which is next to Leopold Park and used to be occupied by the Parliament. They also use the office building Bertha von Suttner. Both buildings were named in 2006.^[33][34] Brussels also hosts two agencies, the European Defence Agency (located on Rue des Drapiers/Lakenweversstraat) and the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation - (in Madou Tower). There is also EUROCONTROL, a semi-EU air traffic control agency covering much of Europe and the Western European Union which is a non-EU military organisation which is merging into the EU's CFSP.

30% of the population of Brussels are from outside Belgium, of this 30%, half are from other EU member states . About 3/5 of European Civil Servants live in the Brussels Capital Region with 63% in the communes around the European district. Half of civil servants are home owners. The institutions draw in, directly employed and employed by representatives, 50,000 people to work in the city. A further 20,000 people are working in Brussels due to the presence of the institutions (generating €2 billion a year) and 2000 foreign companies drawn into the city employ 80,000 multilingual locals.^[35]

In Brussels, there are 3.5 million square metres of occupied office space, half of this is taken up by the EU institutions alone, accounting for a quarter of office available office space in the city. The majority of EU office space is concentrated in the Leopold quarter. Running costs of the EU institutions total €2 billion a year, half of which benifit Brussels directly, and a further €0.8 come from the expenses of diplomats, journalists etc. Business tourism in the city generates 2.2 million annual hotel room nights. There are thirty international schools (15,000 pupils run by 2000 employees) costing €99 million a year.^[35]

In September 2007, the Commissioner for Administrative Affairs Siim Kallas, together with Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region Charles Picqué, unveiled plans for rebuilding the district. It would involve new buildings (220,000m² of new office space) but also more efficient use of existing space. This is primarily through replacing numerous smaller buildings with fewer, larger, buildings.^[36]

Although they would be taller than the current buildings (such as Berlaymont, Charlemagne or Madou), they would not be skyscrapers. The freed up space (some 180,000m²) would be given over to housing, shops, services and open spaces to give the area a more "human" feel. This would in particularly be around the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, which would be reduced from four lanes of traffic to two while transport links will be "optimised",^[36] including to Brussels Airport and Brussels-South station. A sixth European School may also be built.^[37]

Given the delays and cost of the Berlaymont and other projects, the Commissioner emphasises that the new plans would offer "better value for money" and that the designs would be subject to an international architecture competition. He also pushed that controlling the buildings carbon footprint would be "an integral part of the programme".^[36]

There are also plans to pedestrianise of part of the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat next to the Berlaymont.^[27] A new Place Schumanplein (currently the Schuman roundabout) would be one of three new pedestrian squares. Schuman would focus on "policy and politics"^[37] and Schuman station itself will be redesigned.^[38] Coverings over nearby motorways and railways would be extended to shield them from view.^[37]

A pedestrian and visual link would be created between the Berlaymont and Leopold park by demolishing sections of the ground to fourth floors of Justus Lipsius, the south "bland" façade of which would be redesigned. Further pedestrian and cycle links would be created around the quarter. Pedestrian routes would also be created for demonstrations. Next to the Parliament at Leopold Park, Luxembourg Square would become the second pedestrian square (focusing on citizens).^[37]

The third pedestrian square would be the "Esplanade du Cinquantenaire" or "Esplanade van het Jubelpark" (for events and festivities).^[39] Wider development may also surround Cinquantenaire Park with plans for a new metro station, underground car park and the Europeanisation of part of the Cinquantenaire complex with a "socio-cultural facility". It is possible that the European Council may have to move to this area from Résidence Palace for security reasons.^[37]

Charles Picqué has plans for a "new symbol of Europe" in the Quarter. This could be a ‘Maison de l‘Europe’ or 'Huis van Europa', acting as an emblem of Europe and back Brussels in its position as capital of Europe. This idea has also been touted by Commission President José Manuel Barroso who desires a "space reflecting the history of the European project". Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering wishes to use the Eastman Building, next to Leopold Park, as a House of Contemporary European History but has not yet won the backing of MEPs.^[31]

See also: Partition of Belgium#Brussels

In 2007, problems in forming a government because of different opinions concerning a state reform increased support for the independence of Flanders by Flemish independentalists from Belgium. Belgium currently operates a complex federal system between Flanders (Dutch speaking) and Wallonia (French speaking) which has been criticised by some but the system has also been compared to the EU, as a "laboratory of Europe". The Brussels-Capital Region, however, is surrounded by Flanders, yet is predominantly French speaking and officially bilingual.

In the event of independence, the future status of the city is unknown and problematic, but some have suggested it become a "European capital district", like Washington D.C. or the Australian Capital Territory, run by the EU rather than Flanders or Wallonia.^[40][41] However unlike these it would also be likely that Brussels itself would be an EU member state.^[42] The possible status of Brussels as a "city state" has also been suggested by Charles Picqué, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, who sees a tax on the EU institutions as a way of enriching the city. However the Belgian issue has very little discussion within the EU bodies.^[43]

It may also be supported by the political territory of the city extending into bordering municipalities in the Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant, these rich areas would not only make the city financially viable as an independent state but potentially give the city around 1.5 million inhabitants, an airport and forest within its boundaries and make it three or four times larger than the current capital region. A large and independent status may help Brussels in its claim as the capital of the EU.^[42]

• History of the European Union
• Institutions of the European Union
  • Location of European Union institutions
• Brussels-Capital Region
  • Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region
    • Charles Picqué
• Commissioner for Administrative Affairs
  • Siim Kallas
• Leopold Quarter
• European Institutions in Strasbourg

• Demey, Thierry (2007). Brussels, capital of Europe, S. Strange (trans.), Brussels: Badeaux. ISBN 2-9600414-2-9. 

• European Quarter on Wikimapia
• (French) Le Plan de Développement International de Bruxelles
• Google Maps, Robert Schuman
• Map of the EU area Lanmark Publishing
• Brussels International Brussels Tourism
• Visit the European Parliament Europarl
• Parliament D4 & D5 buildings VK Group, In French
• Gallery of the EU Quarter Eupedia
• Foundation for the Urban Environment FFUE.ORG

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