Brussels | EU quarter - Redevelopment projects

[Slartibartfas]

Originally Posted by Ermengol Patalín

Why does EC need a new seat? Where is the current one?

Let's make an important distinction first. The "Council of the European Union" is where the national ministers meet and this institution has important legislative power, in most areas shared with the European Parliament. Then there is also the "European Council", this is where the head of states and prime ministers of the member states convene. Before the Lisbon treaty this was not even a proper institution and not so many years ago it was not even based in Brussels but consisted of summits that usually took place in the country holding the Council presidency (of the Council of the European Union, as the other Council did not have a presidency on its own as it wasn't even a proper institution). One can debate the merit, but Lisbon changed that. The European Council still has few hard powers but is now an official institution and the travelling circus was replaced by a fixed place in the heart of the EU quarter in Brussels. So far the European Council uses the same complex as the Council of the European Union. The Residence Palace is already today part of the complex but its where the European Council will get its own facilities.

It is noteworthy that in post Lisbon times and also because of the current crises the intensity of meetings etc of the European Council considerably increased. Moreover there is now a European Council President with his office.

Last but not least, the European Council is rather executive in nature while the Council of the European Union is mostly legislative. Also from that point of view, a clearer separation of both is welcome.

[Ermengol Patalín]

Thank you for the explanation. I understand it totally now!

[Ulpia-Serdica]

When are we gonna see some movement on this project?

[Slartibartfas]

Apparently they've been busy so far to prepare the old building structure as well as creating the foundations for the new part. It certainly does not help that below the building the new Schuman station is under construction as well. They last picture I saw indicated however that they are pretty much done with the foundations now. So the visible new part should be started in a not too distant time.