Justus Lipsius building

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East side of the Justus Lipsius building

The Justus Lipsius building has been the headquarters of the Council of the European Union since 1995. Located in Brussels (B) on the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat it is in the heart of the EU district, opposite the Berlaymont, the headquaters of the European Commission. Further south within the district are the European Parliament Buildings at Leopold Park. Unlike it's fellow partner in legislature, the European Parliament, visiting is restricted though meetings are now broadcast on the internet.

Like most buildings in the EU district its architecture is very modern, with all the European political insitutions located in this district it has been described as the de facto capital of the European Union.

The building is named after Justus Lipsius, a Flemish philologist and humanist, after the new building demolished the street that was named after him. The previous Council Building was named Charlemagne, as a major figure in European history.

[edit] History

Sculpture of Europa outside the main entrance

In 1985, in response to an initiative by the Belgian Government, the Council took the decision to have a new building built, better suited to its needs, and to make the Belgian State's Regie der Gebouwen/Régie des Bâtiments the contracting authority. The foundation stone of the new building was laid in 1989 on land given by the host State, a site formerly crossed by the rue Juste Lipse/Justus Lipsiusstraat, which linked the rue de la Loi/Wetstraat to the rue Belliardstraat. The official inauguration took place on 29 May 1995, under French Presidency.

Many architects, engineers and firms from several Member States of the European Union participated in that large-scale operation. The result was the "Justus Lipsius" building of the Council. It has a total surface of 215,000 m² (with 24km of corridors.), divided into three distinct but closely linked parts: the Conference Centre, the Secretariat and the substructure.