Justus Lipsius building
Encyclopedia
The Justus Lipsius building is a building in Brussels
(Belgium
) that has been the headquarters of the Council of the European Union
since 1995. Unlike the European Parliament
, visiting is restricted. However meetings are now broadcast on the internet and tours are possible on the annual open day.
and opposite the Berlaymont building
of the European Commission
. To the west is Residence Palace
that is being extended for use as a Council summit building. To the south the building borders Jean Rey Square
and Leopold Park
. The facades bordering the square are being considered for renovation to improve their appearance.
To the north the building sits next to Schuman station
(metro and regional rail) and there are plans for a new metro station to the south near Jean Rey square.
The building is named after Justus Lipsius
, a Flemish philologist and humanist
, who previously lent his name to a street that was removed to make way for the large complex. The Council was previously housed in the Charlemagne building
located across the street (now renovated and housing the trade, external relations and enlargement departments of the Commission).
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) that has been the headquarters of the Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
since 1995. Unlike the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, visiting is restricted. However meetings are now broadcast on the internet and tours are possible on the annual open day.
Location
The building is located in the European quarter at Rue de la Loi 175 next to the Schuman roundaboutSchuman roundabout
Schuman Roundabout , or Schuman Square, is a roundabout at the end of Rue de la Loi in Brussels that serves as a focus for major institutions of the European Union ....
and opposite the Berlaymont building
Berlaymont building
The Berlaymont is an office building in Brussels, Belgium that houses the headquarters of the European Commission, which is the executive of the European Union...
of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. To the west is Residence Palace
Résidence Palace
The Résidence Palace is a complex of buildings between the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat and the Chaussée d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg in the European Quarter of Brussels...
that is being extended for use as a Council summit building. To the south the building borders Jean Rey Square
Jean Rey Square
Jean Rey Square is a square in the European Quarter of Brussels inaugurated in 2001.-Design and location:...
and Leopold Park
Leopold Park
Parc Léopold or Leopoldspark is a public park located within the Leopold Quarter of Brussels, adjacent to the Paul-Henri Spaak building, the seat of the European Parliament....
. The facades bordering the square are being considered for renovation to improve their appearance.
To the north the building sits next to Schuman station
Schuman station
Schuman station is a railway and metro station in the City of Brussels. The metro station opened in 1969 and serves the European quarter of Brussels.-Metro:...
(metro and regional rail) and there are plans for a new metro station to the south near Jean Rey square.
Architecture
Like most state buildings in the EU district its architecture is very modern and functional. 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 24 km of corridors), divided into three distinct but closely linked parts: the Conference Centre, the Secretariat and the substructure.History
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 the French Presidency.The building is named after Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius was a Southern-Netherlandish philologist and humanist. Lipsius wrote a series of works designed to revive ancient Stoicism in a form that would be compatible with Christianity. The most famous of these is De Constantia...
, a Flemish philologist and humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, who previously lent his name to a street that was removed to make way for the large complex. The Council was previously housed in the Charlemagne building
Charlemagne building
The Charlemagne building is a high-rise in the European Quarter of Brussels , which houses the Directorate-General for Trade and the Directorate General for Enlargement of the European Commission....
located across the street (now renovated and housing the trade, external relations and enlargement departments of the Commission).
See also
- Berlaymont buildingBerlaymont buildingThe Berlaymont is an office building in Brussels, Belgium that houses the headquarters of the European Commission, which is the executive of the European Union...
(European Commission) - Brussels and the European UnionBrussels and the European UnionBrussels 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...
- EntropaEntropaEntropa is a sculpture created by Czech artist David Černý under commission for the Czech Republic to mark the occasion of its presidency of the Council of the European Union...
- Espace LéopoldEspace LéopoldThe Espace Léopold or is the complex of parliament buildings in Brussels housing the European Parliament, a legislative chamber of the European Union ....
(Parliament) - Location of European Union institutionsLocation of European Union institutionsThe governing institutions of the European Union are not concentrated in a single capital city; they are instead spread across three cities with other EU agencies and bodies based further away...
- Résidence PalaceRésidence PalaceThe Résidence Palace is a complex of buildings between the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat and the Chaussée d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg in the European Quarter of Brussels...
(new building next door)