Espace Léopold#Buildings

{{Further|Location of European Union institutions}}

Due to the failure of leaders to agree on a single seat, the European Parliament desired full infrastructure in both Brussels and Strasbourg, where the Parliament's official seat is located. In Brussels, an international congress centre (unofficially intended as the Parliament) was built with the backing of the Société Générale de Belgique and BACOB, which joined forces on the project in 1987. The project was built on the site of an old brewery and marshalling yard, which included covering Brussels-Luxembourg railway station to form a pedestrian area.European Commission publication: Europe in Brussels 2007 The building project started before 1988 with construction work on the hemicycle and the north wing starting in 1989 and the south wing in 1992.

The policy committees, inter-parliamentary delegations and the political groups all meet in the complex.{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/visit/bru.pdf|title=Map of EP buildings in Brussels|work=europarl.europa.eu}} Consequently, the secretariat of the committees (DG IPOL and DG EXPO) and the political groups are all situated there as well. Construction on the Spinelli building started in 1991 and was completed in 1997, whilst the last phase of extensions (Antall and Brandt), towards the Place du Luxembourg/Luxemburgplein along the {{lang|fr|Rue de Trêves|italic=no}}/{{lang|nl|Trierstraat|italic=no}}, was completed during 2008.[http://www.besixred.be/en/markets/buildings/office/Detail.aspx?id=126 European Parliament D4-D5]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}[http://www.vkgroup.be/ShowNews.asp?CT=-1&ID=957 Passerelle parlement européen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528191150/http://www.vkgroup.be/ShowNews.asp?CT=-1&ID=957 |date=28 May 2008 }} {{in lang|fr}}

Following the completion of Antall and Brandt, 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.{{Cite web|last=Rankin|first=Jennifer|title=City bids to shape EU's presence|publisher=European Voice|date=31 October 2007|url=http://www.europeanvoice.com/archive/article.asp?id=29207|access-date=2 December 2007}} Three quarters of Parliamentary activity now take place in Espace Léopold, rather than Strasbourg.{{Cite web|last=Wheatley |first=Paul |title=The two-seat parliament farce must end |date=2 October 2006 |publisher=Café Babel |url=http://www.cafebabel.com/en/article.asp?T=A&Id=2047 |access-date=16 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610174433/http://www.cafebabel.com/en/article.asp?T=A&Id=2047 |archive-date=10 June 2007 |url-status=dead }}

In 2008, the final extensions to the complex were completed along the Rue de Trêves and the Place du Luxembourg. Originally called the D4 and D5 buildings, there was controversy as to whom to name them after. At the death of Pope John Paul II, Polish MEPs tried to get the new buildings named after him,[http://www.turks.us/article~story~20050416060949277.htm 'War of Names' in EP Begins for Pope] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901164818/http://www.turks.us/article~story~20050416060949277.htm |date=1 September 2007 }} though this was opposed on grounds of secular government and that he did not contribute to the Parliament. Václav Havel, Nelson Mandela, Olof Palme, Margaret Thatcher and Jan Palach were all suggested by MEPs, with one satirical suggestion was naming the two buildings the "Kaczyński Towers" after the Polish brothers Lech and Jarosław Kaczyński, the first the late former President and the latter formerly Prime Minister (2006–07), who enjoy a frosty relationship with Brussels.[http://www.rics.org/ASPNetForums/blogs/euaspx/archive/2007/09/04/what-s-in-a-name.aspx What's in a name?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122154924/http://www.rics.org/ASPNetForums/blogs/euaspx/archive/2007/09/04/what-s-in-a-name.aspx |date=22 January 2008 }} RICS EU Public Affairs blogHruska, Blahoslav (5 September 2007) [http://aktualne.centrum.cz/czechnews/clanek.phtml?id=500010 Brussels may soon have its own Havel. Or Mandela?] aktualne.cz In January 2008 the bureau reached a final decision. The new buildings were named after Willy Brandt, the German chancellor from 1969 to 1974, and József Antall, the first elected Hungarian prime minister from 1990 to 1993. The bridge connecting the new building to the original structure was named the Konrad Adenauer footbridge, after the German chancellor from 1949 to 1963. Meanwhile, the Parliament's press room was named after the assassinated Russian journalist, Anna Politkovskaya.[http://euobserver.com/9/25461 New EU parliament buildings named] EU observer

In September 2008, the Parliament held its first full plenary session (only part sessions are held in Brussels, see Location of European Union institutions) in Brussels after parts of the ceiling of the Strasbourg chamber collapsed during recess, forcing the temporary move.{{Cite web|title=First ever European Parliament plenary session held in Brussels|date=2 September 2008|publisher=Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP|url=http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/001090/first_ever_european_parliament_plenary_session_held_in_brussels.html|access-date=10 September 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204182325/http://sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/001090/first_ever_european_parliament_plenary_session_held_in_brussels.html|archive-date=4 December 2008}}

On 14 January 2009, the European Parliament decided to bestow the names of two distinguished and deceased MEPs to specific locations inside the building: the reading room inside the building's library was named Salle Francisco Lucas Pires and the assembly room of the Conciliation Committee was named Salle Renzo Imbeni.[http://www.relatio-europe.eu/journal/trans-europe-express/5357-la-cour-geremek "La cour Geremek", relatio-europe.eu, 14 January 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226163911/http://www.relatio-europe.eu/journal/trans-europe-express/5357-la-cour-geremek |date=26 February 2009 }} {{in lang|fr}}

In a turn of events reminiscent of the Strasbourg hemicycle ceiling collapse of 2008, three beams supporting the plenary chamber's ceiling were found to be cracked in August 2012. This in turn led to a complete closure for "at least six months" (as announced on 9 October 2012) of the A section of the Paul-Henri Spaak Building.{{cite web|title = Brussels hemicycle to remain closed for at least six months|date=9 October 2012|publisher=EuropeanVoice.com|author=Dave Keating|access-date = 28 October 2012 | url = http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2012/october/brussels-hemicycle-to-remain-closed-for-at-least-six-months/75334.aspx}}{{cite web|title = 'Important' crack shuts MEPs' chamber for months|date=10 October 2012|work=EUobserver|author=Andrew Rettman|access-date = 28 October 2012 | url = http://euobserver.com/institutional/117809}}{{cite web|title = Repair work on parliament expected to last six months|date=17 October 2012|publisher=theparliament.com|author=Martin Banks|access-date = 28 October 2012 | url = http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/repair-work-on-parliament-expected-to-last-six-months/#.UI08ymfAgac}} In early December 2012, it became known that the damage was more serious than previously thought, and that the closure of the hemicycle was expected to last "until November 2013". All "mini plenary" meetings in Brussels until this date were scrapped, a decision that was met with "fury" by some MEPs.{{cite web|title =No Brussels plenaries for a year |date=4 December 2012 |publisher=EuropeanVoice.com |author=Toby Vogel | access-date = 8 December 2012 | url = http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2012/december/no-brussels-plenaries-for-a-year/75878.aspx}}{{cite web |title=EU parliament plenary set to be shut for most of 2013 |date=7 December 2012 |publisher=theparliament.com |access-date=8 December 2012 |url=http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/eu-parliament-plenary-set-to-be-shut-for-most-of-2013/#.UMOnmaxXt8E |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212121820/http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/eu-parliament-plenary-set-to-be-shut-for-most-of-2013/#.UMOnmaxXt8E |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}

In 2019, the European Parliament announced an open international design competition for the renovation and refurbishment of the Paul-Henri Spaak building.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-17 |title=Architectural Design Competition - Renewal of Paul-Henri Spaak building |url=https://www.archdaily.com/930389/architectural-design-competition-renewal-of-paul-henri-spaak-building |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=ArchDaily |language=en-US}} Of the 132 proposals submitted for consideration, 15 architects, including OMA, Snøhetta, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Shigeru Ban Architects, and Dominique Perrault were selected to participate in the final round of the competition. In July 2022, the winning team of JDS Architects, Coldefy, Carlo Ratti Associati, NL Architects, and Ensamble Studio was announced.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-21 |title=JDS + Coldefy + Carlo Ratti Associati + NL Architects + Ensamble Studio to Renew New EU Parliament Building in Brussels |url=https://www.archdaily.com/985721/jdsa-plus-coldefy-plus-carlo-ratti-associati-plus-nl-architects-plus-ensamble-studio-to-renew-new-eu-parliament-building-in-brussels |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=ArchDaily |language=en-US}} The estimated cost of the project is €500 million.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-01 |title=Rénovation du Parlement européen : l'architecte français Coldefy co-lauréat du projet à 500 millions d'euros |url=https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/biens-d-equipement-btp-immobilier/renovation-du-parlement-europeen-l-architecte-francais-coldefy-co-laureat-du-projet-a-500-millions-d-euros-927429.html |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=La Tribune |language=fr}}

The Espace Léopold is a complex of buildings built from 1989 to 2004 in postmodern style. It consists of the Paul-Henri Spaak building (which houses the debating chamber), the Altiero Spinelli building, two new buildings known as the Willy Brandt and József Antall buildings and a newly refurbished building which was the former entrance to the Brussels-Luxembourg railway station. Between the Spinelli buildings and the Brant-Antall buildings, which are connected by the circular Konrad Adenauer footbridge, runs the Esplanade of the European Parliament (or "the Mall").

File:Place du Luxembourg Panorama 889.jpg after the completion of its latest extension towards the Place du Luxembourg/Luxemburgplein]]

File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Parlement européen - 06.jpg

The Paul-Henri Spaak building (PHS), named after former President Paul-Henri Spaak, houses among other things the hemicycle (debating chamber) for plenary sessions in Brussels, as well as a press centre and offices for the Parliament's President and senior Parliamentary staff.

In 1988, the building was the subject of an architectural competition organised by the Association des Architectes du CIC and won by the architect Michel Boucquillon.{{Cite web |title=michelboucquillon.com - PARLAMENTO EUROPEO BRUXELLES |url=http://www.michelboucquillon.com/en/awards/parlamento-europeo-bruxelles |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=www.michelboucquillon.com}} He holds the authorship and copyright recognised by the European Parliament. The CIC Architects' Association was composed of the CRV, CDG, Bontinck and Vanden Bossche offices. On the other hand, the other buildings facing the Paul-Henri Spaak building and the Esplanade were designed by the Atelier Espace Léopold in the early 1990s; they also included four architectural offices: the Atelier d'Architecture de Genval, the Cerau group, CRV and the Atelier Vanden Bossche.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Michel Boucquillon designed the building in the oval shape, a symbol of union. The façade is intended to reflect the essential notions of transparency, democracy and proximity to citizens. Parliamentarians enter the axis of the building while spectators, including the press, enter laterally. He conceived the hall of the hemicycle as a vast working space. The aim was to provide a sober, comfortable and human-scale environment that encourages exchange and dialogue. The focus is on the space of the 627 parliamentarians by visually erasing the 532 seats in the gallery. The latter is totally black in order to be absent. The atrium is the "lung" of the building, its role is to allow light or "truth" to flow to the level of the hemicycle. It was therefore essential to imagine a wall and a material that allowed light to flow down. The material had to be transparent to the eye. The woven stainless steel cloth fulfilled this role well. This material had never been used for architectural purposes before.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The building juts from the main buildings out into Leopold Park, surrounding the far side with trees. With its striking cylinder-shaped glass dome, redolent of the Crystal Palace, as well as the Northern Bordiau Hall of the nearby Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark, the building known to locals as the Caprice des Dieux ("Whim of the Gods"), which is a well-known brand of cheese with the same shape.[http://www.ape-europe.org/cgi/index.php?wpage=nos_locaux_brux_histo&wlang=en History of the Building] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928174244/http://www.ape-europe.org/cgi/index.php?wpage=nos_locaux_brux_histo&wlang=en |date=28 September 2007 }} ape-europe.org The 12th floor President's Dining Room is the dome's interior. This is being used for some press events and special occasions. One of the glass façades inside the dome is covered with a {{convert|150|m2|abbr=on}} large ceramic mural called Miti del Mediterraneo, portraying the abduction of Europa and other elements of Greek mythology, which was made between 1992 and 1993 by Aligi Sassu.{{Cite book|last= Demey |first= Thierry |others= S. Strange (trans.) |title= Brussels, capital of Europe |year= 2007 |publisher=Badeaux |location= Brussels |isbn= 978-2-9600414-2-2 |pages= 387 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.amicialigisassu.it/biografia-sassu.htm|title=Aligi Sassu.Biografia|work=amicialigisassu.it}}

File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Parlement européen - 07.jpg

To the west of the Paul-Henri Spaak building is the Altiero Spinelli building, connected by a two-floor pedestrian bridge. The Altiero Spinelli building (ASP, formerly D3), named after parliamentarian Altiero Spinelli, primarily houses the offices of MEPs and political groups. It also houses shops, cafeteria and the members' bar. It is the largest building with {{convert|372000|m2|abbr=on}} of space and incorporates five high-rise towers, each up to 17 floors.

The buildings west of Spinelli are connected via the circular Konrad Adenauer footbridge (across the Esplanade) to the Willy Brandt building (WIB, formerly D4), the József Antall building (JAN, formerly D5) and the old railway station building (BQL). The Brandt building began to be occupied in July 2007 by the external policies DG and the European Conservatives and Reformists group. The new complex has 375 offices in the Brandt building and 5 conference rooms (with 25 interpreters' booths) in the Antall building, in addition to new press facilities. The first meeting in the Antall building took place on 7 October 2008.

The ground floor (on the Rue de Trêves' side) of the Antall building includes an entrance to Brussels-Luxembourg railway station. The old station building (originally called Leopold Quarter railway station) has been turned into a public information office and venue for ad hoc exhibitions. The first of such exhibitions, on the history of buildings in the European Quarter of Brussels, was held in the summer of 2007.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

To the north of the Spinelli building are the Atrium and Remard buildings. The Atrium I & II buildings (ATR) hosts the DG IPOL and some political groups secretariats. Number 1 was completed in 2000, and the second in 2004. The Remard building was rented from March 2004 for a period of 9 years, with the possibility of cancellation after 6 years for an annual rent of €1,387,205.[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/committees/budg/20040405/525657EN.pdf Members Communication, Committee on Budgets] europarl.europa.eu

Other rented and minor buildings, outside the main complex but used by the Parliament, include a number of buildings on the {{lang|fr|Rue Montoyer|italic=no}}/{{lang|nl|Montoyerstraat|italic=no}}, the Eastman building in Leopold Park (currently being expanded to host the House of European History), the Wiertz building, and the Wayenberg building further east of the park (used as a purpose-built creche for European Parliament staff and MEPs).

The entire European Parliament in Brussels used to be housed in the Belliard building, now called the Delors building (after former President Jacques Delors). This building, and the Bertha von Suttner (ATR) buildings (after pacifist Bertha von Suttner), which is part of Espace Léopold, now house the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.{{Cite book | last = Eppink | first = Derk-Jan | author-link = Derk Jan Eppink | others = Ian Connerty (Trans.) | title = Life of a European Mandarin: Inside the Commission | publisher = Lannoo | edition = 1st | location = Tielt, Belgium | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-90-209-7022-7 | page = [https://archive.org/details/lifeofeuropeanma00eppi/page/67 67] | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/lifeofeuropeanma00eppi/page/67 }}[http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/155&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en Bertha von Suttner – a visionary European. Opening of Bertha von Suttner Building, Committee of the Regions – ECOSOC. Brussels, 8 March 2006] europa.eu[http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=CES/06/90&format=HTM The EESC and CoR building at 99–101 rue Belliardstraat renamed Jacques Delors Building] europa.eu

Members are arranged in a hemicycle according to their political groups who are ordered left to right according to their alignment. However, the non-attached members are seated on the right towards the outer ring without a front bench seat. All desks are equipped with microphones, headphones for interpretation and electronic voting equipment. The leaders of the groups sit on the front benches at the centre, and in the very centre is a podium for guest speakers. The remaining half of the circular chamber is primarily composed of the raised area where the President and staff sit.{{Cite web|title = Brussels seating plan|publisher=European Parliament|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/doc/ext/hemicycle/PLAN_BRU.pdf|access-date = 10 February 2009 }} Behind them, there is an EU flag attached to the wall with national flags above it.

Interpreters' booths are located behind them and along the sides of the chamber, while public galleries are located at the rear. Further benches are provided between the sides of the raised area and the MEPs; these are taken up by the Council on the far left and the Commission on the far right. The chamber as a whole is of a wooden design, unlike the hemicycle in Strasbourg, and was extensively renovated in 2003 to create more seats and interpretation booths for the 2004 EU enlargement.

File:Hémycicle du Parlement européen (Bruxelles).JPG

File:Sculture by the European Parliament 1.jpg]]

The Parliament, its committees and plenary meetings are open to the public. Free audio guided tours are offered when the Parliament is not holding a plenary meeting.[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=50&pageRank=2&language=EN Visits to Brussels], European Parliament website The buildings, containing several shops and banks, are largely open to the public and receive 15,000 people a day.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7887795.stm Euro Parliament robber at large], BBC News 13 February 2009 The old station building houses the Belgian public information office on the European Parliament, and "infodoc", a specialised literary resource on the Parliament for academics and journalists. A more general public information resource is available at the "infopoint" on the esplanade side of the Spinelli building.[http://www.europarl.be/view/fr/le_bi_a_bruxelles/infopoint_et_infodoc.html Infopoint et Infodoc] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611194923/http://www.europarl.be/view/fr/le_bi_a_bruxelles/infopoint_et_infodoc.html |date=11 June 2009 }}, Bureau d'Information à Bruxelles {{in lang|fr}}

The ground floor of the Brandt building houses a visitors' centre on the ground floor, originally planned to open in time for the 2009 European election but it had been delayed by a year. With {{convert|6000|m2|abbr=on}} it will be the second largest Parliamentary visitors centre in the world, modelled on the Swedish and Danish centres, with a state-of-the-art interactive role play allowing visitors to simulate the work of an MEP in a mock hemicycle – debating and passing legislation.Banks, Martin (30 January 2008) [http://www.theparliament.com/EN/News/200801/cf0456e8-f402-4874-97c7-1eaadb5dd757.htm New visitor centre set to open in EU parliament]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, TheParliament.com

The original visitor's centre was opened in the 1990s and became too small to handle visitors. The new centre includes a cafeteria, shop, children's area and a "resource area" offering databases of detailed information. There is also a permanent exhibition on the Parliament and Europe. Entry will be free and visitors will not have to gain passes or go through heavy security checks as they have to with the rest of the complex.

The European Parliament has also collected around 363 paintings and sculptures across its three sets of buildings which it has been purchasing as a pan-European cultural collection since 1979.[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/037-67953-025-01-05-906-20100125IPR67950-25-01-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm Polish art exhibition opens in the European Parliament], European Parliament 25 January 2010 Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg MEP, who is in charge of Parliament's art budget, plans to ensure the public have greater access by opening a 'tunnel of art' between the Espace Léopold and the Delors building. A museum of Europe will also be established in the Eastman building near Parliament in Leopold Park.[http://www.brusselnieuws.be/artikels/stadsleven/de-lastige-geboorte-van-een-europamuseum/?searchterm=Huis%20van%20de%20Europese%20Geschiedenis De lastige geboorte van een Europamuseum]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, brussel nieuws 10 February 2010

A long-standing statue outside the Paul-Henri Spaak building has become popular with tourists. The bronze statue, simply called Europe, was created by May Claerhout and is a representation of Europa, carried by a mass of people while also being a part of it. The figure carries an "E" or the Greek "ϵ", the symbol of the euro and as a sign of European unity.Claerhout, Mary. [http://www.mayclaerhout.be/main.php?taal=engels&pagina=Europa The "Europe" Statue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608174701/http://www.mayclaerhout.be/main.php?pagina=Europa&taal=engels |date=8 June 2008 }} mayclaerhout.be (Accessed 29 July 2009) The statue was given to Parliament by the Belgian presidency of the EU on 20 December 1993.Claerhout, Mary. [http://www.mayclaerhout.be/main.php?taal=engels&pagina=artografie Artography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617125201/http://www.mayclaerhout.be/main.php?pagina=artografie&taal=engels |date=17 June 2008 }} mayclaerhout.be (Accessed 29 July 2009)

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• [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/visit/bru.pdf Map of the Parliament buildings] EuroParl website
• [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/press/sdp/newsrp/en/1998/n981118.htm#3 Naming of the buildings] EuroParl website

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