The Brussels government has approved a strategic approach aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the Belgian capital as an international host city. The approach by Minister-President Rudi Vervoort and Brussels State Secretary Pascal Smet is the outcome of constructive consultations between the Brussels Region, the European institutions and the federal level.
The vision aims to accelerate and strategically implement the strategy to transform the European Quarter and to strengthen public services for international residents of Brussels.
Brussels hosts many European and international institutions, together providing 120,000 jobs. This presence has an economic value of 5 billion euros a year. That is shown by a study by commissioner.brussels, which acts as link between the European and international institutions and the Brussels Region.
We will spare no efforts to strengthen our position as European capital.
Pascal Smet, Brussels State Secretary for European Relations and Urbanism
The latter has already taken several initiatives in recent years to strengthen its position as European capital. “A competitive battle is underway with Luxembourg and especially Strasbourg,” said Damiaan de Jonge, the spokesman for Brussels International and European relations secretary Pascal Smet. “At present most European bodies are based in Brussels, apart from the fact that Euro MPs need to travel to Strasbourg once a month”.
The Schuman square will become an iconic urban square, at the initiative of Pascal Smet. Preparatory works on the square, carried out by Beliris, will start in spring 2023. In May of this year, Rudi Vervoort, Pascal Smet and Ans Persoons, alderwoman of the city of Brussels, also presented the urban development principles for the future of the European Quarter.
The strategic approach adopted by the Brussels government is the outcome of a constructive dialogue with the European institutions. For its concrete implementation, the Brussels and federal authorities are joining forces.
The groundwork for this active cooperation was carried out in September 2022, during a consultation with the entire Bureau of the European Parliament, Prime Minister De Croo, Federal State Secretary Dermine, Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort and Brussels State Secretary for Urbanism and European and International Relations Pascal Smet.
We will accelerate the transformation of the European Quarter into a vibrant urban district.
Pascal Smet, Brussels State Secretary for European Relations and Urbanism
At the level of the Brussels Region, Minister-President Vervoort and State Secretary Smet have regular consultations with the European institutions. During these future consultations, the ambitions of the strategic approach will be monitored and evaluated continuously. The Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Organizations will also play a very active role in this process.
The strategy includes many concrete projects that will improve services and increase the attractiveness of the European Quarter through interventions in public spaces and a coherent vision for future (re)developments.
Place du Luxembourg will undergo a complete metamorphosis. The approved strategic approach also creates a link with the Cinquantenaire Park renewal. The federal authorities aim to renew this monumental park by Belgium’s bicentenary in 2030. A design study for a pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the railway line between the European Parliament and the Schuman square will also be carried out.
The Brussels Region is already implementing this strategy in other urban districts, such as the Northern Quarter, where both public space and several buildings will be completely transformed in the coming years. Smet designed a vision for the Northern Quarter and are coordinating all private and public projects in this area.
A new tram line, the Senne river reopening, and the transformation of mono-functional office buildings, such as the Proximus Tower and the WTC I & II building, into vibrant metropolitan hubs with housing, bars and restaurants, roof terraces and other urban functions in addition to offices. The KANAL – Centre Pompidou, a contemporary art museum in the former Citroën building, will open its doors in 2024.
