Homepage

Building Europe is also making its capital city
It is 50 years ago that the European institutions settled down in Brussels. This presence has not always been a true success story. On the one hand, there is the difficult integration of the EU institutions in the city. Brussels has also become associated with an image of the technocratic and bureaucratic Europe. On the other hand, the EU presence is one of the main assets in the urban development. A better integration of Europe in the city and vice versa can only be beneficial for both Brussels and the EU.

Making Brussels is integrating all citizens in the urban project
In 2001, the former President of the European Commission Romano Prodi and the Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt launched a debate around the issue of 'Brussels - Capital of Europe'. The Prodi-Verhofstadt Report refers to the importance for the European project of developing its main centre. A better integration of the EU-staff working in Brussels in the urban fabric is one objective in the report.

Branding Brussels as the Capital of Europe is enhancing European citizenship
To contribute to this development, the two Brussels Universities (Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel) joined forces to coordinate their research on the subject. This gave birth to the idea of "Brussels for Europe".

The two universities then jointly developed a masterclass on Brussels for European Civil Servants. The programme is also offered as a shorter version oriented towards newcomers: and called "Discover Brussels". The project is supported by the Rectors of both universities. The support of the Brussels Regional Government is channelled through an active involvement by the Brussels-Europe Liaison Office. The european school of administration is the training interface between all European institutions and partner in the Brussels for Europe initiative.