Information Visits to the Council

Information visits to the Council are available to any organised group of at least 15 people over the age of 18. The visits usually last about two hours and consist of a talk given by a Council official followed by a question and answer session. Depending on the group, the lecture may be either a general introduction to the Council's role and activities or a presentation on a more specific topic. We also organise seminars on request. Visits can be organised in all official languages of the European Union. Tours of the building cannot be organised on security grounds. All visits must be reserved at least two months in advance.

Hours: Visits can be organised on most working days and are normally scheduled to start between 9 and 11 am or between 1.30 and 4 pm.

Group Size: A minimum of 15 persons. Groups of over 40 can give rise to organisational difficulties.

Student Groups: Reservations for student groups must be made in the name of a representative of the education/training establishment or student body. The representative must also accompany the group during the visit.

Accessibility: The Council building is accessible to wheelchair users.

How to find us: The Council's headquarters (Justus Lipsius building) are located at the following address: The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 175, B-1048 Brussels. Click here to see a map.

Transport: Tour buses can park in front of the main entrance during loading/unloading of passengers. The Schuman train and metro stations are in the immediate vicinity.

Reservations:

  • By fax to the Visits Service on +32 (0)2 281 6609. The following information must be provided:
    • Information about your organisation (name, address, contact person, telephone number, email etc.)
    • Two possible dates for your visit
    • Number and age of participants (minimum age 18) *
    • Possible special requests concerning the lecture depending on the interests of your group and prior knowledge about the European Union.
  • Or by completing our electronic visit request form.

The request should be made by the group leader. Visits should be scheduled at least two months in advance. Once we have received you request, we will contact you to confirm your visit and, if necessary, for further details concerning your request. We cannot take bookings over the telephone but we are available to answer your enquiries and assist you with planning your visit on +32 (0)2 281 2140.

* The Council's and Commission's joint information and publication centre InfEuropa Schuman 14 is open to visitors of all ages. It is located near the Justus Lipsius building at Rue Archimède / Archimedesstraat 1, B-1000 Brussels. To inquire about possibilities for arranging a presentation about the Council for secondary school pupils at the centre, please contact the Visits Service.