Council buildings

The administration of the Council, the General Secretariat of the Council, was previously spread over several buildings across Brussels. To rationalise its internal functioning and costs, the Council of the EU drew up a buildings programme, the purpose of which was to regroup all the institution's administrative work and meetings in a smaller number of adjacent buildings.

This buildings programme also responded to evolving functional needs:

• the decision by the European Council to hold all its meetings in Brussels, replacing the previous rotation by member state
• the EU enlargement, which incorporated 13 countries in 10 years
• the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon, which created the position of permanent President of the European Council

The existing Justus Lipsius building was partly remodelled and the second building, the Lex, was acquired to house the growing number of translation units. A new building, the Europa building, designed to host Council and European Council meetings, has become operational in January 2017.

Visit us

The Council is open to the public for visits. We offer individual and group visits. Find out more:

• Visit the Council

Justus Lipsius building

Since 1995, the Justus Lipsius building has been the seat of the Council of the EU and the General Secretariat of the Council. With the entry into force of the Treaty of Nice, it began on a provisional basis to host the European Council meetings. Since the beginning of 2017, Council of the EU and European Council meetings have been transferred to the new Europa building.

• Justus Lipsius building

Virtual tour of the Council buildings

Take our 360° virtual tour to discover the Council buildings from all angles. You can move around within 7 key rooms of the Council.

• Virtual tour: explore the Council

Lex building

Since 2007 the Lex building has been home to the translation service of the General Secretariat of the Council. The units had previously been based in a number of buildings across Brussels. The Lex building brings all language units under one roof and hosts the new units added with the enlargement of the EU.

• Lex building

Europa building

The Europa building hosts the meetings of the European Council, the Council of the EU and other high level bodies. It has been operational since the beginning of 2017.

• Europa building

Other buildings

European Convention Center (Luxembourg)

Following the rules set out in the Treaties, the Council of the European Union meets in Luxembourg in April, June and October. During these months, the Council rents the European Convention Center from the Luxembourgish government.

Neder-over-Heembeek

This is the central storage building of the General Secretariat, situated in the north of Brussels. It is owned by the Commission and the General Secretariat rents a surface of 4950 m2.