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EUROPA : Home of the European Council and the Council of the EU

From the beginning of 2017, the Europa building becomes the home of the two institutions representing the EU member states: the Council of the European Union and the European Council.

Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, Secretary general of the Council, said about the building: "The Europa is the house of the member states where leaders and ministers will meet to shape the future of the European Union. It provides our two institutions, the European Council and the Council of the EU, the additional space and modern facilities they need. It will give more flexibility and efficiency for our organisation of more than 6000 meetings per year."

Located at the heart of the European district, the Europa building combines a new part, an innovative lantern-shaped structure designed by the consortium of Samyn and Partners (Belgium), Studio Valle Progettazioni (Italy) and Buro Happold (UK), with a renovated section, block A of the Résidence Palace, a partly listed Art Deco complex designed by architect Michel Polak in 1922.

The Europa was built in line with the principles of sustainable development. The building was designed with modern systems to regulate lighting, humidity and temperature. It also includes green features such as solar panels or a rain water collection system to supply the sanitary facilities.

The construction of the Europa was decided in 2004 by the European Presidents and Prime ministers against the background first of the enlargement and second of the decision to host all European summits in Brussels rather than in member countries. Since then, the Council also started to host multilateral and bilateral summits and, as part of the institutional evolution of the EU since 2009, the offices of the permanent President of the European Council.

The building is already in partial use and will enter into full operation at the beginning of 2017.
Open day for the general public

On Saturday 10 December 2016, Europa will open its doors to the public, primarily from the host city and country. Almost 2000 citizens have registered for a guided tour of the building, before EU leaders and ministers discover it themselves next year. All tours are now full. There are limited opportunities for media to cover the event. All enquiries to do so must be made in advance to the Council press office.

Europa building - factsheet  Comments by Europa architect Philippe Samyn  Money market funds: Council confirms deal with EP On 7 December 2016, the Permanent Representatives Committee approved, on behalf of the Council, an agreement with the European Parliament on money market funds (MMFs). The draft regulation is aimed at making these funds more robust, ensuring the smooth operation of the short-term funding market. It sets out to maintain the essential role that money market funds play in financing the real economy. It follows efforts by the G20 and the Financial Stability Board to strengthen the oversight and regulation of the 'shadow banking' system. With assets under management of around €1 trillion, MMFs are mainly used to invest excess cash within short timeframes. They represent an important tool for investors because they offer the possibility to diversify their excess cash holdings, whilst maintaining a high level of liquidity. Better data for fisheries: EU agrees on new rules for collection and use On 7 December 2016 the Council's Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) approved a final compromise on revised rules for the collection, management and use of data in fisheries. Thanks to this agreement, there will be an improved framework for gathering extensive and reliable information and for making it available at regional and European level. Reliable data is essential for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and will allow for a better evaluation of essential issues in fisheries management. The agreement, which was successfully concluded under the Slovak Presidency, is still subject to the approval of the European Parliament's committee on fisheries (PECH). "Getting reliable data is not a technical detail, but a fundamental issue", said Gabriela Matečná, minister for agriculture and rural development of Slovakia and President of the Council, "Good data is indispensable if politicians are to make sound and well-informed decisions firmly grounded in the best possible scientific advice. We therefore very much welcome this agreement".