Brussels, 17/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission Vice-President Neil Kinnock and the Belgian Minister Rik Daems signed, on Tuesday, a Memorandum of Understanding on the renovation of the Berlaymont. It foresees the signing, before the end of the Belgian Presidency, of a contract (legal text) including a fixed maximum price, a precise date for the finalisation of the works and handing over of the building, plus the payment of penalties for the exceeding of this time frame. A Commission spokesperson recalled that in virtue of the protocol agreement singed on 8 July 1997 the Commission would reimburse over 27 years the costs of the building's renovation, when it has once more entered the Berlaymont. At the end of this period, this building will become the Commission's property.
The Memorandum also details certain elements on the strengthening of the Commission's rights in terms of the project's follow-up, as well as in terms of technical specifications in renovation works. The management responsibilities of the company responsible, Berlaymont 2000 SA, will not change.