Brussels, 10/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday the European Commission adopted a communication from European Commissioner Neil Kinnock on the property and infrastructure in Brussels. In order to become an actor for the harmonious development of the European quarter in this city, the Commission has set out four action areas: integration of its buildings within the urban fabric; accessibility and quality of buildings; mobility within the greater Brussels area; improvement of framework and conditions of professional life, including journeys from home and work. The Commission will be presenting a communication analysing the situation in Luxembourg, at the beginning of 2004.
The implantation of the European institutions at the end of 2003 accounts for around 45% of all offices in the European quarter. In order to better integrate its buildings into the urban fabric, the Commission is proposing a diversification of activities in the quarter. It supports residential properties in this quarter and is striving to develop shopping facilities on the ground floor, which are available to everyone. It believes that it is necessary to improve the quality of its buildings' architecture and is planning to organise international architectural competitions for their renovation, as well as the construction of new large buildings that could have a significant impact on the urban environment. It also wants to participate more in the definition of re-development projects, including specific areas and roads, in an effort to become a genuine partner of the Belgian authorities. The communication indicates that fulfilling such an objective necessitates a single representative from the host country, in the form of a public body that is provided with suitable powers. The communication also points out that the current rupture in the decision making power of the Brussels region, “represents an obstacle to the implementation of a coherent policy”.
In the framework of a property policy, the Commission is stressing more intensive use of alternative modes of transport (individual and public), as well as improved knowledge of the means available to the personnel. It is therefore attempting to strengthen collaboration with the services of the “Sociéte des transports interurbains de Bruxelles (STIB - public transport authorities for the Brussels area) and the local authorities responsible for developing cycle lanes. It also considers that buildings should be located near more effective transport (metro, bus trams and in the longer term, the Regional Express Network). The Commission will look at the possibility of becoming the administrative manager of personnel transport passes for those using the Belgian railway network (SNCB).
In order to improve the working environment, the Commission has begun looking into the development of working methods, such as job share and home working. In connection with social infrastructure, it is aware of the importance of improving ways of looking after children and outlines that a new crèche is expected to open at the end of 2006 or at the beginning of 2007. However, this will not be sufficient for responding to the demand and it is therefore planning to set up another crèche (near the offices or European schools) and look into a number of provisional solutions for meeting the expected increase in demand for 2004-07. In the context of after-school clubs, the Commission is suggesting their integration into the same sites as the European schools (this principle was supported in discussions about a fourth European school).
In the second part of its communication, the Commission examines its current and future property policy and outlines that it is the owner of 42% of office space (almost twice the 1998 figure). The Commission points out that the Berlaymont will be available in 2004 and that the acquisition of this new building will involve the abandonment of buildings in the Geneva pole, as well as the negotiation of new rental agreements for buildings used temporarily, for which the Belgian state is currently responsible. Without providing any indication on the choice of the directorates general and services that will be using the Berlaymont, the Commission indicates that transfers will facilitate regrouping of services, in the Breydel, for example. Up to 2006-7 the Commission will have to decide between re-negotiating long term rental contracts and giving up eleven buildings it currently occupies, which account for a surface area of 113,500 square metres. The Commission admits that the concentration and development of all the institutions in the European quarter, could in the long term, increase the risks of inflation on office prices. In that case, it could possibly centre services, which do not necessarily need to be located near the European institutions, outside the European quarter.