Brussels (Belgium) is considered the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting a number of principal EU institutions within its European Quarter.[2][3] The EU has no official capital but Brussels hosts the official seats of the European Commission, Council of the European Union, and European Council, as well as a seat (officially the second seat) of the European Parliament. In 2013, this presence generated about €250 million (8.3% of the regional GDP) and 121,000 jobs (16.7% of the regional employment).[4] The main rationale for Brussels being chosen as "capital of the European Union" was its halfway location between France, Germany and the United Kingdom, the three countries whose rivalry played a role in starting the two World Wars and whose reconciliation paved the way for European integration.[5]
- ^ "Gewest gaat voor nieuwe vlag met hartjeslogo". brusselsnieuws.be (in Dutch). Brussels. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ see the references below in the Status section
- ^ Cybriwsky, Roman Adrian (2013). Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781610692489.
Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is considered to be the de facto capital of the EU
- ^ Dotti, 2013
- ^ Contested Spaces, Common Ground: Space and Power Structures in Contemporary Multireligious Societies. 11 October 2016. ISBN 9789004325807.