Traffic disruption and some road closures will continue on Thursday in Brussels as EU leaders are in town for a European Council summit.
Heads of state arrived in the Belgian capital on Wednesday for the EU-Western Balkans summit. They will meet again today for the "regular" EU summit to discuss Ukraine, the EU in the world, the Middle East, resilience and preparedness, migration and foreign policy issues.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also in Brussels, having attended the EU-Western Balkans summit on Wednesday. He is due to address EU leaders on Thursday morning.
The summit is held in the buildings of the European Council on Rue de la Loi and will lead to some traffic disruption in the European Quarter, Brussels authorities warn.
"As during the previous summits, the City of Brussels Mayor and police will minimise disruptions in your neighbourhood whilst guaranteeing the security of heads of state and citizens," the City of Brussels/Ixelles police stated.
A security perimeter will be in place around the buildings, including Schuman Square, Rue Froissart between numbers 101 and 143, Rue de la Loi, between Place Schuman and Residence Palace and between Schuman and Boulevard Charlemagne. It will be closed off all day Thursday.
Credit: City of Brussels/Ixelles police
Only authorised people can enter this zone on foot. Residents and people working in the area will have to show their access badge and identity card.
"No deliveries will be possible and no rubbish bags, bicycles or terraces may be placed on public roads within this security perimeter. For security reasons, all building windows must be closed," police said. A map indicates which streets will be completely closed off, or accessible with or without an exemption badge. In the neighbouring streets, parking is prohibited.
Disruption to traffic and public transport
The Reyers-Centre tunnel will be closed on Thursday.
Public transport operator STIB noted that the Schuman metro station at the heart of the EU institutions will remain open. Access via Rue Froissart, Rue Archimède and the Schuman roundabout will be closed on Thursday.
🇪🇺 Sommet européen
📅 Du mercredi 18 au jeudi 19 décembre 2024 🚇 La station de métro Schuman reste ouverte. 🚌 Les lignes de bus 59, 60 et 80 sont déviées localement autour de la place Jourdan, les lignes de bus 27 (direction Luxembourg) et 36 (direction Maelbeek) autour de… pic.twitter.com/9JA5OKULud — STIB-MIVB (@STIBMIVB) December 18, 2024
Translation: "European Summit from Wednesday 18 to Thursday 19 December 2024. Schuman metro station will remain open. Bus routes 59, 60 and 80 will be diverted locally around Place Jourdan, and bus routes 27 (towards Luxembourg) and 36 (towards Maelbeek) around the Froissart stop."
Bus routes 59, 60 and 80 will be diverted locally around Place Jourdan, and bus routes 27 (towards Luxembourg) and 36 (towards Maelbeek) will be diverted around the Froissart stop.
