The European Summit will once again be taking place in the Belgian capital this week. Disruptions to road traffic and public transport are expected on several days.
EU leaders will gather in Brussels for their final summit of this year, which will take place on Wednesday 13, Thursday 14 and Friday 15 December. Several security measures are being taken in the European Quarter in Brussels, specifically around the buildings of the Council of the European Union in Rue de la Loi.
The agenda includes talks on Ukraine (its accession and financial aid), the Middle East, enlargement, and the revision of the EU budget.
"The meetings of heads of state and government at the European institutions require a series of measures: setting up a security perimeter, closing the Schuman roundabout and diverting car traffic," STIB noted ahead of the summit.
What disruptions can be expected?
A security perimeter will be set up by the police around the Schuman roundabout from 13:30 on Wednesday. Traffic in this area will therefore be prohibited, except for emergency vehicles and those with an exemption, and only people with authorisation will be allowed to enter the perimeter on foot.
For local residents, an access badge will be needed and they have to show their identity card.
Certain sections of the neighbouring streets (rue Breydel, rue Archimède, avenue de Cortenbergh, avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée and avenue d’Auderghem) will be closed to local traffic and parking will be prohibited.
The Reyer Tunnel towards the city centre will be closed from 12:30. "Traffic congestion is to be expected," the police wrote on social media. "We advise you to travel by train, bus, metro or bicycle instead."
STIB confirmed that during the meeting, metros 1 and 5 will be running normally. The Schuman Metro station at the heart of the EU institutions will remain open, but access to rue Froissart, rue Archimède and the Schuman roundabout is closed.
At the request of the police, additional measures may be put in place, such as the full closure of the Schuman metro station. "Metro trains will then pass through the station without allowing passengers to embark or disembark," STIB explained. The European Quarter at this point remains accessible from Maelbeek and Merode metro stations.
Buses 12, 21, 36, 56, 60 and 79 are being diverted via Maelbeek Metro station, and the Schuman stops will be not served during these days.
