Justus Lipsius Building

Justus Lipsius Building

Since 1995, the Justus Lipsius building has been the main seat of the Council of the EU and of the General Secretariat of the Council. As of 2002, the building also started hosting European Council meetings.

Between 2001 and 2006 the Justus Lipsius underwent alterations, to allow for the temporary hosting of these European Council meetings, the delegations from new member states and press representatives attending the meetings.

The European Council and Council meetings take place now in the better-suited Europa building, which became operational in January 2017. Most General Secretariat departments and lower level meetings are still hosted in the Justus Lipsius. The existing press centre also remains in the Justus Lipsius building.

The Justus Lipsius building, located in Brussels, Belgium, was the headquarters of the Council of the European Union from 1995, and the de facto home of the European Council from 2002, until their relocation to the adjacent newly constructed Europa building at the beginning of 2017.

The European Council

The European Council consists of the heads of state or government of the EU’s member states, together with its President and the European Commission President. It defines the EU’s general political direction and priorities.

The Council of the EU

The Council of the EU represents the member states’ governments. Informally also known as the EU Council, it is where national ministers from each EU country meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies.