International institutions

Brussels has, since World War II, become the administrative centre of many international organizations. The European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have their main institutions in the city, along with many other international organisations such as the World Customs Organization and EUROCONTROL as well as international corporations. Brussels is third in the number of international conferences it hosts^[40] also becoming one of the largest convention centres in the world.^[41] The presence of the EU and the other international bodies has, for example, led to there being more ambassadors and journalists in Brussels than in Washington D.C.^[42] International schools have also been established to serve this presence.^[41] The "international community" in Brussels numbers at least 70,000 people.^[43] In 2009, there were an estimated 286 lobbying consultancies known to work in Brussels.^[44]

European Union

Main article: Brussels and the European Union

Aerial view of the European Quarter

Brussels serves as capital of the European Union, hosting the major political institutions of the Union.^[14] The EU has not declared a capital formally, though the Treaty of Amsterdam formally gives Brussels the seat of the European Commission (the executive/government branch) and the Council of the European Union (a legislative institution made up from executives of member states).^[45][46] It locates the formal seat of European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg, where votes take place with the Council on the proposals made by the Commission. However meetings of political groups and committee groups are formally given to Brussels along with a set number of plenary sessions. Three quarters of Parliament now takes place at its Brussels hemicycle.^[47] Between 2002 and 2004, the European Council also fixed its seat in the city.^[48] In 2014, the Union hosted a G7 summit in the city.

Place du Luxembourg, Brussels View of the European Parliament

Brussels, along with Luxembourg and Strasbourg, began to host institutions in 1957, soon becoming the centre of activities as the Commission and Council based their activities in what has become the "European Quarter".^[45] Early building in Brussels was sporadic and uncontrolled with little planning. The current major buildings are the Berlaymont building of the Commission, symbolic of the quarter as a whole, the Justus Lipsius building of the Council and the Espace Léopold of Parliament.^[46] Today the presence has increased considerably with the Commission alone occupying 865,000 m² within the "European Quarter" in the east of the city (a quarter of the total office space in Brussels^[14]). The concentration and density has caused concern that the presence of the institutions has caused a "ghetto effect" in that part of the city.^[49] However the presence has contributed significantly to the importance of Brussels as an international centre.^[42]

Eurocontrol

Main article: Eurocontrol

HQ of Eurocontrol in Haren, Brussels

The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, commonly known as Eurocontrol, is an international organisation which is tasked to monitor the European aviation by flight. Eurocontrol coordinates and plans air traffic control across European airspace. The corporation was founded in 1960 and currently has 41 member states. Its headquarters are located in Haren, on the northeast perimeter of the City of Brussels, Belgium.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Main article: NATO

Future NATO HQ in Haren, Brussels

The Treaty of Brussels which was signed on 17 March 1948 between Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, was a prelude to the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an intergovernmental military alliance,^[50] and was a preview of the western European defense against communism^{[citation needed]}.
Today, the alliance consists of 28 independent member countries across North America and Europe. Several countries also have diplomatic missions to NATO through embassies in Belgium. Since 1949, a number of NATO Summits have been held in the city.^[51] The next NATO summit will take place in Brussels in May 2017.
The organisation's headquarters are located on Boulevard Léopold III/Leopold III-laan in Haren, Brussels.^[52] A new €750 million headquarters building begun in 2010 and is due for completion by 2017.^[53]