Institutions in Brussels. Directory of Brussels, Belgium institutions.

Institutions in Brussels

Brussels is home to many of the European Union’s key institutions, indeed it is the headquarters of the European Union and the European Parliament and also the main seat of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization). A useful institution to note in Brussels is the British Council, which unites people with educational opportunities and innovative ideas from the UK. American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium promotes business opportunities between the two countries, whilst the Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF), a self-governing charity, promotes exchanges between university students, scientists and academics from the USA and Belgium. Other notable institutions in Brussels include the Central Library of Defence and the Committee of the Regions.

The European Union
Address: Rue de la Loi 61-63 Phone: +32 2 233 21 11 e-mail: dispatch.belgoeurop@diplobel.fed.be
Website: http://europa.eu/

The roots of the European Union (EU) started in 1957 with the establishment of the European Economic Community (EEC) by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg through the Treaty of Rome, which served as a spring board for the consolidation of European political and economic potential. The acceptance of the euro and the largest succession of new member countries in recent years is evidence of the EU’s continued influence.
more

The European Parliament
Address: Rue Wiertz 60 Phone: +32 2 284 21 11
Website: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/

The European Parliament (EP) is the highest directly-elected legislative body within the European Union (EU), which forms a part of the bicameral legislative branch of the institutions of the EU.
more

NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
Address: Boulevard Leopold III 1110 Phone: +32 2 707 50 35 e-mail: natodoc@hq.nato.int
Website: www.nato.int/

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also known as the North Atlantic Alliance, Western Alliance or the Atlantic Alliance, is a military alliance which was established on April 4, 1949 by the North Atlantic Treaty, and comprises the 26 member countries Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, the UK and USA.
more

The University of Kent at Brussels
Address: Boulevard de la Plaine 5 Phone: +32 2 641 17 21 e-mail: bsis@kent.ac.uk
Website: http://www.kent.ac.uk/contact/

The University of Kent is a postgraduate school housed in a world’s most important centre for international affairs. Brussels is known as the ‘capital of Europe’ and it is home to the main institutions of the European Union, numerous other European organisations including think-tanks, lobby groups, NGOs and multinational companies.
more

Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Address: Avenue JJ Crocq 15 Phone: +32 2 477 31 74 e-mail: epi@ulb.ac.be
Website: http://www.ulb.ac.be/homepage_uk.html

There are two 'Free Universities' in the town: the French-speaking Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). They are legally independent, but maintain good contacts between each other. The ULB was set up in 1834. Its name is related to the academic freedom and autonomy from domination by both state and church. Like many institutions in this bilingual country, the ULB, which is generally French-speaking, has been divided into a French-speaking and a Dutch-speaking departments.
more

Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Address: Pleinlaan 2 Phone: +32 2 629 21 11 e-mail: info@vub.ac.be
Website: http://www.vub.ac.be/english/infoabout/campuses/index.html

Vrije Universiteit Brussel or briefly VUB is a Flemish higher education institution, which was created as a separate institution in 1969 after division of the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Similarly to the original Université Libre de Bruxelles, its name can be translated as „Free University of Brussels”, which informs about its independence of the state and religious authorities, and pluralistic attitude towards students.
more

Central Library of Defence
Address: Eversestraat 1 Phone: +32 2 701 44 71 e-mail: apdb.info@mil.be
Website: http://www.mil.be/apdb/index.asp?LAN=E

The Central Library of Defence (APBD) was founded in 1831 after a few agreements between Belgium and the Netherlands. It received the name Bibliothèque du dépôt de la guerre de Belgique. The library was entrusted with the documentary information and from the beginning it was closely related to the Cabinet, therefore under a direct control of the Minister of Defence. Between 1945 and 1976 the library was settled in Brussels, in the Prince Albert quarter, and in 1976 it changed its location to Evere, situated in Reine Elisabeth district. In 1989 Florent Peeters, Professor Doctor of the State University of Kent donated his private collection (approximately 9,000 books) to the library. Since June 1996, APBD is automated with modern software.
more

The Committee of the Regions
Address: Rue Belliard 99-101 Phone: +32 2 282 22 11
Website: http://cor.europa.eu/EN/service_tools/contact_us.htm

History of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) started in 1994 when it was established to represent regions of European Union. The Committee forms an advisory institution incorporating local authorities’ representatives from all Europe. It consults EU decisions concerning regional policy, local economy, as well as education and transportation in regions.
more

1 2