Bâtiment Berlaymont

The cross-shaped Berlaymont building in Brussels is the headquarters of the European Commission. Its name comes from a former Augustinian convent whose grounds once stood on this site. Built between 1963 and 1967, the building now houses the offices of the Commission president, the commissioners, the Secretariat-General, and the press spokespeople. After an extensive renovation to remove asbestos, it reopened in 2004 and was purchased by the EU. Located in the so-called European Quarter, it forms the heart of European administration together with the European Council and numerous embassies.