Justus Lipsius building, Convention center and press center in the European Quarter, Brussels, Belgium

The Justus Lipsius building is a large office and conference complex on Rue de la Loi in the European Quarter of Brussels, Belgium. Its stone and glass exterior looks solid and plain, with rows of windows and tall doors, while inside there are big meeting halls, interpretation booths, a central atrium with national flags, and press rooms that fill with journalists during major gatherings.

Construction started in 1989 after older houses on Justus Lipsiusstraat were cleared, and the building opened in 1995 as the main seat of the Council of the European Union. It hosted European Council summits from 2002 until 2017, when those top-level meetings moved to the neighboring Europa building, though the complex still serves lower-level meetings and press activities.

Visitors passing through the entrance hall see flags of all EU member states hanging above a central globe, which signals the building's role as a shared workspace for European cooperation. In the press areas, journalists gather in a practical, no-frills setting, where the clatter of laptops and hurried questions sets the rhythm during EU briefings.

Plan to arrive on foot or by public transport, since the nearby Schuman station serves metro and rail lines and the surrounding streets are often busy with officials and staff. If you have a meeting or accreditation, allow extra time for the security checks and follow the signs toward the correct entrance or connecting walkway.

Solar panels were added to the roof in 2006, quietly helping to power parts of this large official complex. Less visibly, bugs were reportedly found in some offices in 2003, a reminder of the security concerns that follow meetings where sensitive policies are discussed.