Belgian roadworks impact Danish EU presidency

The Danish EU representation in Brussels was fully prepared for July 1 – the first day of the Danish EU presidency.

But just a few hours into the first day of the Danish EU presidency, Danish efficiency was met with Belgian reality.

Due to a defective elevator and extensive roadworks between the EU Commission’s building, Berlaymont, and the Council of Ministers’ building, Justus Lipsius, Denmark could not hang its presidency banners as planned at 10:00 AM on Tuesday morning.

It is, however, a firm tradition that the new presidency is allowed to roll down a huge banner over the Justus Lipsius building on the first day.

Together with the adjacent Europa building, they house some of the most important EU institutions in Brussels.

This is where Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) meets French President Emmanuel Macron and the other heads of state and government for summits.

And this is where the ministers of the EU countries gather for the meetings that Denmark, as the presiding country, will lead for the next six months.

However, the Council of Ministers’ elevator was defective on Tuesday morning, and the roadworks made it difficult to access the area, so Denmark was unable to roll the banner down over the building.

It will also be difficult for passersby to see, as they have to navigate through the extensive Belgian roadworks outside the building.

Here, the sidewalks around the main road Rue de la Loi through the European quarter in Brussels are dug up. So instead of looking up at the Justus Lipsius building, passersby must look down at gravel and dug-up asphalt while maneuvering through meters of blue and yellow barriers around the building.

Therefore, Denmark has so far had to settle for putting up a few banners inside the Justus Lipsius building.

The hope is that the large banner may be able to go up on the Council of Ministers’ building later on Tuesday – or during Wednesday.