Brussels’ Schuman Square, intended as an “urban agora” and “a symbol that beats as the heart … of the European project,” remains a concrete expanse with little greenery or shade. The planned canopy, meant to crown the space, was never built. This failure in the heart of the EU quarter exposes the true priorities of a bloc increasingly defined by its borders and security apparatus, even within its own administrative core.
The redevelopment, launched 11 years ago in 2015 by former Brussels minister for mobility Pascal Smet, aimed to transform a traffic-clogged roundabout into a greener, calmer meeting place. Smet expressed deep disappointment, stating, “Schuman Square is the carte de visite [the calling card] of Brussels. It is the symbol of Europe.” Engineer-architect Francis De Wolf noted the project's unfinished state, questioning the political decisions behind the scenes.
Security Over Solidarity
The square's location presents significant challenges, sitting over an underground car tunnel, railway, and metro station, alongside a maze of gas and water pipelines. Crucially, planners also had to account for the security needs of the surrounding EU institutions. The space lies within the security perimeter of the European Council building, known as the “space egg,” which regularly hosts summits of EU leaders. This emphasis on security, even in a public space meant for gathering, mirrors the broader logic of Fortress Europe, where control and exclusion override human connection.
The international competition selected a Belgian-Danish consortium of architects, whose design included a canopy modeled on the European parliament’s semi-circular chamber. This structure was envisioned as a shelter for EU officials and local people, a landmark for tourists, and a respite from the sun and rain. Yet, the vision of an open, welcoming space faltered under the weight of bureaucratic inertia and escalating costs.
Work began 3 years ago in 2023, six years after the winning design was chosen. By then, Europe-wide inflation, stoked by the Covid pandemic and the Ukraine war, had spiralled costs. The budget, announced as €25m in 2023, included €17.4m from EU Covid recovery funds. These funds, ostensibly for recovery, were channeled into a symbolic project that ultimately failed to deliver on its promise of an inclusive public space.
The Cost of Political Paralysis
Brussels’ political crisis further exacerbated the problem. Following elections 2 years ago in June 2024, the city's 89-seat parliament, representing a bilingual city with 14 parties, faced a deadlock over forming a new government. This paralysis led to the freezing of investments and the halting of big construction projects. A new coalition, led by a Francophone liberal minister-president, only emerged this year after a record-breaking 613 days of negotiations.
During this protracted political vacuum, the caretaker government found itself unable to authorise new funds for the canopy, whose costs had risen from €5m to €13m. François Deschamps, a spokesperson for the Brussels minister for mobility and public works, Elke Van den Brandt, explained the conundrum: the government could not allocate more money but faced a deadline to complete works to avoid losing EU funds. A plea to the EU for a top-up 1 year ago in June 2025 was rejected by Belgium’s prime minister, Bart De Wever, who denounced Brussels as “a failed state.”
Taking office in February 2026, the new Brussels government cancelled the canopy. The Brussels council of ministers decided to pursue “something greener, something cheaper, and something that still fulfils the goal, which is to bring shade and refreshment.” The city is now in talks for new plans, possibly including water features, hoping for completion in 2 years by the summer of 2028. This saga of political infighting and budget overruns for a symbolic space stands in stark contrast to the urgent need for solidarity and open borders, revealing where the EU's true priorities lie.