Brussels' Schuman Roundabout Project Fails After €30 Million Spend

The Schuman roundabout in Brussels – the symbolic traffic circle named after EU founder Robert Schuman and situated between the European Commission, the Council and the European External Action Service – was slated for a €30 million redesign. The plan, created by the architectural firms Brut and Cobe, called for a large pedestrian zone topped with a steel canopy and green roof to provide shade and seating.

After three years of construction, delays, and cost overruns, the funding was exhausted. The site now consists of a stark, sun‑bleached concrete area with no trees or benches, while excavators continue to remove gravel from the edges. The space, once promoted as a European “agora,” has become a widely cited example of bureaucratic failure.

The unfinished square is heavily photographed and broadcast, underscoring the contrast between the EU’s high‑profile institutions and the neglected public space that serves thousands of daily commuters and visitors.