EU Commission building in Brussels restricts air‑conditioning for lower‑floor staff amid heat wave

During an extreme heat wave, the European Commission sent a message to staff stating that the cooling system in the Berlaymont building would be turned off on floors 1 through 7 for the rest of the day. The upper floors, where Commissioners and senior officials work, kept their air‑conditioning running.

A staff member who spoke to POLITICO described the measure as “feudal” and another called it “shameful.” The 13‑storey building houses President Ursula von der Leyen’s office on the 13th floor, and most senior officials occupy the 8th floor and above. Belgium recorded a temperature of 35.3 °C in Uccle, triggering red and orange heat alerts across the country. The incident has sparked criticism of the Commission’s response to the heat wave and highlighted broader concerns about climate‑related health risks in Europe.