In Brussels heat wave, EC building cooling switched off, but only for ordinary staff

On Friday, when Brussels recorded 35-degree heat, the cooling system in the European Commission building was switched off, but only on the lower floors where ordinary officials work. The upper floors, where Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and commissioners are located, remained air-conditioned.

An unusual situation erupted in the European Commission building in Brussels on Friday: during an intense heat wave, when the thermometer reached up to 35 degrees on city streets, the building's cooling system was switched off, but only partially.

Cooling was shut down on the lower floors of the building, where the vast majority of the Commission's ordinary staff work. Meanwhile, the upper floors, where the Commission President's and commissioners' offices are located, remained operational with the cooling system running.

Two-tiered comfort

The situation sparked discontent among Commission staff, as ordinary officials had to endure the heat on a warm summer day, while the institution's top management enjoyed a cool environment. The European Commission has yet to publicly explain why it decided to switch off cooling specifically on the lower floors rather than in the upper part of the building.

The incident coincides with a broader debate about inequality in working conditions across European institutions, where management privileges and conditions for ordinary employees can differ significantly.