The European Commission is examining a request from several members of the outgoing government of the Brussels-Capital Region for funding to help foot the bill for the renovation work that is currently being carried out on Schuman Square in Brussels’ European District. The European Commission has told the press agency Belga that it will “reply in good time”.
European is examining Brussels-Capital Region’s request for funding to complete work on Schuman Square project
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Last week the outgoing Brussel Regional Transport Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Flemish Green), the outgoing regional secretary of state Ans Persoons (Flemish socialist) and the outgoing First Minister of the Brussels-Capital Region Rudi Vervoort (Francophone socialist) sent a letter to 5 European institutions, including the European Commission asking them for financial assistance to help meet the spiraling cost of the project. As the outgoing government has no powers to approve new expenditure it is unable to provide the additional funding to ensure that the renovation of Schuman Square can be completed.
The cost of the renovation had been initially estimated to be 30.2 million euro. However, the actual cost will be 12.4 euro million more than this. The cost of the project could rise further if the site has to be shut down if the tender for the canopy above the Schuman Square roundabout is not concluded by 30 June.
As Beliris, the federal government agency that provides finance for projects that support and promote Brussels’ function as a capital city, works with a so-called “closed envelop” when providing funding, any additional costs incurred would have to be picked up in full by the Brussels-Capital Region. The outgoing Brussels Regional Government also sent a letter requesting additional funding to the federal minister responsible for Beliris Bernard Quintin (Francophone liberal). Mr Quintin has not yet replied, but he says that he is in the process of analysing the request.
Last week the Federal Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist) said that he has “serious concerns” about what he described as the “begging letter” sent by the Brussels-Capital Region. He also described Brussels as a “failed state”. Mr De Wever said that those that had been sent the letter should ignore it.
Not much time
It remains to be seen whether the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Committee of the Regions, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the European Council will respond positively to the Brussels-Capital Region’s cry for help or will simply ignore it.
However, time is running out as the tender for the canopy above the Schuman Square roundabout must be completed by 30 June. If not, the construction site will have to be shut down and this in turn would mean additional extra costs for a project that is already over budget.
The European Commission says that it is already cooperating with the Belgian authorities on the renovation of Schuman Square. 17.4 million euro has already been attributed in the form of a loan from the EU. The European Commission has already disbursed 2 tranches of the loan. It says that the Belgian authorities have until September to request the payment of a third tranche. This will be conditional on “performance-based objectives” being met by 30 August. If this is not the case, the Schuman project risks missing out on the rest of this European loan.