Press Release: President Prodi and Prime Minister Verhofstadt launch debate on Brussels, a capital for Europe

In the first event of its kind, the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of Belgium are to host two brainstorming sessions with noted intellectuals from across Europe, to discuss the future shape and character of Brussels as Europe's capital. The first session (30 May 2001) will consider what the ingredients of a capital for Europe should be. The second session (19 September 2001), will reflect on how Brussels can express these aspirations. The initiative follows the Nice summit, which strengthened the role the city of Brussels plays in the life of the European Union, by agreeing that in future it would be the regular home of European Council meetings. The intention is to reflect on how Brussels can provide a common area in which citizens of all countries feel equally represented.