Brussels and the Dominant Presence of the Public Sector
Brussels is recognized as one of the most stable office markets globally, primarily due to its robust public sector. It is home to the Belgian federal government, various regional and local administrations, as well as numerous European institutions, NATO, and many international organizations.
Brussels became the heart of the European Union (EU) in 1958 with the formation of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). This led to an influx of politicians, diplomatic envoys, lobbying organizations, NGO’s, press associations and numerous EU-related companies, including law firms, think tanks, and translation services. This bureaucracy has fostered a substantial office market in the region, totaling over 12.4 million m². Almost half of this space is occupied by the public sector, reflecting the acyclical nature of demand from these entities, which typically commit long-term to their Brussels locations.
The European institutions and community agencies
Brussels, often dubbed the "Capital of Europe," owes this title largely to the European Union, which has established its main executive and administrative bodies here. Key institutions include the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the Committee of the Regions, and the Economic and Social Committee.
The Brussels-Capital Region also hosts eight community agencies, including the European Defence Agency, the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation, the Community Fisheries Control Agency, the European GNSS Supervisory Authority, the Research Executive Agency, the European Research Council Executive Agency and the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency.
Collectively, these European institutions and community agencies occupy around 1.5 million m² of office space, predominantly in the Leopold (European) district, providing a significant stimulus to the local economy.
Federal and Regional Governments
The Belgian federal presence in Brussels is substantial, encompassing nearly all major federal ministries and a considerable portion of space utilized by the Flemish, Brussels, and, to a lesser extent, Walloon regional administrations. The federal government occupies over 1.6 million m², while regional and local governments use an additional 600,000 m², mainly located in the North District, City Center, and South District.
Other International Institutions
Brussels is also home to NATO headquarters and various other international institutions, including the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the Benelux General Secretariat, and Eurocontrol. Other important international bodies have their headquarters elsewhere, but have a liaison office in Brussels. This is for example the case for the Council of Europe, the United Nations (UN), UNESCO, UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Labour Organization, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), the World Bank, the African Union, the International Organization for Migration and the Assembly of the European Regions (AER).
Embassies and Representations
With 184 embassies and over 300 regional and city representations, Brussels stands as one of the world’s most significant diplomatic hubs. Diplomatic lobbying by member states plays a crucial role in the European decision-making process.
Lobbyists
While Brussels does not host many international headquarters, it is a bustling center for lobbying, with an estimated 25,000 lobbyists active in the city. This billion-euro industry influences approximately 70% of laws governing the daily lives of European citizens, making Brussels the second-largest lobbying hub globally, after Washington, D.C.
International Law Firms
The presence of European Institutions has drawn some of the most prestigious global law firms to Brussels, establishing it as a prime center for international legal services. The city ranks highly among European cities for the number of international law firms operating within its borders.
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