Heatwave knocks out air conditioning at European Commission headquarters in Brussels

The air conditioning system at the Berlaymont building, the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, partially failed on the afternoon of June 26 due to the extreme heat affecting much of Europe.

According to Report's European bureau, staff were informed via an internal notification that cooling had been "forcibly switched off from the first to the seventh floor of the building for the remainder of the day."

The offices of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and most European commissioners are located on the upper floors of the 13-story building.

Belgium, like many other European countries, has been experiencing exceptionally high temperatures, with some areas setting new heat records. On the morning of June 26, residents received mobile alerts advising them to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, limit physical activity, and stay hydrated. The day was reported to be the hottest since the current heatwave began last week.

The extreme heat has also disrupted infrastructure across Europe. In Belgium, some train services were canceled due to high temperatures, while the European Parliament earlier this week experienced power supply disruptions amid increased demand on cooling systems.