Temporary site: state of play

A Steering Committee meeting on the situation of Brussels European Schools was held on Thursday 28 March. The aim of the discussion was focused on the comparative assessment of the two proposals still under scrutiny by the Belgian Buildings Agency, the first proposed site in Rue du Commerce 96 at Arts-Loi and the second proposed site in the current location of NATO in Evere. None of these proposals can host more than 1,000 students.  

The Belgian authorities envisage preparing a technical assessment as a basis for the decision that is expected to be taken by the federal Council of Ministers in April/May.

Parent representatives re-iterated their well-known educational and logistical concerns relating to the site at Rue du Commerce, whose capacity and structure could accommodate mostly upper secondary students. The origin and the composition of the school population for this site has not been decided as yet. As regards the building itself, although the date of its delivery was fixed for September 2020, some procedural issues remain open, in particular as regards its future destination after the end date of its use by the European Schools.  

The study for the Evere site would still require a financial agreement between the competent Ministries and involve the demolition of the current modular block which has existed for the last 20 years in view of the subsequent setting up of new modular blocks by September 2021. This solution would be a first step towards the further development of the site for 2,500 students by September 2026. It is worth noting that the use of the current infra-structure was excluded by the Belgian authorities.   

The Belgian authorities wished to obtain a list of educational needs in order for them to assess the technical feasibility and the total cost of this project. A core school for Nursery and Primary students was considered by the Committee as the more realistic and less expensive proposal, which would also be consistent with the future development of the 5th European School in its surroundings. The date of delivery of this temporary site would be September 2021, while the construction of the entire 5th School would not be concluded before September 2026.

The Steering Committee analysed the worrying trends of over-population in all Brussels Schools, mostly because of the steadily increasing pressure at secondary level and regretted the further delay in the construction of the 5th School, as its total capacity would have already been reached upon inauguration. The Committee requested concrete assurances from the Belgian authorities about their planning schedules and flexibility as to the numbers of school population. The provision of a new building in Berkendael for a maximum capacity of 150-200 students could serve in 2020 only as a temporary relief to the pressure from over-population.

The Steering Committee expressed its utmost satisfaction with and favourable position for the alternative proposal for Evere, as it meets all expectations in terms of transportation, convenient geographical location, availability of sports facilities in NATO and proximity to the future 5th School infrastructure.

The Secretary-General of European Schools will report about the outcome of the most recent Steering Committee meetings to the Chair of the Belgian Task Force as well as to the Board of Governors meeting in Athens.