European Commission Faces Backlash Over Air Conditioning Shutdown

During a severe heatwave, the European Commission decided to turn off the air conditioning for lower floors of its Brussels headquarters while senior officials remained comfortable on the upper floors.

On Friday afternoon, employees in the Berlaymont building received an emergency notification stating, “Berle – Emergency – Due to extreme weather conditions, the air cooling system from floors 1 to 7 will be forced to shut down for the rest of the day.” This meant that those on the first to seventh floors had to endure the heat without relief.

The reason for this decision was notable. The 13th floor is home to Chairwoman Ursula von der Leyen, along with 26 committee members and around 3,000 staff. Von der Leyen is on the top floor, while most of the commission’s members are situated on the eighth floor and above, comfortably outside the affected areas.

Employees on the lower floors expressed their dissatisfaction. One staff member described the conditions as “feudal-like,” while another called it “disgraceful.” Interestingly, a colleague on the eighth floor, which still had functioning air conditioning, noted the room temperature reached 25.7 degrees.

Reports indicate that frustration was already mounting prior to the air conditioning shutdown. Earlier in the week, the commission had advised employees to stay hydrated, begin work early, and remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day. This guidance frustrated many, particularly those working in the Agriculture Directorate where air conditioning was non-existent.

The heatwave affected not only Brussels but also much of Europe. A weather pattern identified as the Omega Block drove temperatures 18 degrees Celsius above normal, with France experiencing its hottest day in nearly 80 years, peaking at 44.3 degrees Celsius. This extreme weather led to numerous fatalities and power failures across several regions.

The lack of adequate cooling infrastructure in Europe further exacerbated the situation. According to reports, only about 20% of households on the continent have air conditioning. Belgian Railways had to cancel several rush-hour trains as a significant proportion of its fleet lacked cooling systems. Additionally, the European Parliament experienced a power outage this week due to overwhelming energy demands.