Full Breakdown
European Commission Headquarters Forced to Shut Down Air-Conditioning on Lower Floors Amid Record Heatwave
6/27/2026, 5:09:39 AM
Berlaymont Air-Conditioning Shutdown
On Friday, the European Commission shut down the air-conditioning system on floors 1-7 of its Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels. The measure, described as an urgent response to extreme weather, left the upper floors—occupied by President Ursula von der Leyen and most commissioners—still climate-controlled.
Heatwave and Cooling Shortage
Belgium and much of Europe have endured a week of record-high temperatures, prompting health warnings across several countries. Only about one-fifth of European households possess air-conditioning, and a similar share of Belgian trains operate without it; the European Parliament also reported cooling-system blackouts this week.
Key Figures
The Berlaymont houses President Ursula von der Leyen on the 13th floor, 26 commissioners on floors 8 and above, and roughly 3,000 staff members, many working on lower levels such as DG AGRI. The shutdown directly affected these lower-floor employees.
Data and Statistics
Internal measurements recorded 25.7 °C on the eighth floor despite active cooling. The 13-story building accommodates about 3,000 employees. Europe logged roughly 61,000 heat-related deaths in 2022, while only 20 % of homes have air-conditioning, compared with about 90 % in the United States and Japan.
Official Response
The Commission sent a text reading: “BERL — URGENT — Due to weather conditions, forced shut down of air cooling system from floor 1 to 7 for the rest of the day.” It framed the decision as part of precautionary measures to reduce electricity consumption, adjust procedures and allow flexible working hours.
Staff Criticism
Staff described the situation as “feudalism” and a “disgrace,” noting that upper-floor offices retained cooling while lower-floor workspaces overheated. Critics also linked the incident to the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings directive, which promotes passive cooling and penalizes air-conditioning installations for building owners nationwide.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on the driver of the shutdown: some attribute it to grid-strain and electricity-saving measures, while others emphasize staff grievances over unequal cooling. No official figure details the exact power saved, the duration beyond “rest of the day,” or the criteria for selecting floors 1-7.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s like feudalism,” — Anonymous Commission official (lower-level staff, Berlaymont)
- “disgrace.” — Anonymous Commission official (lower-level staff)
- “BERL — URGENT — Due to extreme weather conditions, forced shut down of air cooling system from floor 1 to 7 for the rest of the day.” — Internal Commission text message
- “Precautionary measures for weather conditions The Commission explained that the decision is part of precautionary measures to address the exceptional weather conditions.” — European Commission statement (as reported by Voice of Emirates)
Future Outlook
Climate experts cited in the sources call for stronger adaptation plans, including revisiting the Energy Performance of Buildings directive to allow efficient heat-pump cooling alongside winter heating. The Commission’s experience may prompt reviews of building-code penalties and accelerated retrofits for public facilities to ensure continuity during future heatwaves.
