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2 July 2004
BRUSSELS – The fine slapped on the Belgian government for severe delays in renovating the European Commission’s Brussels headquarters has doubled.
The Berlaymont building, at the heart of Brussels Schuman district, should have reopened on Thursday after years of refurbishment work.
But the Berlaymont is still not ready.
A commission spokesman confirmed on Thursday that Belgium must now cough up EUR 442, 000 in fines to compensate for the hold up.
The penalty has been calculated on the basis of the number of months the project has been delayed.
The European Commission was forced to leave its premises in 1991 after asbestos was found in the building and the renovation work has been hit by lengthy delays.
[Copyright Expatica 2004]
Subject: Belgian news