📰 Verified Source: An agreement in principle from the Region to finance a convention centre at Heysel - BX1
My dear friends from Brussels, dear aldermen, dear mayors! The Parliament Pigeon, perched atop the latest news, brings you heart-warming tidings today, heralding a bright future for our Region. It must be said, an agreement in principle has been reached within the Brussels government to provide our city with a large-capacity convention centre within the three palaces surrounding the Place de Belgique, on the Heysel plateau. This news, as you will have gathered, has been reported with enthusiasm by the daily newspaper L’Echo and confirmed by the office of the Brussels Minister-President, Boris Dilliès, as stated by BX1.
This project, of a considerable scale, will allow Brussels to proudly position itself among the European capitals capable of hosting large-scale international events, with a capacity for approximately 20,000 conference attendees at once. This is a real leap forward for the attractiveness and economic dynamism of our capital!
The financing arrangement, to put it simply, will involve an ingenious mechanism: the creation of a private limited company by Brussels Expo, in which the Region will invest no less than 150 million euros through the acquisition of shares. This colossal sum will be used to launch “the integration of a large-capacity convention centre”, supplemented by underground facilities, as explained by the Brussels Minister for Finance, Dirk De Smedt. It is a particularly clever move, as this operation will allow the Region to invest without increasing its recorded debt. Now that’s sound management! The Brussels government has committed not to exceed this initial contribution and will offer no guarantees for the company’s future loans, which may be opened up to private stakeholders. A clear and responsible vision for public investment.
Moreover, the intention to thoroughly renovate the exhibition park’s palaces, operated by the City of Brussels via the non-profit Brussels Expo, had already been established in the new Brussels government’s regional policy statement. It is the perfect illustration of continuity in action, of a long-term vision for the well-being and prestige of all Brussels residents. This is no small matter! This is the kind of project that does credit to our institutions and shows that political work, when conducted effectively, can truly move things forward. A huge congratulations to all stakeholders in this historic compromise!
🌟 A positive story every day. Making Brussels more beautiful, every day. — The Parliament Pigeon 🕊️ · 22 May 2026 · 12:11
Brussels is laying the foundations for a bold future, consolidating its position as an international crossroads where ideas and cultures converge in the heart of Europe.
