tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post1857656911237438212..comments2023-09-09T14:46:37.354+02:00Comments on Julien Frisch: In the Brussels bubble (1)Julien Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167141111642456560noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post-46399743971010644942009-10-03T13:22:43.103+02:002009-10-03T13:22:43.103+02:00Hi,
Nice metaphor, but dick's right that it&...Hi,<br /><br />Nice metaphor, but dick's right that it's a belgian problem, not an EU one. Brussels is just badly signposted, and don't get me started on the belgian state (if you thought the EU was complex ...).<br /><br />But that does't make brussels and belgium any less lovely. I really feel very sorry for all those stuck in the bubble - they often don't knpw what they're missing, right next door and around the corner.Mathew Lowryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06290784335291768865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post-81919148057191128892009-10-03T13:18:07.770+02:002009-10-03T13:18:07.770+02:00I get the imptression that this was your first vis...I get the imptression that this was your first visit of the EU Quarter :-) You get used to it after a while, but the architecture in the Leopold Quarter is rather grim indeed. From a bourgeois residential area built in the 19th century it has slowly transformed into the uninspiring grid filled with sooty office buildings that are much too high in comparison to the width of the streets.<br /><br />Moving around in the EU quarter by feet usually, I particularly dislike the heavy car traffic in the area. There are a few nice green spots however. My favourites are the Leopold Park, the Parque Cinquantenaire and the two Squares (de Meeus and Frère Orban).<br /><br />Having done guided "lobby tours" in the EU quarter since December 2001 (we also offer <a href="http://www.eulobbytours.org/" rel="nofollow">a virtual tour</a>, but unfortunately that is quite outdated after four years) I have lost this feeling of disorientation that you describe so well. But you're so right saying that "the depressing architectural system perfectly represents the political system of the Union where citizens are supposed to stay out, and the only ones quickly finding their way are the EU insiders and experts."<br /><br />I'm glad that <a href="http://www.corporateeurope.org" rel="nofollow">Corporate Europe Observatory's</a> office in the new <a href="http://www.mundo-b.org/" rel="nofollow">Mundo building</a> is located at the outer edge of the EU quarter, where the Matonge begins: a completely different world and much more lively!Erik Wesseliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08987100035727439847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post-20889069764966227442009-10-03T11:39:10.565+02:002009-10-03T11:39:10.565+02:00....and I forgot to say that the Twunch with the i.......and I forgot to say that the Twunch with the incrowd of eurobloggers in Brussels and their followers was great! It was a pleasure ar eurocrats to meet and talk to so many of you, especially Julien! Inspires me to continue to Twitter and comment from within "da house".<br />DickDick Nieuwenhuishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13833536940719124910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post-69654072304200404512009-10-03T11:36:27.046+02:002009-10-03T11:36:27.046+02:00A quick comment on the lack of signposting in the ...A quick comment on the lack of signposting in the eurodistrict. This is not at all the intention of the institutions but comes from our hostcountry Belgium. And because of them our buildings had no signs on the outside for a long time. Now they are in the 2 local languages (NL&FR) which most of us find ridiculous as English should appear at least (and even DE, being one of our 3 official working languages). The Commission, for example, is asking the Belgian authorities for years to do some about the mish-mash of the eurodistrict. Kallas is serious on this. But he too is lost in the Belgian political junghle for this.Dick Nieuwenhuishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13833536940719124910noreply@blogger.com