The European Parliament is getting hot and sweaty, and it’s not because of the upcoming EU budget negotiations.
The air-conditioning system in Zone C of the Paul-Henri Spaak building in Brussels, home to staff from the Greens, the liberals of Renew Europe, and the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists, has malfunctioned.
The affected parties appear to be taking it in good humor, at least.
“It hasn’t been this overheated since [European Commission President Ursula] von der Leyen cut the green claims stuff!” quipped a Renew spokesperson, referring to last week’s political turmoil over the Commission’s mixed messaging on whether it would kill an anti-greenwashing bill.
“I hear it’s better on the 5th floor, where they don’t believe in climate change,” the spokesperson added, referring to the offices of the ECR, a group that wants to water down the EU’s climate policies.
Not to be outdone, an ECR spokesperson said: “I know they want to make us sweat over our political positions, but isn’t this ridiculous?”
The Spaak building is set for a €440 million renovation starting in 2027, which will take about five years. It is meant to bring the infrastructure up to modern safety and green standards after the partial collapse of the plenary chamber ceiling, according to the Parliament’s administration.
On Tuesday night the system experienced “a major malfunction” due to “exceptionally high temperatures,” an internal communication from the Parliament’s infrastructure department reads. “Our teams were unable to restore the system during the night and repair works are continuing this morning as a matter of absolute priority,” the note adds.
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