Brussels, Region of the world: where international cooperation feels at home
The Brussels Region and its 19 municipalities lie at the heart of Belgium and a dynamic metropolis and are home to 1.2 million inhabitants. As the country's capital, it is also the seat of the Union's main institutions and has become the capital of 450 million Europeans.
Brussels encourages mixing, mingling and exchange, so that new ideas can germinate and shape our future. The people of Brussels are optimists who embrace the chaos and beauty of their perfectly imperfect city.
A multicultural region...
Brussels is a cosmopolitan metropolis and a living canvas of cultural diversity, attracting minds from all over the world. While the region has two official languages, French and Dutch, the international nature of Brussels transcends this classification, as it is home to over 183 nationalities, and around 100 languages are spoken.
Home to numerous European institutions, Brussels plays a key role in the decisions that shape the destiny of the continent and beyond, as it also hosts the headquarters of leading international organisations including NATO, reinforcing its position as a strategic hub of global diplomacy.
The Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations (CEIO) plays an essential role here: it ensures that the Region remains an efficient and benevolent host for these institutions, facilitating their integration and ensuring a fluid dialogue between international players and local authorities.
It was still an industrial city in the 1950s, but Brussels' economy has undergone a radical transformation to become more service-oriented. International institutions, as well as all the parallel activities generated by this ecosystem, account for a total of around 25% of economic activity and employment in the Region.
...with many advantages
