The Brussels region’s caretaker government wants EU institutions to cough up extra money to cover the ballooning costs of renovating the Schuman roundabout.

“It will not have escaped your notice that major works are underway on Schuman Square,” read a letter obtained by POLITICO, sent by top local politicians last week to the leaders of five European institutions: Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa, Kaja Kallas, Roberta Metsola and Kata Tüttö, the head of the European Committee of Regions. 

“Your support would be a powerful signal of the European institutions’ commitment to the city that hosts them, and a tangible investment in strengthening the link between Europe and its capital,” wrote the city’s Minister President Rudi Vervoort, Minister of European Relations and Urban Planning Ans Persoons, and mobility and public works chief Elke Van den Brandt — all members of the Brussels’ caretaker government. 

Renovating the famous roundabout — the epicenter of the steel and glass buildings housing the EU institutions — began in fall 2023 and was expected to conclude in the summer of 2026. But a proposed steel canopy in the middle of the square is threatening to blow up costs, leaving the government with a €3 million gap to fill.

Brussels city is grappling with a gaping hole in its budget and severe political paralysis, with government negotiations stuck in limbo since elections in June 2024.

“The ailing budgetary situation of the Brussels Capital Region, together with the fact that there is not yet a new Brussels Government in full power, means that the project will be  compromised if guarantees cannot be given quickly regarding the necessary additional financing,” the ministers wrote.

The government hopes EU institutions will fork over the extra cash to approve a tender by June 30. Missing that deadline could entail “even further additional cost,” the officials warned.

“Currently, the Brussels Government finds itself unable to make the necessary commitments to finance the additional costs for the realization of the canopy; a commitment to be made at the latest by 30 June, day on which the current tender must be subscribed to at the latest,” it adds. 

Paula Pinho, the European Commission’s chief spokesperson, confirmed that the EU executive received the letter, the contents of which were first reported by Belgian daily De Standaard.

She added that the Commission hadn’t responded yet. Spokespeople for Persoons, Vervoort and Van den Brandt declined to comment.