Esplanade Solidarność 1980 

Esplanade Solidarność 1980

Brussels
Esplanade Solidarność 1980

The ideal place to grab a sandwich, read a book, or look at the temporary exhibition on display just above it.

Esplanade Solidarność 1980

Brussels
Esplanade Solidarność 1980

The Esplanade Solidarność 1980 – with the Agora Simone Veil at its centre – defines the European Parliament site in Brussels, connecting its buildings with the Place du Luxembourg, the Brussels-Luxembourg train station and Parc Léopold. It’s the ideal place to grab a sandwich, read a book, or even just soak up the atmosphere of the European Parliament.

Solidarność 1980 - a bit of history

Solidarność was founded in Poland in 1980 during a series of strikes against the country’s totalitarian regime. Ten million Poles joined this independent and autonomous trade union. The regime reacted with persecutions, arrests and the murder of political opponents. But the changes initiated by Solidarność eventually led to peaceful negotiations with the communist government, which resulted in the first partially free elections in June 1989. Following these elections, Poland became the first central and eastern European country to be led by a non-communist government. In turn, this set in motion democratic changes in other countries – leading to the fall of the Iron Curtain and the unification of Europe.

An impressive architectural backdrop

The Agora Simone Veil is at the centre of the Esplanade Solidarność 1980 and offers an impressive architectural backdrop. It is a great place from which to admire the architecture of the European Parliament’s Altiero Spinelli, Willy Brandt and Joszef Antall buildings. All three (as well as other European Parliament buildings) are named after charismatic figures who played an important role in the construction of the European Union.

A dynamic hub

The Esplanade Solidarność 1980 hosts more than 40 public events every year, run by the European Union institutions and other organisations. Keep an eye on the agenda.

You are a public events organiser?

The Esplanade Solidarność 1980 could be just the place to host your event. All requests are assessed in accordance with strict criteria by a committee representing the European Parliament and the local authorities.

For further details on the procedures, please contact either the European Parliament or the Ixelles municipal administration.

Useful documents:

Map

Esplanade Solidarność 1980

Place du Luxembourg / Luxemburgplein 100
B-1050 Brussels
Belgium

How to get there

Brussels-Luxembourg serves the European Parliament

Motor disability

Practical information