Brussels

Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and serves as the de facto capital of the European Union. Located in the central part of Belgium, the city has a metropolitan population of about 1.2 million people and sits within the Brussels-Capital Region, one of Belgium's three federal regions. Brussels hosts the principal institutions of the European Union, including the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament, making it the administrative heart of EU policy-making and regulation. The city is also home to the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and numerous international organisations, diplomatic missions and multinational corporations. Its economy is dominated by services, particularly public administration, finance, business services and international affairs, with limited manufacturing presence. Brussels is officially bilingual, with both French and Dutch holding official status, reflecting Belgium's linguistic divide. The city's role as the EU capital means that major trade, regulatory and diplomatic negotiations involving European member states frequently take place there, including discussions on critical minerals, automotive standards and trade relations with partners such as China. Brussels has evolved from a medieval trading town into a major European political and economic hub, particularly since Belgium's independence in 1830 and the establishment of European institutions in the city after the Second World War.