The EU has been left humiliated after one of its headquarters was reportedly forced to shut down its air conditioning due to the scorching heatwave. The air conditioning system in the European Commission’s Berlaymont building in Brussels is said to have encountered an issue on Friday.
Belgium has also been baking under the ‘heat dome’ that has swept across much of western Europe this week. Temperatures in the country are nearing record high for June, with the mercury expected to reach 40C in some areas. Staff at the Berlaymont building reportedly received a text at midday local time informing them of a problem with the air conditioning system.
“BERL — URGENT — Due to extreme weather conditions, forced shut down of air cooling system from floor 1 to 7 for the rest of the day,” the message said, according to POLITICO.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is based on the 13th floor of the building, the outlet reports.
Most of the 26 commissioners’ officers are on floors eight or above.
Around 3,000 staff work at the 13-storey building in the Belgian capital.
Events across Belgium have been cancelled due to the extreme temperatures, including the re-enactment of Napoleon’s defeat at the battle of Waterloo.
The heatwave in the country is expected to end on Monday, with the mercury forecast to fall to the mid 20s next week.
Most of Belgium has been under an orange heat alert, while the provinces of Limburg and Liège have been under a code red warning.
Belgium’s Royal Meteorological Institute said Friday is set to be the hottest day of the heatwave, with temperatures beginning to lower on Sunday.
While in the UK, a new record high temperature has been set for June for the third day in a row.
Conditions are expected to ease in the coming days.
