Question by Ms Helena Ruiz Fabra regarding the organisation of an event by the Embassy of the United States at Cinquantenaire Park

Municipal Council meeting of 22 June 2026

Mr Mayor,

Members of the Executive Board and Municipal Council,

At present, the way in which the United States interacts with the rest of the world is generating considerable debate and reaction, including in Europe. It must be acknowledged that this context influences the way citizens perceive certain events organised here, particularly when they take place in public spaces made available for private use.

I would therefore like to return in greater detail to the event that the Embassy of the United States is planning to organise at Cinquantenaire Park on 28 June.

As you know, many local residents and stakeholders have expressed their concerns. The park already hosts numerous events throughout the year, and this event comes on top of an already very busy programme. Environmental organisations have also called for measures to be taken to protect, in particular, the feeding period of common swifts. Cinquantenaire Park is in fact home to one of the largest colonies in Belgium.

Beyond the technical aspects, residents are, quite rightly, questioning the actual purpose of this event, its scale, and the cumulative impact it may have on their neighbourhood.

The municipality has stated that the daily lives of local residents and access to their homes would not be significantly disrupted. However, on the ground, and based on the information appearing in the press as the date approaches, the situation seems more complex.

In order to address the concerns that have been raised, I would like to obtain specific answers on the following four points.

1. Occupation and accessibility of the park

At the May Municipal Council meeting, we were told that the park would only be closed for one or two days.

Other sources, however, refer to a longer preparation period, with restrictions beginning earlier, as well as the gradual securing and occupation of the site before its complete closure.

How do you explain the difference between the officially announced closure period and the gradual occupation of the site, which is already resulting in access restrictions, for example around the arcades?

2. Governance and responsibilities

A large number of stakeholders are involved: the Municipality of Etterbeek, the City of Brussels, the police, Brussels Environment, the Buildings Agency, as well as several private operators.

We are also particularly concerned about certain policing practices, such as “kettling”, which have been observed during recent demonstrations in the education sector.

Does the Municipality of Etterbeek have the ability to guarantee that such practices will not be used on its territory?

In the event of problems affecting local residents, traffic or security, which authority will ultimately bear responsibility?

3. Security, infrastructure and costs

Do you now know which expenses will be covered by the Embassy? At our previous Council meeting, you indicated that you were not yet certain whether some of the costs would be covered.

What will be the total direct and indirect cost of this event to the public finances, and more specifically to the Municipality of Etterbeek?

Will the ING building be used in connection with this event, as Mr Philippe Close mentioned last week? If so, from what date and under what conditions?

4. Position of local elected representatives

Have the members of the Executive Board been invited to this event?

Do they intend to attend or to have the municipality officially represented?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Mayor’s response:

• Generally speaking, the municipality tries to listen to local residents and to limit the number of festive events held at Cinquantenaire Park.
• In this case, the municipality has no authority over the United States or over what it may or may not organise within the municipality, particularly as the park is located across several municipalities. Most of the event will take place within the territory of the City of Brussels, which would therefore have had a greater say in the organisation of the event.
• The actual closure will run from Saturday evening until Sunday evening, but closures/access restrictions are to be expected throughout the preparation period (installation of the stage, grandstands, etc.), potentially for 10 to 12 days.
• The municipality nevertheless has a duty to ensure security around the event; there will therefore be a cost for the municipality, but not all costs can be recharged to the United States. They can only be recharged in part, if an event-management company has been contracted. The United States will, in principle, have to pay for the parking restrictions around the park.
• As regards communication, it was decided that responsibility would be left to the organiser.
• The Mayor declined to answer questions regarding any personal invitations and whether or not the municipality would participate in the event.