In 1952, the ECSC held its first meeting inside City Hall on Place Guillaume II. In the context of the anniversary, the European Commission visited the capital on Wednesday and held its weekly meeting in the same room inside City Hall.
After President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was welcomed by Grand Duke Henri inside the Grand Ducal Palace, the Commission made its way to Place Guillaume II, walking past the big construction site to City Hall, where Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Mayor of Luxembourg City Lydie Polfer were awaiting them. On the way, the President of the European Commission randomly met a school class from Mersch. The pupils accompanied the Commission members to City Hall, where they took a selfie with Bettel, von der Leyen, and Polfer.
A photo exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of the ECSC is currently on display in the lobby of City Hall. The pictures show the first meeting of the ECSC, which was founded after the Second World War to regulate the production of coal and steel in Europe. The ECSC also paved the way for an integration process, which culminated in the founding of the European Union in 1993. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel stressed that it should never be forgotten that Luxembourg was there from the very beginning, while Polfer added that it was the start of a big change.
The European Commission then held its meeting, which takes place every week but this time in the rather unusual setting of the municipal council’s meeting room. The room was specially arranged to resemble the décor of the 1952 meeting.
After the meeting, a commemorative plaque was inaugurated and von der Leyen signed the Golden Book of Luxembourg City. The Prime Minister then invited the European guests to lunch before they will conclude their trip to Luxembourg with a stop at the European Court of Auditors.
