Guide for trainees.
Date: 2020-03-10
Institutions: General Secretariat of the Council
Subjects: Council of the European Union, operation of the Institutions, professional experience, traineeship, user guide

Guide for trainees

Council of the European Union
General Secretariat 

Copyrigth lorem ipsum cum dolore ©Guide for trainees

feBruarY 2020

Notice

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www.consilium.europa.eu

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Brussels: General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, 2020

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2  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

Content

Welcome message by the Secretary-General....................................................................................   

07

Your Traineeships Office (TO)........................................................................................................................

09

Who is your administrator in the TO ?.....................................................................................................

09

1.  WElcOmE TO ThE GSc

What can you expect from your traineeship ?...................................................................................

10

What are our expectations ?.......................................................................................................................... 

10

The buildings at the GSC.................................................................................................................................. 

10

Important for your first day............................................................................................................................

12

Your access badge...............................................................................................................................................  

12

Access to the buildings..................................................................................................................................... 

13

Inviting & escorting guests............................................................................................................................. 

13

Anti-smocking measures.................................................................................................................................

13

2.  AT WORK

Computer equipment.......................................................................................................................................

14

Access to computer.............................................................................................................................................  

14

Access to the GSC e-mail................................................................................................................................. 

14

Access to intranet.................................................................................................................................................

14

Access to Council documents research.................................................................................................

15

Landline phone......................................................................................................................................................

15

Bring your own device.......................................................................................................................................

15

Helpline contact..................................................................................................................................................... 

15

Working hours......................................................................................................................................................... 

15

The Directorate-General................................................................................................................................... 

16

Individual work program.................................................................................................................................. 

16

Workload.....................................................................................................................................................................

16

Dress code................................................................................................................................................................

17

End-of-traineeship  certificates.....................................................................................................................

17

Participation in meetings................................................................................................................................

18

Missions ......................................................................................................................................................................

18 

Voluntary work.......................................................................................................................................................

18

Confidentiality........................................................................................................................................................

19

Ethics guide, Good administrative & Social Media Code of Conduct..........................

19

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 3

3.  TRAINEEShIp AcTIvITIES

7. TRANSpORT

Council simulation exercise...........................................................................................................................

20

Transportation in the city................................................................................................................................. 

36

Language courses................................................................................................................................................

21

Bicycle safety............................................................................................................................................................ 

38

Training courses.....................................................................................................................................................

21 

Tips................................................................................................................................................................................. 

38

Timeline of the previous traineeship....................................................................................................... 

22

Shared scooters & electric bicycles........................................................................................................... 

39

Information program..........................................................................................................................................

22

Cars................................................................................................................................................................................. 

39

Lunchtime conferences.................................................................................................................................... 

22 

Traffic regulations................................................................................................................................................. 

40

Spokespersons.......................................................................................................................................................

23

Assistance...................................................................................................................................................................

40

4. yOUR RIGhTS
Traineeship grant..................................................................................................................................................

24

Travel allowance....................................................................................................................................................

24

Restaurant cards.....................................................................................................................................................

24

Leave.............................................................................................................................................................................

25

Public holidays....................................................................................................................................................... 

25

Interruption of traineeship..............................................................................................................................  

26

Legal Services..........................................................................................................................................................

26

5. SERvIcES AT ThE cOUNcIl

Retaurants & cafeterias.......................................................................................................................................

27

Library network of the Council.................................................................................................................... 

28

Sports & recreational activities...............................................................................................................

30

6.  hEAlThcARE

8.  AccOmmODATION

Rent................................................................................................................................................................................

41

The 'Commune'.......................................................................................................................................................

42

Where to find property rent...........................................................................................................................

42

9.  DAIly lIFE

Post office..................................................................................................................................................................

44

Banks........................................................................................................................................................................... 

44

Telephone & internet

Calling cards

Internet

45

46

46

Waste disposal........................................................................................................................................................

46

Launderettes...........................................................................................................................................................

46

Lost property..........................................................................................................................................................

47

Illness............................................................................................................................................................................

31

Embassies of EU Member States in Brussels........................................................................................

47

Medical expenses / sickness insurance ................................................................................................

31

Accident.....................................................................................................................................................................

34

Doctors....................................................................................................................................................................... 

34

Emergencies during working hours......................................................................................................... 

34

Main hospitals in Brussels................................................................................................................................

35

Dentists.......................................................................................................................................................................

35

Pharmacies...............................................................................................................................................................

35

10. USEFUl NUmbERS...........................................................................

48

11. EmERGENcy & SEcURITy.........................................................

51

12. lINKS...................................................................................................

61

mAp.............................................................................................................62

4  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 5

WelCome 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  welcome  you  to  the  General  Secretariat  of  the 
Council. You have made it through a rigorous and competitive selection process - 
congratulations! I sincerely hope that you will enjoy working here, and you will have 
an enriching and rewarding experience. 

As  you  know,  the  General  Secretariat  serves  two  institutions  -  the  European 
Council and the Council. Although the European Council was created in 1974, it 
only became an official institution in 2009, with the entry into force of the Treaty 
of Lisbon. It is composed of the Heads of State and government of the Member 
States and its main responsibility is to define the main political priorities of the 
Union. We, the General Secretariat, assist the European Council and its President 
and ensure the continuity of its work.

While the European Council does not exercise legislative functions,  the Council has an important legislative 
role.  EU secondary legislation, such as regulations, directives and decisions are all adopted by the Council, 
usually in conjunction with the European Parliament. The Council is also responsible for developing the 
EU's common foreign and security policy, and concluding international agreements. The Council meets 
in ten different formations, depending on the policy field concerned, and its preparatory bodies - such as 
permanent committees, working groups, etc. - are organised in the same manner, by competences. The 
Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER I and II) plays a key role, as it coordinates the input 
from the sectoral working groups horizontally, and prepares all Council meetings. 

The General Secretariat provides two key services to both institutions, which you may hear referred to 
as the 'butler' and the 'advisor' role. In the former role, we provide logistical and organisational support 
(protocol  matters,  meeting  invitations,  document  production,  translation,  etc.)  to  ensure  the  smooth 
running of daily business, as well as the possibility for the Council to host multilateral summits, such as 
the EU-Africa summit and the G7, among others. In its 'advisor' role, the General Secretariat helps prepare 
meetings  at  all  levels  -  from  the  European  Council  and  the  Council  to  the  Working  Parties,  providing 
presidencies with policy advice, as well as technical and legal expertise in order to help them achieve their 
political objectives.

And it is in those roles where, in various degrees and in different departments that you will be asked to 
use your abilities, professionalism and enthusiasm to assist our staff to perform their duties and to learn as 
much as you can from them. We would also like to learn from you and to benefit from your fresh point of 
view and up-to-date academic knowledge. Please share your constructive feedback and your ideas with us.

Again, welcome. I wish you an interesting and productive time with us.

Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen
Secretary-General
General Secretariat of the Council

6  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 7

council of the  European Union / conseil de l’Union européenne
General Secretariat / Secrétariat général 

GsC mission statement 

dÉClaration de mission du sGC

As an open, efficient, independent and permanent European 

En tant que service public européen ouvert, efficace, 

public service, the General Secretariat of the Council ensures 

indépendant et permanent, le Secrétariat général du 

that the European Council and the Council operate smoothly 

Conseil assure le bon fonctionnement du Conseil européen 

and lends them every assistance necessary so they can 

et du Conseil et leur fournit toute l’assistance nécessaire 

perform the missions conferred on them by the treaties 

pour qu’ils puissent exercer les missions qui leur sont 

to further the development of the Union.  The General 

assignées par les traités dans l’intérêt du développement 

Secretariat provides advice and support to members of the 

de l’Union européenne. Le Secrétariat général donne des 

European Council and the Council and to their Presidents 

conseils et un soutien aux membres du Conseil européen 

in all areas of activity, as well as in the context of ministerial 

et du Conseil et à leurs présidents dans tous les domaines 

meetings and 

d’activité, ainsi que dans le cadre de réunions des ministres 

intergovernmental conferences.

et de conférences intergouvernementales.

The core values that guide the General Secretariat 

Les valeurs fondamentales qui guident le Secrétariat 

− as an organisation as well as its individual employee − in 

général − en tant qu’organisation comme au niveau 

carrying out its mission are: 

de chacun des membres de son personnel − dans 

l’accomplissement de sa mission sont les suivantes:

Professionalism

Compétence professionnelle

In our work, we demonstrate integrity, professional 

Dans l’exécution de notre travail, nous faisons preuve 

competence, efficiency and commitment.  

d’intégrité, de compétence professionnelle, d’efficacité 

We are active and open-minded in seeking solutions.  

et d’engagement. Nous sommes actifs et manifestons de 

We are responsible and accountable for our work: 

l’ouverture d’esprit dans la recherche de solutions. Nous 

sommes responsables de notre travail et devons en rendre 

compte.

Esprit de corps

Esprit de corps

We cooperate and communicate clearly so that 

Nous coopérons et communiquons de manière claire pour 

the General Secretariat can carry out its 

que le Secrétariat général puisse accomplir sa mission 

mission effectively and consistently. 

efficacement et de façon cohérente.  

Impartiality

Impartialité

We are objective in carrying out our duties and treat 

Nous sommes objectifs dans l’accomplissement de nos 

all members of the European Council and the Council 

tâches et traitons tous les membres du Conseil européen et 

impartially in keeping with our duty of loyalty to the 

du Conseil de manière impartiale dans le respect de notre 

European Union. In our multicultural environment, 

devoir de loyauté envers l’Union européenne. Dans notre 

we treat everybody with equal respect.

environnement multiculturel, nous traitons chacun avec le 

même respect.

yOUR TRAINEEShIpS
 offiCe (to)

Please always use the general mailbox and phone number:
traineeships@consilium.europa.eu
Phone: 3677
Office: JL 01 70 FK 08

WhO IS yOUR 
ADmINISTRATOR 
IN ThE TO ?

Tamás Záhonyi, Head of Office
Phone: 6461 
(Office: JL 01 70 FK 14)
Trainees of LING, GIP and SG

Kristine vdovicenko
Phone: 1977
Trainees of JAI and COMM

Eva-lotta Axelsson
Phone: 8133
Trainees of RELEX, TREE and ECOMP

Alina Nistor
Phone: 4487 
Trainees of ORG, SMART, LIFE and JUR

Left to right: Tamás Záhonyi, Eva-Lotta Axelsson, Alina Nistor
& Kristine Vdovicenko.

8  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 9

 
 
 
 
1.

WhAT cAN yOU 
ExpEcT FROm
yOUR 
TRAINEEShIp ? 

WhAT ARE OUR 
ExpEcTATIONS ? 

WelCome to tHe GsC

During your traineeship, you will acquire first-hand experience of the 
work of the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) and general expe-
rience of the work in the EU institutions. At the end of your traineeship, 
you  will  have  an  understanding  of  the  objectives  of  the  EU's  integra-
tion  processes  and  policies.  You  will  acquire  practical  experience  and 
knowledge of day-to-day work at the GSC. The traineeship programme 
is  designed  to  give  you  the  opportunity  to  work  in  a  multi-cultural, 
multi-linguistic and multi-ethnic environment, one that aims to contri-
bute to mutual understanding, trust and tolerance. We hope that this will 
give you the chance to identify even more with those values. 
In  addition,  you  will  have  the  opportunity  to  apply  your  academic 
knowledge and to learn more about the world of work, with its constraints, 
duties and opportunities. 

We would like to benefit from the input of enthusiastic graduates and 
from the contribution they can make to the work of the GSC through their 
commitment, professionalism and up-to-date academic knowledge.
We are seeking to create a pool of university graduates with training in 
and first-hand experience of work in the EU institutions, and who will be 
prepared to co-operate and liaise with the European institutions in the 
future.

ThE bUIlDINGS 
AT ThE GSc

The Council has three main buildings: Justus Lipsius, Europa and Lex. (See 
map page 62). The JL building, where most of you will have an office, will 
challenge  your  sense  of  direction.  The  lay-out  of  the  building  is  a  little 
complicated, so do not hesitate to ask for help in finding your way around. 

JUSTUS lIpSIUS, 
(Jl) RUE DE lA 
lOI 175, 1048 
bxl

The floors above the ground floor are: 10, 20, 30, 35, etc. 
The floors below the ground floor are: 01, 02, 03, etc. 

The ground floor is indicated as '00' and is served by all the main lifts. 
•	
•	
The office address indicates the floor and the internal mail address. 
The  additional  letters  and  numbers  at  the  end  of  the  address  indicate 
the corridor and the office number. For example, the Traineeships Office 
address is JL 01 70 FK 08. 
The addresses for the meeting rooms on floors 20, 35 and 50 comprise the 
floor number followed by the room number (e.g. JL 20.6). See the plan. 

lEx (lE), 
RUE DE lA lOI 
145, 1048 bxl 

The floors are identified by numbers:

The main emergency staircases are identified by letters: 

The translation services and the lawyer-linguists have their offices in this 
building.
•	
00: ground floor;
01 to 14: floors above ground floor;
-1 to -5: floors below ground floor.
•	
A (railway/Residence Palace side); 
B (railway/Etterbeek side); 
C (Loi/Residence Palace side); 
D (Loi/Charlemagne side);
E (Loi/Etterbeek side). 
•	
The offices are numbered accordingly, e.g. 09.AD.14 or 13.CD.60.
•	
Rooms located near the staircases are numbered, -1.D3.02 or 02.B3.01.
In order to use the lifts - please select the floor number when calling the 
lift.  *Tip for the elevators - select the floor number when calling the lift. 

10  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 11

EUROpA
 bUIlDING, (Eb)
RUE DE lA lOI 
155, 1048 bxl

The building has a central part, the ‘lantern’, where the main meeting 
rooms  are  located,  as  well  as  two  wings  with  offices  and  secondary 
meeting rooms. 
•	

Each node (where the corridors intersect) is indicated by a letter: A, 
B, C and D (See the plan). 

AccESS TO ThE 
bUIlDINGS

You  can  access  Council  buildings  from  7:30  to  19:00  on  working 
days (See map & opening hours page 62). As regular badge holders, 
trainees have to go through the entry security check before entering 
the Council buildings. 

•	

•	 Office addresses indicate the floor, the corridor wing (area between 
two nodes) and the office number. For example, 3 BC 92 is on floor 
3, in wing BC, room number 92. 
The entrance level on rue de la Loi is 0 (this is the reference floor 
and is served by all lifts). 
Floors above ground level are numbered from 1 to 11. 
Foors below ground level are numbered from -1 to -4.

•	
•	
The  Europa  building  is  connected  to  the  JL  building  via  two  foot-
bridges. One connects JL level 10 with EB floor 2, the other connects 
JL level 50 to EB floor 7. For more information, please see this Practical 
information guide.

ImpORTANT FOR 
yOUR FIRST DAy 

Please do not forget your signed traineeship agreement and a valid 
ID (identity card or passport) to access the JL building on your first day. 
Once you are in, you will be provided with a personal ID badge.

INvITING AND 
EScORTING 
GUESTS

If  you  participate  in  a  meeting  taking  place  after  19:00  or  during 
the weekend, make sure that the service in charge informs SECOPS 
(secops@consilium.europa.eu) about that fact in advance.

In case you stay at the office after 19:00, you can leave Council pre-
mises via the main entrance in Europa (Loi Entrance), via the Etterbeek 
Entrance in the LEX building or via the Froissart Entrance in the Justus 
Lipsius building.

All  the  above-mentioned  security  measures  reflect  the  GSC  Access 
Management Policy in force. During particular events, like the Euro-
pean Council summits, different access rules apply. 

Trainees are not allowed to invite or escort guests in the controlled 
zone,  which  is  only  possible  for  full  badge  holders.  If  you  want  to 
show the Council to your family or friends, you should request visitor 
badges for them in advance by writing an email to the Accreditation 
Desk (access.general@consilium.europa.eu). Please mention the date 
and time of their visit, as well as their full names and date of births. 
Remember to do that a few days in advance. Your guests will be able 
to access the GSC public zone, where they can explore the Visitors' 
Centre in Justus Lipsius, visit the Forum in the Europa building or have 
lunch with you in one of the cafeterias.

ANTI-SmOKING 
mEASURES

Belgium, one of the main host countries of the EU institutions, banned 
smoking at the workplace as of 1 January 2006. Smoking on GSC pre-
mises is prohibited, with the current exception of a few smoking boo-
ths in the JL Atrium, close to the entrance doors of the building.

yOUR AccESS 
bADGE

Due to recent terrorist attacks, the General Secretariat of the Council 
(GSC) security system is restrictive and you will find at the entrance and 
around our buildings armed military and/or police. A little unwelcoming, 
but necessary for the security of everyone.

On  your  first  day  you  will  receive  a  regular  electronic  ID  badge  that 
will  allow  you  to  move  freely  in  the  public  and  controlled  zone  wit-
hin  the  Council  premises.  The  public  zone  includes,  among  others, 
the JL Atrium, the press bar and JL cafeteria, the Forum (lantern area) 
and restaurant at -1 level in the Europa building as well as LEX canteen, 
while meetings room and Council offices are situated in the controlled 
zone. Badging in and out is compulsory between the public and the 
controlled zones. 

Please remember to wear your badge visibly when you are in the GSC 
buildings and do not forget to take it off once you leave the Council 
premises. 

Bear in mind that your badge doesn't give you an automatic access to 
other EU institutions. Different rules and restrictions apply, depending 
on the institution (e.g., your badge will not give you access to the Com-
mission or the Parliament, unless you are accompanied by an official). 

If you lose your badge or it gets stolen, you must report this imme-
diately to the Accreditation Desk or to the Security Centre (tel. JL/LEX 
8909 - EB 8910).

Please  note  that  you  have  to  return  your  badge  at  the  end  of  the 
traineeship. On your last day at work you are supposed to visit the Ac-
creditation Desk to exchange your regular badge for a one-day badge.

12  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 13

Lex buildingJustus Lipsius buldingEuropa buildingJustus Lipsius buildingLex building 
 
 
 
2. 

at Work

cOmpUTER
EqUIpmENT

In principle, there will be a laptop in your office. If this is not the case, 
please contact the administrative assistant of your Directorate-Gene-
ral. For security and confidentiality reasons you must comply with the 
Code of Practice and the User Guide for use of the IOLAN Network 
which can be found on Domus. 

AccESS TO 
cOmpUTER

The  login  is  the  first  five  letters  of  your  last  name,  followed  by  the 
first two letters of your first name. For instance, the login for Jonathan 
Johnston will be Johnsjo. If the same login is already used by another 
person with a similar name at the Council, you will be given another 
login. The password is always Change2new. You will be asked to change 
it after the first login and to choose a new one.

AccESS TO 
ThE GSc E-mAIl

Access to your mailbox is done through Outlook. The tag TRAINEE is 
appended  to  your  Display  Name.  Your  e-mail  address  uses  the  for-
mat x.y@trn.consilium.europa.eu instead of the usual x.y@consilium.
europa.eu. For practical reasons, you do not have an Enterprise Vault 
archive for long-term storage of e-mails.

AccESS 
TO INTRANET 

Your start page will be Domus, our Intranet site. You will find on Domus 
a specific section which is particularly relevant to you. It contains prac-
tical information and most of the forms that you will need throughout 
your traineeship.

AccESS TO 
cOUNcIl 
DOcUmENTS
 RESEARch

lANDlINE phONE

You can also have access to CARS, our internal search tool for docu-
ments. You can find it here. Please ask your adviser for instructions.

You will have a landline phone with a direct connection to internal 
numbers and to landline and mobile numbers in Belgium. Dial four 
digits for internal numbers. For a Belgian number outside the Council, 
dial 0 and then the number itself. 
You can find more information on how to use the phone here.
To call a number at the Commission, dial 0**4 and then the 5 digit 
extension.

bRING yOUR OWN 
DEvIcE 

BYOD (Bring your own device) is possible only if it is needed for your 
work. The administrative assistant or the adviser should decide this 
and the request should be made via Ariane (via someone that has ac-
cess to Ariane). BYOD works on phones & tablets, not on computers.

hElplINE 
cONTAcT

5000

WORKING hOURS

Working  hours  in  the  Directorates-General  (DG)  are  normally  from 
08.30 to 17.30. A trainee’s hours are, however, to be agreed upon with 
her or his appointed adviser. The TO is open from 08.30 to 17.30. Flexi-
time does not apply to trainees.

14  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 15

ThE 
DIREcTORATE- 
GENERAl

The administrative machinery of the Council is divided into several 
services and Directorates-General (‘‘DG’’). Consult the Organisation 
chart. You are assigned to a particular service or DG. 

The  Administrative  Assistant  (Resource  Manager  in  units  of  the 
Translation Service) in your service or DG will normally be your first 
point of contact and is the administrative contact person for all the 
trainees in your DG. Should you have any administrative problems 
at work, please do not hesitate to speak to him or her. 
Your adviser has a role similar to that of a direct line manager. You 
will be working with him/her. The adviser will give you advice and 
guidance during your traineeship.

INDIvIDUAl 
WORK pROGRAm

You will receive an individual work programme which needs to be 
completed by your adviser and yourself within the first two weeks 
of your arrival. The programme is designed to set clear guidelines 
and objectives, and to make the purpose of your traineeship clear.

WORK lOAD 

In general, trainees are expected to do work that is normally expected 
of GSC officials. Thus, your workload is likely to comprise both adminis-
trative duties and core tasks. You can, for instance, expect to do such 
work as drafting papers, speaking notes or the minutes of meetings. 
In addition, you will be given tasks that are relevant to your DG. In 
some circumstances, you may be asked to work on specific projects, 
too. During the first weeks, reading will take up a lot of your working 
time as you will need to acquaint yourself with the work of the GSC 

and with what is expected of you. Initially, your adviser will test your 
abilities by giving you lighter tasks until he/she feels confident that 
you  are  ready  for  more.  If  you  show  initiative  and  show  that  you 
are competent, you may be entrusted with more demanding tasks. 
However, this depends very much on the workload of your unit or 
service  and  on  the  availability  of  staff  for  training  purposes.  It  also 
depends on the nature of the material, since trainees may not be en-
trusted with confidential documents. For these reasons, the worklo-
ad and the level of responsibility might, at times, be lower than you 
would otherwise expect.

The dress code depends on the nature of your work and the DG you 
work in. For instance, jeans are acceptable in the translation service, 
but not in a political DG. Very short skirts and shorts are considered to 
be inappropriate in any service. Smart-casual is often, but not always, 
enough. More formal attire is required in meetings with external per-
sons. 

At the end of your traineeship you will receive one or two certificates 
depending on whether you are a paid trainee or not. One is intended 
for tax purposes (for paid trainees solely). The other will certify your 
traineeship  and  will  indicate  the  period  of  the  traineeship,  the  DG 
and the unit you worked for. The document will also mention all the 
activities and conferences organised by the TO that you have partici-
pated in. An additional certificate will be issued for spokespersons. If 
the traineeship report is unsatisfactory, no certificate will be issued. 

DRESS cODE

END-OF-
TRAINEEShIp
 cERTIFIcATES

16  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 17

pARTIcIpATION 
IN  mEETINGS

You may participate only in those meetings to which you are invited 
by your adviser and which therefore relate to the work of your unit. 
Please make sure that you respect the rules regarding the Working 
Party Meetings.

mISSIONS

vOlUNTARy 
WORK

In clearly defined cases, you may go on mission. Your adviser must 
submit  a  written  request  to  his  or  her  Director-General  stating  the 
reasons for the request and will advise you on how to fill in a travel 
order form. This form must reach the Mission Expenses department at 
least 7 working days before the scheduled date of departure on mis-
sion. You will not receive an advance on mission expenses. The Travel 
Office  will  provide  you  with  your  ticket.  More  information  on  what 
to do before and after the mission can be found in Mission Guide on 
Domus.
Please note that study trips organised by the TO do not fall into 
this category, even if they are treated as missions. In such cases, all 
formalities will be dealt with by the TO.

You might receive e-mails from the TO requesting your help in, for 
instance,  European  Councils  or  Open  Days.  The  e-mail  will  indicate 
the nature of the help needed, the deadline in which to express an 
interest and the contact persons. In order to apply, you will need your 
adviser’s approval. Extra days of holiday will compensate for weekend 
or  night  work.  In  the  exceptional  case  of  night  work,  the  journey 
home by taxi will be reimbursed. You may participate only in those 
meetings to which you are invited by your adviser, relating to  the 

cONFIDENTIAlITy

the work of your unit. Please also refer to the pool of projects (addi-
tional tasks and projects available for trainees) that will be constantly 
updated throughout your traineeship. 

You must exercise utmost discretion in respect of any information to 
which you are privy during your training period. You must not, in any 
manner whatsoever, disclose to any unauthorised person any docu-
ment or information not already made public. 

You will continue to be bound by this obligation also after the end 
of your traineeship. You must not, whether alone or with others, pu-
blish or cause to be published – without the permission of the Direc-
tor of Human Resource – any text whatsoever dealing with the work 
of the Council and the other EU institutions.

EThIcS GUIDE, 
GOOD 
ADmINISTRATIvE 
&  SOcIAl mEDIA  
cODE OF cONDUcT 

Please  be  aware  that  you  are  expected  to  follow  the  same  ethical 
behaviour,  abide  by  the  code  of  good  administrative  conduct  and 
comply with the GSC's social media guidelines. 
Please  ensure  you  are  familiar  with  these.  For  more  information, 
please read:  Ethics guide, Good administrative behaviour, Social Me-
dia Code of Conduct

18  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 19

3.

cOUNcIl 
SImUlATION ExERcISE

trainee aCtivities

The Council Simulation Exercise is an excellent opportunity for you 
to experience a simulated Council meeting through participation. In 
such an exercise, participants work on a current Council subject and 
use real background documentation for the purposes of preparation 
and  any  negotiation.  Each  participant  represents  a  Member  State, 
the Commission and/or other body/agency. A Council administrator 
provides participants with support and advice, too. In this kind of ac-
tivity, you will be able to test your own ability to prepare for such a 
meeting at short notice, which is in line with what happens in real life. 
In so doing, you will present and defend your position (for instance, 
the position of a Member State) in the meeting and negotiate with a 
view to achieving your goals or reaching a consensus. This activity is 
compulsory. It comprises the work done on the day itself as well as 
a half day of preparation. This activity is included in our information 
programme, so your adviser will be informed.
*Tip: try to attend a Working Party meeting beforehand so that you are 
able to become familiar with rules of procedure. 

lANGUAGES 
cOURSES

You are not allowed to participate in the language courses organised 
by the EU institutions. You may, however, participate in the courses 
organised by the Trainees Committee at the Commission.
1  Place  Madou,  Madou  Plaza,  Bureau  24/32,  1210  Brussels,  open 
between 17.30 and 19.30, closed on Mondays.  Tel: 02/299 0994. 
E-mail address: stagecommittee@ec.europa.eu
You are encouraged to make your own arrangements for language 
courses. 

The Italian Institute of Culture offers a 10 % discount  on the price of 
their courses (€360 for the extensive 5-months long courses, €320 for 
the intensive summer courses). Trainees need to provide a copy of the 
signed traineeship agreement in order to receive the discount.
Website: https://iicbruxelles.esteri.it/IIC_Bruxelles/it
E-mail: corsi.iicbruxelles@esteri.it

TRAINING
 cOURSES 

In  principle,  trainees  do  not  have  the  right  to  enrol  in  IT  and  other 
training courses held by the GSC. However, if places are not taken up 
by officials, the TO will send you an email invitation that will include 
course information and the number of places available.
Information programme

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September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 21

timeline of the previous traineeship Sep 2019 - Jan 2020

september

october

november

december

January

Welcome presentation 

by the Council & the TO

Media monitoring

EPSO

Workshop on 

inapropriate behaviours 

Green Work Environment

Commission's 

Social Media

Equal Opportunities

Visit of the Libraries 

trainee conference

Visit to the EESC & the CoR

EUCO Volunteering

Election of spokespersons

Parlamentarium : 
Role play game

Study trip: Luxembourg
European Bank of Investment 
Court of Justice
Court of Auditors 
Townhall reception 
City tour 

Study trip : Strasbourg
European Parliament
MEP Freund
Council of Europe
Court of Human Rights
Ombudsman
Townhall reception
City tour

Visit to the Commission 
Presentation of EEAS

Visit to NATO

Informal workshop on 

networking in Brussels

Workshop on LinkedIn 
& personal branding 
Presentation of UN career 
opportinities

Meeting with President Tusk

EUCO Volunteering

Interninstitutional 
Networking Week 
Career coaching

Holiday Potluck

Career Fair of the Council 
Career Fair of the Commission

Council Simulation Exercise

Meeting with President Michel

Farewell Cocktail 

INFORmATION 
pROGRAm

Participation in the TO's information programme is compulsory. This 
does not include, however, the photo session, the visit to the Parla-
mentarium, the study trips to Luxembourg and Strasbourg and the 
series of lectures organised by the Commission’s Traineeships Office. 
You can find the information program on DOMUS.

SpOKESpERSONS

You will be invited to: an introduction lecture on the Council, an in-
troduction lecture on the European Economic and Social Committee 
and on the Committee of the Regions, a series of lectures organised 
by the Commission’s Traineeships Office on European Union policies, 
information visits to the European Parliament, the Council of Europe 
and the Court of Human rights in Strasbourg, the Commission, the 
European Court of Justice of the EU, the European Investment Bank, 
the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg, a role play game at 
the  Parlamentarium,  the  Council  Simulation  Exercise  and  a  group 
photo session.  

For  details  -  please  see  the  programme  and  check  on  the  Domus 
page for trainees.

lUNchTImE 
cONFERENcES

You  are  welcome  to  attend  lunchtime  conferences.  These  confe-
rences are announced via Domus, the Council's intranet site.

Trainees need to elect 3 spokespersons. At least one of the spokes-
persons should be fluent in English and one fluent in French. It is re-
commended that these spokespersons are not from the same unit/ 
department or nationality. 2 spokespersons will be elected from the 
JL/EB building (1 female and 1 male) and 1 spokesperson will be elec-
ted from the LEX building. 

The spokesperson's role is to keep trainees informed, organise events 
and represent trainees. A spokesperson is also tasked with communi-
cating the trainees’ problems or complaints to the TO, the aim being 
to help to find solutions to any problems. Spokespersons will be as-
ked to assist the TO’s officials during the study trips to Strasbourg and 
Luxembourg.  More  information  on  the  spokesperson's  role  will  be 
sent to you by email soon after you arrive. We would kindly ask you to 
consider carefully the reasons for putting yourself forward as a candi-
date before the elections are held.  

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4.

TRAINEEShIp 
GRANT

Your riGHts

The traineeship grant will be paid at the end of every month. 
The payment of any traineeship grant will be proportional to the number 
of days worked. If the grant has already been paid, you will be required 
to reimburse any part of the grant received for the period not worked.  
Please note that the grant might have an effect on any possible bene-
fits you or your parents may receive on your behalf.
You are not required to open a Belgian bank account to receive the 
grant.  Payments  are  made  in  EUR  only.  In  case  you  do  not  open  a 
Belgian bank account, you have to ensure that your bank accepts pay-
ments in EUR. You will also have to bear any costs deducted by your 
bank.

TRAvEl 
AllOWANcE

If your place of recruitment is more than 50 km from Brussels, you are 
entitled to a contribution towards your travel expenses at the begin-
ning and at the end of the traineeship. You must complete at least 
half of the period of your traineeship in order to qualify for this. No 
applications in respect of a change of address will be accepted once 
the decision granting the traineeship has been taken.

RESTAURANT 
cARDS 

At  the  beginning  of  your  traineeship  you  will  be  given  a  card  for 
the GSC's restaurants and cafeterias, which you must present to the 
cashier. The cards are loaded with a specific amount of credit every 
month.  The  amounts  and  the  conditions  of  use  will  be  communi-
cated to you on the first day of your traineeship.

lEAvE 

pUblIc hOlIDAyS

You will be entitled to two days of leave per month. This entitlement 
is  acquired  pro  rata  in  accordance  with  the  months  worked,  coun-
ting from the first day of the month. No payments will be made for 
leave  not  taken.  Requests  for  leave  must  first  be  approved  by  the 
traineeship adviser and then authorised by the TO. This entitlement 
will be used for all types of leave (i.e. holidays, job interviews, compe-
titions, exams or university work etc.). 
You do not have to use all your leave entitlement. The last day of the 
traineeship is always the day indicated on the traineeship agree-
ment or interruption decision (or the last working day before that 
date if it falls on a weekend). This means  that you may not take 
leave on the last two days of your traineeship. Please bear in mind 
the  information  programme  when  requesting  leave,  as  you  should 
attend compulsory events. 
The HR Director may grant special leave in exceptional circumstances, 
when the reasons are duly substantiated & the entitlement for leave 
is exhausted.

The public holidays and the days when Council offices will be closed 
are as follows:
From Thursday 9 to Monday 13 April : Maundy Thursday, Good Fri-
day & Easter Monday
Friday 1 May : Labour Day
Thursday 21 and Friday 22 May : Ascension
Monday 1 June : Whit Monday

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5.

INTERRUpTION 
OF TRAINEEShIp

If you wish to terminate your traineeship before the date specified in 
the agreement, you must send a written request, stating the relevant 
reasons, at least three weeks in advance of the new proposed termi-
nation date via your adviser to the Human Resources Director.

lEGAl SERvIcES

The  Commission's  legal  advice  service  is  also  available  for  GSC 
trainees. Three Belgian lawyers give free legal advice on all subjects 
relating to private life. 

Appointments  can  only  be  made  by  calling  the  helpline  on  02  29 
66600. You will be given a 20 minute appointment and can have a 
max of 4 appointments per year. Telephone appointments are also 
possible, the lawyer will call you at the arranged time.

serviCes at tHe CounCil

RESTAURANTS 
& cAFETERIAS 
IN Jl

Restaurant / cafeteria loi: 
Level 10, opening hours: 8:30 to 11:00 and 12:00 to 14:30

cafeteria Rose: 
Level 05, opening hours: 8.30 to 15.45 

press bar Autriche:
Level 00, opening hours: 8.30 to 15.45 

Delegates’ bar: 
Level 50, opening hours: 9.00 to 17.00

Restaurant: 
Level -1, opening hours: 12.00 to 14.15 

cafeteria: 
Level 0, opening hours: 8.30 to 10.30, 12.00 to 15.45

RESTAURANTS 
& cAFETERIAS 
IN lEx

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RESTAURANTS 
& cAFETERIAS 
IN Eb

Restaurant: 
Level -1, opening hours: 12.00 to 14.30 

cafeteria:  
Coffee and cold drinks are available outside opening hours. 
Level 0, opening hours: 8.30 to 10.30 and 12.00 to 15.45

Delegates’ bar:
Level 3, wing C, opening hours: 9.00 to 17.00. 
The bar is open throughout Council meetings and closes half an 
hour after the end of the meeting. If closed during normal opening 
hours, the Delegates’ Bar on level 50 of the Justus Lipsius building 
will be open. 
*Trainees are authorised to bring visitors only into the restaurants and 
cafeterias.

central library
JL, level 02 GH 40 GH (Tel. 6525)
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9.00 - 17.00; 
Thursday: 9.00 - 19.00
email: library@consilium.europa.eu 
Consult the website for more information. 
It has:
•	

a reading room with newspapers and periodicals from all 
Member States;

lIbRARy 
NETWORK OF 
ThE cOUNcIl

•	

PCs with intranet access for online search in the catalogues of 
all the Council's libraries;

•	 more than 15.000 monographs in all official languages, which 

are available for loan; 

•	 books and articles concerning mainly European integration, EU 

•	

policies and EU institutions;
a structured bibliography of literature that deals specifically with 
the role, the proceedings and history of the Council.

legal library
JL 20 40 FG 41 (Tel. 6687)
E-mail: bibjur@consilium.europa.eu  
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9.00 - 13.00, 14.30 - 17.30
It has books and periodicals on various fields of European and inter-
national law. More information is available online. 

language library 
Lex, 07 BE 60 (Tel. 2982)
E-mail: bibliotheque.linguistique@consilium.europa.eu
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9.00 - 12.30, 14.00 - 17.00
It has dictionaries, grammar books, books on terminology, transla-
tion, linguistic reference books for all policy areas of the Council.
More information is available online. 

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6.

Staff library
JL 02 GM 25 (Tel. 7483)
email: staff.library@consilium.europa.eu  
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 12.30 to 16.00; 
closed on Wednesday. 
It has general literature in all official languages and DVDs.
More information is available on Domus. 

learning Resource centre
JL 02 MN 62 (Tel. 7417, 8067)
It has background literature (general interest etc.) and other re-
sources complementing the GSC training programme, as well as PCs 
for e-learning and self-learning.  
The Online catalogue  for all libraries has more than 100.000 entries 
(books, journals, articles).
Eureka is a gateway that gives access to the information resources 
of the Council libraries. You can use it to discover content relevant 
to the Council's work and to explore our print, digital and electronic 
collections. 

SpORTS AND 
REcREATIONAl
AcTIvITIES

The GSC has a sports centre on its premises. It has a small fitness 
room in the JL building and several sports rooms both in JL and 
LEX buildings. Activities include badminton, table tennis, basketball, 
volleyball, pilates, yoga, ballet, aikido, karate etc. Subscription fees for 
trainees are modest. You can see the updated list of activities and 
their timetable here.

HealtHCare 

IllNESS

If you are absent owing to illness, you must notify your adviser im-
mediately,  who  will  then  inform  the  TO.  As  from  the  fourth  day  of 
absence you must send the TO a medical certificate indicating how 
long you think you will be absent. In the calculation of the three day 
period of non-certified absence, Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays 
and days when the office is closed will be counted if you were already 
absent the day before a non-working day (for example, if you are ab-
sent on a Friday, you must submit a certificate if you cannot start work 
again on the following Monday).

mEDIcAl ExpENSES/ 
SIcKNESS 
INSURANcE

1. If you have a European health insurance card, you may ask for the 
reimbursement of medical expenses from a 'mutuelle’ (medical insu-
rance company) in Belgium. However, you must first register with a 
'mutuelle' (listed in the Yellow Pages). 

When  paying  medical  expenses,  please  ensure  that  you  always  ask 
for an official receipt ('attestation de soins'). Doctors’ and hospital re-
ceipts must indicate the cost of the home visit/consultation, the date 
of the home visit/consultation as well as your first name and surname. 
Chemists’  receipts  must  indicate  your  first  name  and  surname,  the 
name of the prescribing doctor and the name and price of the medi-
cines prescribed (in Belgium this is called 'un reçu conforme'). 

The contact details of one 'mutuelle' (CAAMI - OR Brabant) is given 
below, but you are free to choose another one. 

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To  register  with  the  'mutuelle',  please  introduce  a  copy  recto/verso 
of the European health insurance card and the registration form duly 
completed, signed and dated. The documents can be sent by e-mail 
to blecluselle@caami.be, or by post to the following address:
CAAMI - OR Brabant
Lecluselle Benjamin 
Services Conventions Internationales
Rue du Trône 30B
1000 Bruxelles 
Tel: 02/229 34 80

They  can  also  be  handed  in  directly  at  the  CAAMI  counter  during 
working hours (please check their website: www.caami.be).

If you have already received healthcare before registering, attach the 
'attestations' to the registration form and remember to indicate on the 
registration form the date on which healthcare was first administered.  
Please note that it is not possible for the registered persons to obtain 
an  SIS  card  or  ‘mutuelle’  stickers.  These  documents  are  only  issued 
to those people who are covered by the Belgian healthcare system. 
Once  the  registration  is  completed,  you  will  receive  a  membership 
card  and  a  registration  certificate  (sent  to  your  temporary  address 
in  Belgium).  You  will  find  your  registration  number  (example,  602.
xx.xxxxx.xx) and a code '180/307' on these documents.

This information needs to be indicated in the healthcare documen-
tation you submit when you request reimbursement. The healthcare 
documentation should be sent by post to the following address:
CAAMI - OR Brabant
Lecluselle Benjamin
Service Conventions Internationales
Rue du Trône 30B
1000 Bruxelles

It can also be handed in directly at the CAAMI counter, or deposited 
in the letter box at the entrance of the CAAMI building. After recei-
ving your documents, CAAMI will proceed with the reimbursement. 
This is done once a week for those people who have a European health 
insurance card. A detailed proof of payment will be sent to your tem-
porary address in Belgium.

2. If you are not covered by a health-insurance scheme, the TO will ar-
range your cover under the conditions set out in the Council’s insurance 
contract. For more information regarding the insurance provided by the 
Council,  visit  Allianz  World  Wide  Care.  In  this  case,  your  contribution 
(one-third of the insurance premium, around 15 euros per month) will 
be automatically deducted from your grant. For compulsory trainees, the 
total insurance premium will be borne by the Council.

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AccIDENTS

Trainees are insured 24h/24h against accidents. Accidents must be de-
clared in writing on the official accident declaration form and submitted 
to the 'Accident Service' (Mr Marcos QUENON, JL 00-40-GM-44) no later 
than 10 working days following the date of the accident. 
The accident declaration form is also available at the TO and online on 
Domus. 

DOcTORS

To  find  doctors/medical  practitioners  in  a  particular  area,  please 
check the following websites: 
Geomed
Ordomedic

EmERGENcIES 
DURING 
WORKING 
hOURS

Our  dispensaries  are  equipped  to  deal  with  cases  requiring  imme-
diate  treatment,  and  the  doctors  and  nurses  can  give  you  medical 
advice. However, this does not replace a visit to your general practi-
tioner.
The GSC dispensaries are in the Justus Lipsius and Lex buildings:
•	

JL 00 40 GM 20 (Tel. 6900) from 08.30 to 12.30 and from 13.30 to 
17.30, with an emergency stand-by service from 12.30 to 13.30.
LEX 01 AB 15 (Tel. 7770) from 9.00 to 12.30. Outside these hours, 
or  in  the  event  of  a  temporary  absence,  please  contact  the  JL 
dispensary. 

•	

mAIN hOSpITAlS 
IN bRUSSElS

DENTISTS

phARmAcIES

For hospitals, please go to the  G.G.N.O. website.

Dental  care  in  Belgium  is  of  a  high  standard.  For  a  list  of  dentists, 
please call 02/ 426 1026. The Community Help Service Helpline (02/ 
648 4014) can provide a list of English-speaking practitioners.  A list 
of dentists can be found on their website, a list of accredited dentists 
in Belgium (in French) or an online version of the yellow pages. The 
weekend  emergency  dental  clinic  can  be  reached  on  02/535  4055. 
The US Embassy in Belgium also provides a list of English-speaking 
dentists  and  other  health  professionals  in  Brussels  and  around  Bel-
gium.

Pharmacies  are  open  from  Monday  to  Friday  from  9.00  to  18.00  or 
19.00. Look out for an illuminated green cross. For emergency services 
in the evening and at weekends, chemists display a notice giving the 
name and address of the local chemist on duty outside normal ope-
ning hours. You can also find the information here.

During  Council  and  European  Council  meetings,  the  dispensary  in 
the JL building provides a stand-by service.

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7.

transport

mETRO, bUSES 
AND TRAmS

Timetables for all bus, tram, and metro routes in Brussels are listed on 
the STIB website.  

NIGhT 
SERvIcE

During  the  weekend  (Friday  and  Saturday  night)  11  night-bus  lines 
(Noctis) connect the city centre to all the communes of Brussels until 
3.00. In addition, Brussels has a collective taxi service, Collecto. See the 
website for more information. 

bUS TO 
ZAvENTEm

The  Airport  Express  bus  line  12  runs  from  Place  du  Luxembourg 
through Schuman and along rue de Genève. For more information 
on bus travel to Zaventem airport, please click here. Bus line 22 re-
places line 12 after 20.00 and during the weekends. 

TRAINS

There are five main stations in Brussels, three of which are international: 
North Station (Gare du Nord), Central Station (Gare Centrale) and South 
Station (Gare du Midi). 

All  intercity  (IC)  and  interregional  (IR)  lines  pass  through  these  sta-
tions. The Eurostar to London St Pancras International and the Thalys 
to Paris, Cologne and Amsterdam leave from Gare du Midi. 
IZY is run by Thalys and offers discounted rates to Paris. For enquiries 
on arrival and departure times as well as fares, go to the SNCB/NMBS 
website. 

FlIGhTS

bIcyclES

Belgian railways often have special deals for weekends away in Bel-
gium.  The  tourist  offices  are  unlikely  to  know much about these, so 
contact one of the main railway stations listed above, or ask a rail package 
travel agent. 

The  Brussels  international  airport  (Zaventem)  website  provides  in-
formation  about  airport  services  and,  in  particular,  about  all  flights 
leaving Brussels. 
There is a second airport in Charleroi, known as Brussels-South Airport. 
This is where Ryanair, Wizzair, and other low-cost flight companies ope-
rate from. It is 46 kilometres from Brussels and is linked to the city by 
over 20 daily shuttle buses. You can buy tickets on the bus (only cash 
is accepted by the driver) or online (cheaper). The bus drops you off at 
Gare du Midi in Brussels. 

Cycling is often the quickest means of transport in a city. However, 
please  be  very  careful  when  cycling  in  Brussels,  as  the  cycle  path 
network is poorly designed and fragmented and drivers have a ten-
dency to be blissfully unaware of other road users. If you buy a bicycle, 
avoid buying it in places such as the South Station market (Marché de 
la Gare du Midi), as these bicycles are often stolen property. For more 
information on buying a second-hand bicycle, consult this site.
To find your way around Brussels, the official Brussels cycle map (price 
€2), indicates suggested cycle routes, steep hills, bicycle repair shops 
and the public transportation network. It also has a street index. 

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bIcyclE SAFETy 

For  more  information,  consult  the  Guide  for  trainees  on  cycling  in 
Brussels and www.eucg.eu.

You may park your bicycle at one of the bike racks located in the vi-
cinity of the Council buildings or in one of the secured bike parking 
facilities  in  front  of  the  Schuman  entrance  (access  to  the  garage  is 
not  possible).  An  access  to  secured  bike  parking  facilities  is  already 
granted on your badge. 

Keep in mind that one of the facilities next to the Schuman Entrance 
is open only to 19:00 (See map on access to the buildings page 62). 
It's also not advisable to leave your bike for a night or weekend at the 
other facility. 

For full information (also on where showers are), please visit GSC Sus-
tainable Mobility on Domus.

TIpS

Tips on how to avoid theft on the GRACQ website.

•	

•	

•	

In case you no longer need your old bicycle, you can either give 
it to Points Vélo or resell it to new trainees via the social media. 
Ride safely. Experienced and certified trainers help you gain more 
confidence when cycling in Brussels. Sign up at Bike Experience 
or contact GRACQ (English version at the bottom of the page).
Promote cycling by participating in the ‘‘critical mass’’ ride. This is 
a bicycle event that takes place on the last Friday of every month.

•	 Discover Brussels by bicycle: Pro Velo and Brussels Bike Tours or 
Cactus&Co  offer  guided  bicycle  tours  throughout  Brussels  on 
different topics. 

For  more  information  on  cycling-related  activities  in  Brussels,  go 
to  the  following  websites:  Pro  Velo,  Bruxelles  Mobilité  (in  Dutch  & 
French), GRACQ (in French) and Fietserbond (mostly in Dutch).

There are several bicycle rental systems (e.g. Villo) in Brussels available. 
The apps help you to find the nearest docking station to pick up or 
return a rented bicycle.

Shared electric scooters (e.g. Lime) and electric bicycles (e.g. Jump) 
are  appearing  on  the  streets  of  Brussels.  These  scooters/bicy-
cles  offer  a  sustainable  alternative  to  the  usual  means  of  transport, 
such  as  cars  and  buses.  Currently  in  the  testing  stage,  the  project 
already  has  its  regulations  in  place  and  a  central  contact  point:  
Bruxelles Mobilité.
Feel like trying one out? All you have to do is to register with the app, 
scan the barcode on the scooter/bicycle and take a photo of where it 
is parked and then... off you go!

ShARED ScOOTERS 
AND ElEcTRIc bycIlES

cARS

Brussels car dealers can be found in Belgian newspapers such as Vlan 
or Le Soir. You can also look into car-sharing with different companies e.g. 
Cambio, Zen Car, Drive Now and others. 

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8.

aCCommodation

RENT 

Brussels is neither Paris nor London! Accommodation can be found. 
If  you  are  prepared  to  look  for  it  and  to  compromise  a  little  along 
the way, you will definitely find something worthwhile. Rental prices 
vary and close to the Council/EU area costs tend to be higher and the 
standard a little less luxurious. However, there is a great deal of social 
activity in this area because there are so many trainees who live in the 
area or nearby. Nonetheless, other areas a little further away from the 
EU institutions are not to be overlooked. They are often considerably 
cheaper and are easily accessible using public transport.

The  traineeship  grant  for  the  first  month  (and  also  the  remaining 
months) is paid at the end of the month. Do please ensure that the 
money you bring with you is enough to last at least the first month.

Rental  rates  are  generally  between  €350  and  €550  per  month.  The 
deposit is usually one to two months’ rent. Some landlords will want 
to receive a deposit in cash. However, to avoid fraud, you are strongly 
advised to ask for a receipt and for a written copy of deposit reim-
bursement conditions before you sign the lease contact. You are also 
strongly advised to open a joint blocked bank account with the landlord, 
which is a common practice in Belgium.

New Belgian law on lease from 01/01/2018 foresees short term and 
very short term contracts which are suitable for trainees. Feel free to 
ask the assistance of the Expat Welcome Desk.

TRAFFIc 
REGUlATIONS

Belgium has a priority ('right of way') to the right system on the road. 
A priority main road is indicated by a yellow triangular sign. Buses and 
trams have priority on all roads. All drivers must give way to trams.

Please be aware of these rules. Many foreign drivers have accidents 
as they are unaware of the rules. If you drive, you must carry with you 
identity documents, a driver’s licence, an insurance card (green), a car 
registration card and an accident claim form. 

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited and legal 
penalties are severe.
While travelling through Belgium, you will notice that road signs and 
maps might sometimes confuse you. This is because of the different 
language  communities  e.g.  Antwerpen/Anvers,  Bergen/Mons,  Luik/
Liège, Lille/Rijsel, for instance. It is very easy to lose your way if you are 
not aware of these linguistic differences in place names.

ASSISTANcE

Touring Helpline: 02/233 2211 between 6.45 and 23.00, in case of a 
breakdown on the highway. 
Royal Automobile Club of Belgium: 02/287 0900
SOS Dépannage: 048 672 9120

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ThE ‘‘cOmmUNE’’

WhERE TO FIND 
pROpERTy RENT

Brussels  Capital  Region  is  divided  into  19  separate  'communes',  or 
neighbourhoods. There are therefore 19 ‘town halls’. You have to re-
gister at your local commune. Be prepared to bring with you several 
useful pieces of documentation. You may also wish to take photoco-
pies, too (for example of your passport/birth certificate). Remember 
to bring with you a number of passport sized photos; a copy of your 
degree certificate, and so on. Check the requirements and the opening 
hours online before you go.

Some people say that Molenbeek, St. Josse and parts of Schaerbeek, 
or  anything  in  the  Northwest  of  Brussels  are  not  good  neighbou-
rhoods.  It  is  up  to  you  if  you  wish  to  rent  an  apartment  in  these 
areas  -  quite  a  lot  of  trainees  do.  Residential  areas  such  as  Woluwe 
Saint-Pierre, Woluwe Saint-Lambert and Uccle are regarded as more 
affluent districts. Many trainees live in Ixelles and Etterbeek owing to 
their close proximity to GSC buildings. 

Accommodation  options  on  the  list  we  have  sent  you  with  the 
traineeship agreement are checked and kept up-to-date with feed-
back from your predecessors.
Keep  your  eyes  open  for  bright  orange  'A  Louer/Te  Huur'  (for  rent) 
signs as you walk around town because many people advertise in the 
windows of their properties.

Below we provide a list of some sites that may prove useful, but please 
note that the TO takes no responsibility for the content of any of these 
sites: Foyer européen, Lvi Immo, Immoweb, Residential Accommodation 
in Brussels, The Bulletin, Appartager, Flats to Rent, Youth Hostels, Student 
accommodation.  

You can also consult magazines and newspapers that publish 'to rent' 
advertisements,  such  as  Le  Soir,  The  Bulletin  (an  English  language 
magazine, which advertises fairly expensive accommodation) and Le 
Vlan  (a  free  newspaper  distributed  in  French-speaking  communes). 
The  weekly  paper  Vlan,  which  mainly  contains  advertisements,  can 
also be found online.

For  accommodation  when  you  first  arrive,  here  are  some  useful 
contact details:
•	

Jeugdherberg Bruegel– IYHF
E-mail: brussel@vjh.be 

•	 Auberge de Jeunesse 'Generation Europe'

E-mail: brussels.europe@laj.be 
•	 Gîte d'Etape – Auberge Jacques Brel

•	

E-mail: brussels.brel@laj.be 
Sleepwell
E-mail: info@sleepwell.be 
•	 Centre Vincent van Gogh – CHAB

E-mail: info@chab.be 

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9.

pOST OFFIcE

bANKS

dailY life

As a rule, post offices in Brussels are open Monday to Friday from 9.00 
to 17.00 or 18.00, but some close at midday. Outside these hours, a 
special counter is open at the following post office: Gare du Midi, Ave-
nue Fonsny C 32.4 from 19.00 to 20.00. 
The main post office in the Schuman area is Rue Stévin 41-43. More 
information is available online.

Most banks and 'bureaux de change' are open from Monday to Friday 
from 9.00 to 16.30.
You will need to make an appointment in order to open a bank ac-
count. Remember to take your passport, a copy of your traineeship 
agreement and your apartment lease agreement. Some banks have 
service desks in the lobby that can help you arrange an appointment. 
The  banks  are  especially  busy  at  the  beginning  of  the  traineeship 
period.  All  administrative  processes  will  be  handled  by  the  branch 
where you set up your account. Some banks might ask you to present 
your ‘‘carte de séjour’’ (residency permit) from the 'Commune' before 
you can open a bank account. 
The  branches  of  banks  in  the  Schuman  area  are  used  to  trainees 
and  you  will  find  that  you  can  open  your  account  at  one  of  these 
branches without too much difficulty. Most Belgian banks offer free 
bank accounts to people under the age of 26.
An ATM card will not always be given to you as soon as you open a 
bank account, so you may need to return to the bank at a later stage 
to pick this up in person.

TElEphONE AND 
INTERNET

In some cases, your ATM card will not be automatically programmed 
for use outside Belgium and you may need to ask for this service 
to be activated. In addition, the Maestro feature may not be auto-
matically included on the card. There might be a service fee for this 
option.

landlines: Proximus, the country’s major communications provider, 
has a special toll-free number for expatriates (0800/32005). To reserve 
a land line, you can either call this number or visit one of the Proximus 
shops. 
mobiles (GSM): SIM cards can be bought from mobile phone shops 
around the city. The major Belgian operators are: Proximus, Orange, 
Base, Mobile Vikings. 

The  supermarkets  Carrefour  and  Aldi  also  have  their  own  mobile 
networks. It might be a good idea to buy a SIM card issued by the 
same provider that your friends use, as there are often special deals, 
e.g. free calls during the weekend.
For the best deals, compare notes with the current trainees (for ins-
tance, through Facebook).

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cAllING cARDS

Cards can be used from every phone, be it a mobile, home or office 
one (for international calls). You can but them at Proximus shops, new-
sagents,  post  offices,  supermarkets  and  train  stations.  You  can  also 
call 0800/91720 for a Proximus Calling Card or 0800/22147 for XL-Call.

INTERNET

Although you will all have internet access in your office (with restric-
tions  and  firewalls),  you  might  also  want  to  have  internet  access  at 
home.  You  will  find  hotspots  around  town  if  you  wish  to  use  your 
device to surf the net or stay in touch with family and friends.

WASTE DISpOSAl

In Brussels you have to sort your waste: the blue bags are for plas-
tic packaging, the yellow bags for paper and cardboard, the white 
bags are for residual waste, the orange bags are for food waste and 
the green bags are for garden waste. Bags can be bought from the 
supermarket and are in different sizes. You should put glass waste in 
glass containers, although some supermarkets offer a take-back ser-
vice  by  charging  you  a  deposit  (‘vidange’)  on  each  bottle.  Waste  is 
collected  twice  a  week  on  specific  days  and  each  commune  has  a 
different waste collection schedule. Used batteries can be disposed 
of in the containers at GSC buildings. Never dispose of these in your 
household  waste.  Please  be  responsible  and  recycle  –  it  will  help 
Brussels and help you manage your own waste! You can find more 
information online.

lOST pROpERTy

metro, tram and bus
Contact STIB, Avenue de la Toison d’Or 15, 1060 Bruxelles; Tel: 02/515 
2000. There is a lost-and-found-office in Botanique, open from 12.00 
to 18.00 on Mondays and Wednesdays. 
In principle, they will let you know when they have found something 
that belongs to you. However, if you have not yet registered in the 
commune, you had better just go there and check whether your 
object has been found. If it is found, you will have to pay a €3 fee to 
have your property returned to you.

Train
Tel: 02/219 0040
If you know the number and the destination of the train, where you 
may have lost something, the best thing to do is to call the next 
station along the line immediately. 

On the streets
Go to the nearest police station. 
The closest to Schuman are: 
Rue de la Loi 1, 1000 Bruxelles; Tel: 02/279 7110. 
Boulevard Clovis 10, 1000 Bruxelles; Tel: 02/279 8510 
Chaussée Saint-Pierre 122, 1040 Bruxelles; Tel : 02/788 9100

lAUNDERETTES

To find the laundrettes nearest to you, consult the list in the Yellow 
Pages. The most common one around town is called the Wash Club.

EmbASSIES OF 
EU mEmbER STATES 

The addresses and telephone numbers of all embassies are listed in 
the Brussels phone book under 'Ambassades'. Alternatively, visit the 
relevant site.

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10.

REImbURSEmENT OF
 mEDIcAl ExpENSES 
WITh ThE EUROpEAN 
cARD

useful numBers

Mutuals or 'mutuelles'  
Office régional du Brabant
Rue du Trône 30B 
1000 Bruxelles
Tel: 02/229 3480
Monday: from 8.30 to 12.00, from 13.30 to 16.00 
Tuesday: from 8.30 to 12.00 
Wednesday: from 8.30 to 12.00, from 13.30 to 16.00  
Friday: from 8.30 to 12.00

ImpORTANT NUmbERS

Medical emergency services                             
Fire department                                                   
Police                                                                      
Red Cross                                                            
European emergency number                          
Burn Centre                                                         
Poison Centre                                                       
Médigarde                                                            
SOS doctors                                                          
Dentists                                                                 
Alcoholics Anonymous                                       
Infos drogues                                                       
Child focus                                                            
Télé accueil                                                            

100 or 112
100
101
105
112
02/268 62 00 
070 245 245 
02/479 18 18 
02/513 02 02
02/426 10 26
02/513 02 02   
02/227 52 52
110
107

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Council of the European Union
General Secretariat 
Directorate-General Organisational Development and Services - ORG

EmERGENcy 

In the event of any danger, fire, flood or an urgent medical problem, 
always call 2000. 

Call for help
You can alert the Security Centre by the following means:

Phone

Break the glass of 
the red box

Use the orange 
emergency phones 
in the JL car parks

STAFF NOTE
CP 90/18
Brussels, 14 December 2018

2000  

(02 281 2000)

Subject:  Emergency and evacuation procedures for GSC buildings
It is of vital importance that all members of staff are familiar with the emergency and evacua-
tion procedures for the GSC's buildings, especially the evacuation route from their usual place 
of work and other parts of the building(s) that they frequent.

This staff note replaces the previous version (CP 64/17). The changes mainly concern the 
decision to do away with the assembly points outside the buildings and ask the staff con-
cerned to disperse where appropriate, due to the security situation in Brussels.

A printable leaflet summarising the main information is available on Domus.
Evacuation drills are organised periodically in order to familiarise all staff with the evacuation 
routes and assembly points. They also enable the organisers to improve procedures.
Any comments or questions may be sent to: 

the Safety Unit 
Telephone: 5400 
Email: SAFETY UNIT 

or 

the Operational Security Unit
Telephone: 7894
Email: SECOPS

W. SHAPCOTT

Push the button of the emergency phones in the lifts. 

Justus Lipsius 
building

LEX building

Europa building

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hOW TO 
REAcT TO AN 
EmERGENcy

What to do if there is an accident or someone is injured or 
feeling unwell.
•	
•	
•	
•	 never move a person who has had a fall
•	

always stay calm 
call 02 281 2000 immediately
follow the instructions given by the operator

reassure the person and stay with him or her while waiting for 
the first aid team and/or the nurse to arrive, Follow their instruc-
tions

What to do if there is a fire
•	
always stay calm
•	
leave the room, close windows and doors
•	
call 02 281 2000 immediately
•	
follow the instructions given by the operator
•	 warn those around you

if the mail contains powder that is spilling out: 

always stay calm and do not touch it
if you have already handled it: 

What to do if you discover a suspicious letter or package
•	
•	
- do not shake the suspect letter or parcel 
- do not open it 
- if it has been opened, do not remove the contents
- do not cover the letter or package
•	
- do not try to clean up the powder
- remove contaminated clothing on the spot
- close the windows
- call the emergency phone number 02 281 2000
- follow the instructions given by the operator
- leave the office, close the doors and prevent any access to the 
area (keep people at a distance), in order to avoid contamination of 
others
- stay close by and await the arrival of the emergency response 
team.

EvAcUATION 
pROcEDURE

Evacuation means leaving a danger zone as quickly and as safely as 
possible.  It  is  essential  not  to  panic  and  to  know  how  to  react.  For 
these reasons, it is important to know both the evacuation route from 
your usual workplace and the evacuation procedures.

Alarm
The alarm is an order to evacuate the building. It is given by an eva-
cuation siren or by loudspeaker. Sirens may be preceded by a spoken 
message  issued  by  loudspeaker.  Everyone  present  must  then  leave 
the building.

Evacuation
Due to the security situation in Brussels and as long as the alert le-
vel stays moderate or high (yellow and above), gatherings of large 
groups of people in open spaces should be avoided.

The  place  you  should  go  to  after  evacuating  a  building  is  not  de-
pendent on where you usually work, but on where you happen to 
be at the exact moment when the alarm is given. It is chosen so as 
to remove you from the area at risk, without impeding access for the 
emergency services.

Once evacuated staff have left the building they must, unless instruc-
ted otherwise: 
- from the Justus Lipsius building: disperse;
- from the Europa and Lex buildings, go to the atrium of the Justus 
Lipsius building.

Bulding
JL, Conference part
JL, General Secretariat part
LEX
Europa

General instruction
Disperse
Disperse
Go to the atrium of JL
Go to the atrium of JL                                            

Depending on the circumstances, different instructions may be given. 
They  will  be  announced  using  the  means  available  (loudspeakers, 
evacuation stewards, Security Office and Safety Unit staff or security 
guards).
It is therefore essential to listen to and follow the instructions given 
by loudspeaker or by any other means. 
A specific assembly point could be indicated, in case it is impossible 
to return to the building in which you work. A relevant agreement has 
been signed with the European Parliament. 
Report any missing persons or any relevant information:
•  either  to  the  evacuation  stewards,  who  are  identifiable  by  their 
fluorescent yellow jackets and will also be able to contact the neces-
sary people if you require assistance
• or by calling 02 281 2000.

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EvAcUATION 
pROcESS 

Evacuation doors
The evacuation doors are either green (Justus Lipsius, Lex) or mainly 
green (Europa). 
The red or mainly red doors must not under any circumstances be 
used for evacuation.
In the Justus Lipsius building, the evacuation doors are surrounded 
by a fluorescent strip.

Justus Lipsius/LEX          Europa                   Justus Lipsius/LEX      Europa

If you encounter a revolving door along the evacuation route, do not 
use it but use the evacuation door next to it instead.

In all the buildings, a door on an evacuation route might usually be 
locked  for  security  reasons.  These  locked  doors  always  have  a  cor-
responding green button nearby and are automatically unlocked as 
soon as the order to evacuate is given. 
In  an  emergency  or  during  an  evacuation  exercise,  you  can  unlock 
the door yourself by pressing the green push button: the door will 
then be unlocked and you can exit by pushing the anti-panic bar or 
the handle.

stay calm
stop whatever you are doing
switch off any heat-creating appliances
close the windows
leave the room and close the door behind you
follow the evacuation route closest to you and:

Evacuation process
When the siren sounds or the order to evacuate is given by loudspeaker, 
you should:
•	
•	
•	
•	
•	
•	
- close doors behind you
- stay as close as possible to the ground if smoke becomes dense
- do not go down to the basement parking areas unless instructed 
otherwise
- never use the lifts
- never turn back or return to your office to get your personal belon-
gings
•	
- staff from the Safety Unit (identifiable by their red and yellow jackets)
- evacuation stewards (yellow jackets)
- security officers (yellow and blue jackets)
•	 pay  particular  attention  to  people  with  reduced  mobility  (see 

follow closely any instructions given by:

item below). 

Depending on the circumstances, you could be asked by loudspeaker 
not to leave the building but instead to go to a specified area in the 
building, away from the area at risk. The procedure to be followed is 
described in the Staff Note on invacuation (CP 43/18). In that case 
you  will  hear  a  short  sound  signal  followed  by  spoken  instructions 
telling you what to do and where to go.
Dial 02 281 2000 to report any danger or urgent problem that arises 
during the evacuation.

Evacuation route
The evacuation route is the shortest route to leave the building. It is 
often  different  to  your  normal  route.  It  runs  from  your  location,  via 
the nearest emergency staircase, to the evacuation level, taking you 
safely out of the building. 
Evacuation routes are clearly marked by special evacuation signs:

Fluorescent arrows at floor level will help you find the closest emer-
gency exit. 
It  is  important  that  you  follow  the  signs  closest  to  you,  since  they 
ensure  that  the  flow  of  people  evacuating  the  building  is  divided 
between the various exits.  

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In the security zones in the Europa building, some of these push 
buttons operate with a delay (maximum 30 seconds). Activating them 
triggers a voice message which tells you that your request has been 
received. The door will be unlocked at the end of the delay and you 
will then be able to exit by pushing the anti-panic bar or the handle.

Evacuation of delegates and visitors
If you are in a meeting with delegates or if you have visitors, you must 
look after them during an evacuation:
•	

ask them to follow you and tell them to disperse once they have 
left the Justus Lipsius building, or to go to the atrium of the Justus 
Lipsius building once they have left the Europa or Lex building
show them the nearest evacuation route
close the window(s) and door(s) in the room
accompany your visitors, bearing in mind the evacuation instruc-
tions.

•	
•	
•	

Evacuation for persons with reduced mobility
If a person with reduced mobility (PRM) whom you cannot help eva-
cuate (due to injury, reduced mobility, etc.) is present, you must: 
•	
call 02 281 2000 from the room where you and the person are
•	 give  the  name  of  the  person  and  the  location  (building,  level, 

corridor, room number)
explain why the person cannot evacuate
ask him or her to wait in the room for the emergency services or 
to follow the instructions given, with the door closed
evacuate.

•	
•	

•	

If you are in difficulty
If it is impossible for you to leave the building unaided (due to injury, 
reduced mobility, etc.), you must:
•	
•	
•	 give your name and the number of the office (building, level, cor-

remain in your office or go into an office and shut the door
call 02 281 2000

ridor, number)
explain why you cannot evacuate

•	
•	 wait where you are or follow the instructions given.

Council of the European Union
General Secretariat 
Directorate-General Organisational Development and Services - ORG

STAFF NOTE
CP 43/18
Brussels, 28 June 2018

 Subject: Invacuation procedures for Council buildings
During certain types of incident, for example if there is a threat outside a building, it may be 
necessary to move some or all of the persons present to a safe place within that building. This 
is referred to as invacuation.

This Staff Note explains the procedure in the event of an invacuation and is complementa-
ry to the Staff Note concerning the emergency and evacuation procedures (CP 90/17).

It is important that all staff members be familiar with this procedure for each GSC’s building .
Invacuation drills will be organised periodically, in order to familiarise all staff with the process 
and allow the organisers to improve procedures if necessary.
Any comments or questions may be sent to:
the Safety Unit  
Phone: 5400  
Email: UNITE PREVENTION 

                  the Operational Security Unit
                  Phone: 7894
                  Email: SECURITY SECOPS

                     or 

W. SHAPCOTT
Director-General

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INvAcUATION 
pROcEDURES

An  invacuation  involves  leaving  an  at-risk  location  as  quickly  and 
safely  as  possible  and  moving  to  a  safe  place  located  in  the  same 
building. 
There is no fixed procedure as each invacuation will be adapted ac-
cording to the specific event. Depending on the situation, an entire 
building or only a part of it may be concerned by the procedure.
It is therefore of the utmost importance to first listen carefully to the 
instructions given by loudspeakers or any other means before taking 
any action. 
These instructions will tell you what to do and where to go.

Alarm 
The invacuation alarm will be given by loudspeaker. A short siren si-
gnal will usually precede a spoken message. 

Please stay calm and listen carefully to the instructions which will tell 
you what to do and where to go - these may be given via loudspea-
ker, by staff from the Safety Unit (identifiable by their red and yellow 
jackets), evacuation stewards (yellow jackets), security officers (yellow 
and blue jackets) or by safety or security guards.
Pay particular attention to persons with reduced mobility.

Dial (+32 2 281) 2000 to report any danger or urgent problem that 
arises during the invacuation.

the place where you are when the alarm is given 
the cause of the decision to invacuate and 
the number of persons to be moved. 

Safe places
In any invacuation, the safe place to which you will be sent will de-
pend on: 
•	
•	
•	
You will be informed of what to do and of the exact location of the 
safe place. Initially, you may be asked to remain in your office and wait.
For your personal safety, do not try to leave the building. Depending 
on the threat, one or more of the entrances to the building may be 
sealed off. 

partial invacuation
In most scenarios, a threat will affect one side of a building only and 
the other parts will remain safe. 
In this case, a partial invacuation will be called and only some people 
will be directly concerned by the invacuation. They will be asked to 
move away from their location to another part of the building. There 
is no pre-determined safe place in this event and instructions will tell 
you where to go.

If  instructed  to  do  so,  please  stay  away  from  the  windows.  Instruc-
tions will be given when it is safe to return to normal. 

Total invacuation
In a more serious event, a total invacuation may be called and eve-
ryone will be asked to move to a place in the basement car park in 
their building, when the car park is deemed to be the only place pro-
viding adequate shelter, for example if information points to a threat 
all around a building. 

Safe places 
In a total invacuation, the safe places are as follows:
Building 

Justus Lipsius, Conference part (CO)   

Safe places        
JL car park level 04 (moving via the SG part)

Justus Lipsius, General Secretariat part (SG) 

JL car park level 04

Lex 

Europa 

Lex car parks level -2 and level -3

EB car parks 

Given the importance of being able to identify those who are present 
at the safe place, if possible, staff should join other members of their 
unit.

Invacuation routes to the safe places
Invacuation routes to the safe places in the car parks are marked by 
special invacuation signs, with the following design:

 {..} 

Staff members can use other routes, with which they are more fami-
liar, to reach the safe places. However, it is stressed that following one 
of these invacuation signs will ensure that the flow of persons inva-
cuating the building is divided among the various invacuation routes.
Example: 

{04} 

In the event of an invacuation to the 
car park at level 04, you can follow 
this sign.

Routes to avoid
Please note that some emergency staircases cannot be used because 
they  would  lead  you  directly  outside  the  building,  which  must  be 
avoided. The routes you cannot use are indicated as follows:

{04} 

In the event of an invacuation to the 
car park at level 04, do NOT use this 
staircase.

Invacuation routes to the safe places in the car parks are marked by 
special invacuation signs, with the following design.

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Invacuation doors
Unlike in an evacuation, for which red doors cannot be used, the co-
lour of the doors has no meaning in the event of an invacuation: both 
green and red doors can be used for an invacuation.
To find your way, follow the invacuation signs and do not pay atten-
tion to the colour of the doors.
JL/ Lex                                                    EB

Invacuation of delegates and visitors
If you are in a meeting with delegates or if you have visitors, you must 
look after them during an invacuation:
•	
•	
•	

close the window(s) and door(s) in the room
ask them to follow you along the nearest invacuation route
accompany your delegates or visitors to the safe place, bearing in 
mind the invacuation instructions.

If  a  person  with  reduced  mobility  (PRM)  whom  you  cannot  help 
invacuate (due to injury, physical inability, etc.) is present, you must:
•	

call (+32 2 281) 2000 from the room where you and the person 
are

•	 give  the  name  of  the  person  and  the  location  (building,  level, 

corridor, room number)
explain why the person cannot invacuate 
follow the instructions given

•	
•	

If you yourself are in difficulty
If it is impossible for you to leave unaided (due to injury, reducedmo-
bility, etc.), you must:
•	

Remain in your office or go into an office and close the door and 
windows

•	 Call (+32 2 281) 2000
•	 Give  your  name  and  the  location  of  the  office  (building,  level, 

corridor, office number)
Explain why you cannot invacuate on your own
Follow the instructions given

•	
•	

WORKING 
AT ThE GSc

12  

IN ThE OFFIcE 

12. links 

Welcome to Europa, Practical Information Guide

Use of the GSC’s electronic network (IOLAN)
Traineeships' Page on Domus
CARS Search Client 
How to use your desk phone

AT  WORK 

Organisation chart
Missions
Pool of projects
Guide to Ethics and Conduct
Code of good administrative behaviour
Information program

SERvIcES AT ThE cOUNcIl

Restaurants
Libraries 
The Legal library
Language library
The Staff library
Activities

hEAlThcARE

Notification of accident
Dentists
List of Medical Facilities and English-Speaking

AccOmmODATION  

Foyer européen
Lvi Immo
Immoweb
Residential Accommodation in Brussels
The Bulletin
Appartager
Flats to Rent
Youth Hostels
Student accommodation
Expat Welcome Desk

60  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 61

 
 
 
 
 
COUNCIL BUILDINGS
Access and opening hours for regular Council ID badge holders 

LEX
Loi Entrance 

LEX

EUROPA
Loi Entrance 

Rue de la Loi

JUSTUS LIPSIUS
Schuman Entrance 

LEX
Etterbeek Entrance 

EUROPA

Rond-point
Schuman

C
h
a

ussée d'Etterbeek

JUSTUS LIPSIUS
Etterbeek Entrance

Rue Belliard

JUSTUS LIPSIUS
Belliard Entrance

JUSTUS
LIPSIUS

JUSTUS LIPSIUS
Froissart Entrance

t
r
a
s
s
i
o
r
F
e
u
R

Bikes may be parked only at the Schuman Entrance.

JUSTUS LIPSIUS

Schuman
entrance is open from 7:30 to 19:00

Froissart
entrance is open from 7:30 to 19:00

Belliard
entrance is closed
(may be open during special events, e.g. summits)

Etterbeek
entrance is closed 
for regular Council ID badge holders

EXIT AFTER 19:00 - Froissart Entrance 

EUROPA

Loi
entrance is open from 7:30 to 19:00

EXIT AFTER 19:00 - Loi Entrance 

LEX

Loi
entrance is open from 7:30 to 19:00

Etterbeek
entrance is open from 7:30 to 9:30
and from 16:00 to 19:00

 parking is available all the time and         parking is open from 7:30 to 19:00.

EXIT AFTER 19:00 - Etterbeek Entrance 

62  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES  |  EN  |  September 2019

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 63

 
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175
1048 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË
Tel. +32(0)2 281 61 11
www.consilium.europa.eu

September 2019  |  EN  |  GUIDE FOR TRAINEES 64