Inside the Evil Headquarters

12Oct10

So a few months have passed and I have left the tranquil forests of Finland and exchanged them for the concrete madness that is Brussels.

Now that I’m in the bubble and infiltrated enemy lines, I thought to myself that this would be the perfect opportunity for some behind the scenes, ground-breaking blogging.

Alas, I haven’t joined the Commission and I’m as much of an outsider to the decision-making process as ever. But the goings on in Brussels are a curious thing nevertheless and cosmetic uprise is too good of an anagram to waste – so I’ll just  eat my words and rekindle my love-affair with this blog.

Now let me enlighten you on how I view Brussels.

Whereas rest of European politics is ridden with prolonged scandals over expenses and funding, Brussels remains almost virginally pure.

The Commission College is practically a cult – they are the Paris Hiltons and Lindsey Lohans of the EU world. Their daily movements are monitored as if there was a horde of paparazzi after them – I get a daily newsletter update from The Parliament on where each Commissioner is meant to be on that day.

You’ve hit the jackpot if you manage to organise an event where a Commissioner will be present.

Whilst the thought of Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, stirring up big emotions might make Brits snigger, in Brussels he’s a popular fellow. I’m sure some junior consultants would love to shake his hand and hang up a picture of that event on their bedroom walls.

The Brussels bubble is truly a world of its own. In the EU quarter you could easily forget the fact you’re in Belgium – which presumably Nigel Farage does frequently.

Maybe after a few months here I’ll also forget Britain ever meant anything more than lovely accents and soggy chips and I can forget all about silly little words like sovereignty.

Filed under: UK & the EU   |  3 Comments
Tags: Brussels bubble, comeback, EU, EU Commission