Brussels serves as '' de facto '' capital of the European Union , hosting the major political institutions of the Union . The EU has not declared a capital formally , though the Treaty of Amsterdam formally gives Brussels the seat of the European Commission ( the executive branch of government ) and the Council of the European Union ( a legislative institution made up from executives of member states ) . It locates the formal seat of European Parliament in Strasbourg , where votes take place , with the Council , on the proposals made by the Commission . However , meetings of political groups and committee groups are formally given to Brussels , along with a set number of plenary sessions . Three quarters of Parliament sessions now take place at its Brussels hemicycle . Between 2002 and 2004 , the European Council also fixed its seat in the city . In 2014 , the Union hosted a G7 summit in the city
G7 summit
40th G7 summit
Brussels