The European Union last week insisted the new €321million Europa Building would still be fit for purpose after kitchen staff had to be evacuated when the fumes caused them to fall ill.
However the block’s leaders will now have to meet in the old EU building next door to the futuristic “space egg”.
Following the incident last wee the European Council said in a statement that a “technical issue” with the ventilation “producing noxious fumes in the kitchens, has led to a number of kitchen staff falling ill”.
Emergency services vehicles including police cars and ambulances were pictured outside the building as staff were escorted off the premises.
Some were evacuated to the old EU building next door, where the leaders’ summit will now be held.
The Europa building was unveiled in December 2016 as the new home of the European Council and of summit meetings for EU27 leaders.
The project was meant to symbolise “joy” at a time of increasing frustration with Brussels bureaucrats.
It was quickly nicknamed the ‘Space Egg’ because of its unique design – an ovular lantern-shaped structure inside a cube made of recycled window frames from countries across the European Union.
The building was hugely criticised for its high cost at a time when member states are faced with significant spending cuts – and while Brussels was meant to be trying to cut waste.
The ventilation issues have raised questions about the safety of the state-of-the-art building, which will now not be used for its original purpose of hosting leaders’ summits.