The Parlamentarium center cost €20 million to build and opened in 2011.
Max Griera
The €22.7 million is in addition to a €500 million renovation of parts of the building, including the hemicycle, where all MEPs gather, and follows a decision to scale back EU visitor centers in member states because of rising costs and low turnout.
“The Parlamentarium visitor center is in need of a thorough update,” a Parliament spokesperson told POLITICO. “With around 1,000 people visiting each day on average, the Parlamentarium is one of the most popular attractions in Brussels and a key part of the Parliament’s visitor offer.”
The administration hopes to raise visitor numbers to 420,000 from 350,000 a year, according to the documents.
“The idea is to update both the aging technology (daily technical failures) and the way the exhibition is designed, so it meets the expectations of present-day visitors,” the spokesperson said.
The Parliament vice presidents in charge of the decision, Sabine Verheyen and Pina Picierno, did not reply to requests for comment.
