Then, in 1958, a meeting in Paris between the then-six member states concluded that the institution would be chaired in turns in alphabetical order. Coincidentally, based on this agreement, Belgium was first.

As the year followed, Brussels realized that it was ever expanding to accommodate many of the organization’s growing list of bodies. At the same time, member states were still unable to decide which city should serve as the permanent host, voila — Brussels remained the host up to this day.

While some might take this story with a grain of salt, for the believers, the tale of the EU’s capital is intriguing.

Brussels received the title of its capital by perpetually hosting the organization’s institutions and bodies, but it did not take this status for granted. Brussels understood the importance of its role and positioned itself as the host of the Union’s activities.

Although at the beginning it never intended to, Brussels quickly established itself as the European capital — and lived up to its name.

On the other side of the world, it never took lengthy discussions or coincidence either for Jakarta to become the headquarters of ASEAN.

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