Going to work on a Monday morning in February can be difficult. This week it was especially difficult for some Commission staff. No fewer than ten Commission buildings were affected by a power cut, including 232 rue Belliard (the directorate-general for health and consumers), 15 rue de la Science (development), 18 rue van Maerlant (education and culture), 40 rue de Luxembourg (taxation), the Breydel building (enterprise and industry and budget), 41 rue de la Loi (the EuropeAid co-operation office) and 88 rue d'Arlon (home to the Commission's humanitarian aid department).
Many officials will not have noticed because the power cut began at 7.55am and was over in all but one building by 9.15am. But at 41 rue de la Loi, problems with a circuit-breaker meant a delay of several hours before full power was restored. EuropeAid had to seek assistance.
