Seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg

Louise Weiss building
Immeuble du Parlement Européen IV (IPE 4)
Plaque commemorating the inauguration of the Louise Weiss building of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 14 December 1999, by President of France, Jacques Chirac, and President of the European Parliament, Nicole Fontaine
General information
Type	Debating Chamber and MEP offices
Architectural style	Contemporary
Location	Strasbourg, France
Coordinates	48°35′51″N 7°46′08″E / 48.597401°N 7.768825°E / 48.597401; 7.768825 (Louise Weiss building)
Completed	14 December 1999[1]
Owner	European Union
Height	60 m (tower)
Dimensions
Diameter	100 m (tower)
Other dimensions	Hemicycle inside : 56×44×15 m (184×144×49 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	20 (17 above-ground levels, 3 sub-ground levels)
Floor area	220,000 m2 (2,400,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Architecture-Studio[3]
Main contractor	S.E.R.S.[2]

The city of Strasbourg in France is the official seat of the European Parliament. The institution is legally bound by the decision of Edinburgh European Council of 11 and 12 December 1992 and Article 341 of the TFEU to meet there twelve times a year for a session, each of which usually takes about four days. The majority of work, however, takes place in Brussels, and some other work is undertaken in Luxembourg City (see Location of European Union institutions for more information).^[4][5] Also all votes of the European Parliament must take place in Strasbourg. "Additional" sessions and committees take place in Brussels. Although de facto a majority of the Parliament's work is now geared to its Brussels site, it is legally bound to keep Strasbourg as its official home; a situation which garners much criticism from the European Parliament itself, as well as many interest groups, administrative staff, and environmentalist groups amongst others.

The Parliament's six buildings, all named after distinguished European politicians, are located in the Quartier Européen (European Quarter) of the city, which it shares with other European organisations which are separate from the European Union's.^[6] Previously the Parliament used to share the same assembly room as the Council of Europe. Today, the principal building is the Louise Weiss building, inaugurated in 1999 and named after the women's rights activist and former MEP, Louise Weiss.