Greenpeace activists today successfully climbed and attached themselves to a high-rise construction site just metres (yards) way from where dozens of world leaders were assembled for an EU summit.
For almost three hours, four activists stretched out a banner denouncing the bloc's energy policies and close ties with oil and energy companies.
Police observed the scene from the foot of the building site as EU leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the president of Ukraine, arrived at the summit venue next door.
The stunt took place at the site of what will be the new offices of the European Council, the EU institution that brings together the leaders of the bloc's 28 member states.
Greenpeace said 35 activists from six countries were involved in the stunt, which included an early morning effort to block traffic leading to the Brussels district that hosts almost all of the EU's major institutions.
The streets surrounding the summit location are closed off whenever leaders meet, but the neighbouring construction site remained outside the security perimeter, police said.
