...Brussels (, pronounced ; , pronounced ), officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (, Dutch: ), is the de facto capital city of the European Union (EU) and the largest urban area in Belgium.It is the de facto city as it hosts all major political institutions—though Parliament formally votes in Strasbourg, most political work is carried out in Brussels—and as such is considered the capital by definition. However, it should be noted that it is not formally declared in that language, though its position is spelled out in the Treaty of Amsterdam. See the section dedicated to this issue. It comprises 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels proper, which is the capital of Belgium, Flanders and the French Community of Belgium. Read full entry

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