Practical information - Brussels

Scholarship: You will receive a scholarship of 1,130,56 € per month (2008), from which you will have to pay your living expenses (accommodation, transport, food, etc). This monthly payment is paid into your bank account on the 15th of each month. However, on your arrival, you may request an advance of the monthly scholarship for the first month which cannot exceed 90% of the monthly amount of the scholarship. The scholarship can be paid to your existing bank account or one that you open as soon as possible in the traineeship location.   

For more information on payments, please read Article 20 of the Internal Rules Governing Traineeships and Study Visits

Disability allowance: In accordance with Article 20(8) of the Internal Rules, you may be entitled to the disability allowance, which amounts to 565,28 € per month (2008), from which you will have to pay for extra expenses related to your disability, namely accessible housing, transport and personal assistance. It is paid with your scholarship on the15th of each month.

The European Parliament will not be able to defray any expenses that exceed the scholarship amount and disability allowance.

Travel: A flat-rate amount between your home address and the place of assignment will be paid per kilometre into your bank account at the beginning and at the end of your traineeship, as defined in Article 11 of the Internal Rules.

Health/accident insurance: Trainees are insured against the risks of sickness and accidents, as specified in Article 13 of the Internal Rules.  Your contribution to the insurance is one third of the premium, i.e. around 15 € per month, which will be automatically deducted from your scholarship. The other two thirds of the premium are paid by the European Parliament. 

XXX

Food: The European Parliament has self-service canteens, where you can have breakfast, hot meals for lunch and afternoon coffee.  A hot meal costs between 4 and 8 € and trainees get a 5-10 % price reduction for the hot meals. A restaurant meal in the city would cost a minimum of 15 €. 

Housing:  Rooms are let out for prices between 250 and 400 € per month.  A studio (a 1-room flat with kitchenette) would cost between 500 and 800 € per month and a flat would cost around 1000 € per month.  Usually landlords ask for a deposit, which amounts from 1 month to 3 months' rent price. Please note that it is up to you to find accommodation, sign a contract and pay a deposit.  The European Parliament is however able to provide you with a list of accommodation possibilities. 

Public transport: The bus, tram and metro service runs from 5.30 a.m. onwards. A single short distance ticket costs 1,50 €  and 2,00 € if the ticket is bought from the driver of a bus/tram; 10 short distance tickets cost 11,00 €; a monthly ticket costs around 45,00 € depending on the ticket type (prices for 2008). Trams can be entered by any door, but on buses passengers must enter through the front doors so that the driver can check or sell a ticket which must be validated afterwards.
For more information concerning public transport in Brussels please check the following website: http://www.stib.irisnet.be/FR/visit.html?l=fr

Transport accessibility:
Few buses or trams are accessible, and only a handful of Metro stations are accessible for people with disabilities, although the Metro stations provide an assistance service. 
Buses on Line 71 are accessible for wheelchair users. 
Passengers with reduced mobility should note that the older trams have high steps and narrow middle doors, making them difficult to access. The new trams are easier to access as its floor is at pavement level and it has wider middle doors. 
Several taxi companies run vehicles adapted for wheelchairs:
Taxi Verts
Tel: +32(0)2/3494545; fax: +32(0)2/3494900; email: dispa(at)taxis.be; www.taxisverts.be
Taxi Hendriks
Tel: +32 (0)2/7529800; fax: 02 7529801; email: info.melsbroek(at)hendriks.be; website: www.hendriks.be

More useful information about transport accessibility can be obtained on www.pmr.irisnet.be or by calling 0900 10310 (Brussels; the call costs €1/minute).