Toxic fumes force evacuation of EU's 'Space Egg' HQ building in Brussels

Toxic fumes have forced the European Union to switch the venue of an EU summit in Brussels less than 24 hours before leaders were due to begin a two-day meeting.

Catering staff have been taken ill due to fumes suspected to be leaking from the drains.

It's the second time the Europa Building, which is also known as the "Space Egg", has had to be evacuated in the space of less than a week.

“Despite checks and precautions, a further technical incident occurred today in one of the Europa building kitchens,” the European Council said.

“The technical issue affecting the ventilation in the kitchens of the Europa building, producing noxious fumes in the kitchens, has led to a number of staff falling ill.”

Around 20 members of staff were taken ill last Friday as a result of a similar incident.

“The civil protection services have determined that the problem was caused by a chemical reaction between two industrial cleaning products,” the European Council said at the time.

“All the systems have been cleaned, and measures taken to prevent any such problem to recur.”

The summit will now take place next door in the previous main venue, the Justus Lipsius Building.

The General Secretariat of the Council says the programme and schedule remain unchanged.