Building influence in Brussels

From the June issue: On a recent afternoon, Erik Wesselius took 20 visitors on a guided tour of Brussels. His tour didn’t pause in front of Renaissance-era townhouses or the city’s heralded Art Nouveau mansions. Instead, Wesselius led his guests into the heart of the European Quarter, a sort of continental Capitol Hill. He pointed to the European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-state European Union, then across the street to an office building. For many people, Brussels may evoke images of chocolate and beer. But corporations and governments around the world are also realizing that institutions in Brussels, churn out rules that affect them, and not always in a good way.