New SHAPE Village opens at NATO headquarters near Mons
The new SHAPE Village was officially inaugurated on Wednesday at NATO's military headquarters in Casteau, near Mons. Around 1,200 military personnel and civilians from various alliance countries working at Casteau will move into the 600 new accommodation units. Prime minister Bart De Wever said the investment consolidates SHAPE's presence in Mons.
The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is NATO's principal military command centre, responsible for planning and executing all alliance operations worldwide. It serves as the operational heart of NATO's Allied Command Operations and is led by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, traditionally a senior US general.
SHAPE has been based in Casteau since 1967, after France withdrew from NATO's integrated military structure. The prefabricated housing units erected at that time had reached the end of their useful life. Reconstruction of the site began in 2020 with a budget of 136.5 million euros, which will be recouped through rent paid by SHAPE members and their families.
At the inauguration, prime minister Bart De Wever emphasised that the previous accommodation was long overdue for replacement. "As a host nation, it is important to offer quality accommodation to the people who come here to work from many countries around the world," he said. "You don't make that sort of investment for just one year, and it also anchors SHAPE's presence here in Mons."
A signal of confidence in NATO's future
"There is a great deal of political talk about the alliance and about its future," the prime minister said. "In reality, I see a very strong determination to continue with NATO, to remain here. There is a very positive vibe surrounding NATO's presence in Belgium and the role we play."
De Wever also said he had no doubts about the long-term future of SHAPE in Mons. "I hope that all political leaders in this country, and indeed in Europe, realise how important NATO has been over the past 80 years and how important that organisation remains for us," he said. Suggesting that NATO is no longer needed or is finished, he added, "seems to me to be nonsense that one should not spout."
© BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE / BELGA VIDEO JEROME FETU
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