After the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, Berlin was chosen as capital of the new, united Germany. Thus Bonn lost its status as capital of the former West Germany and most government offices moved to Berlin. In 1994 an agreement was reached to compensate Bonn in various ways for this loss of status and income. As an integral part of this agreement, the H-BRS was founded on the joint initiative of the federal parliament of Germany (Bundestag) and the federal government of Germany (Bundesregierung), the parliament of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Landtag NRW) and the federal state government of North Rhine-Westphalia (Landesregierung NRW) - this is unique in the history of Germany.