Brussels set for summit gridlock

By Florence Biquet

Date: 10/02/05

The visit of the US President George W. Bush will bring much of the EU quarter of Brussels to a standstill on 21-22 February.

The extraordinary European summit on 22 February is necessitating extraordinary security measures, wider than those usually introduced for European Councils. Staff from the secretariat of the Council, if not involved in the visit, have been given the day off.

The security zone is being extended to include some streets - or parts of them - that are usually outside the perimeter, such as rue Joseph II, rue Stevin, boulevard Charlemagne, rue Archimede, avenue d'Auderghem, chausée d'Etterbeek, rue van Maerlant. Only residents and workers with valid passes will be allowed into the zone.

Traffic will also be restricted in surrounding streets - or parts of them - and parking will be prohibited. The metro and railway stations at Schuman will be closed. The measures are subject to change. Disruption can also be expected elsewhere in the city during the course of the two-day visit. It is expected that on 21 February George W. and Laura Bush will meet Albert II and Paola, the Belgian king and queen, and Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. The US president will also be attending a summit at NATO's headquarters.

Preview of a visit of US President George W. Bush to Brussels on 21-22 February 2005 and the extraordinary security measures, wider than those usually introduced for European Councils.