Security outside Parliament to be stepped up

Date: 27/06/02

By Martin Banks

BELGIAN Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has agreed to step up security outside the European Parliament in Brussels following a spate of attacks on MEPs and their staff.

The incidents prompted a strong complaint from Pat Cox, president of the assembly, who described the level of policing in the area as 'inadequate'.

Verhofstadt has now pledged a raft of measures to improve security, including:

• Reintroducing regular police patrols in the streets surrounding the Parliament;
• Extending the network of closed-circuit TV cameras, and
• The possible permanent closure of Rue Wiertz (the road which runs between the two main Parliament buildings, Altiero Spinelli and Paul-Henri Spaak).

Cox had earlier ordered a probe into security after German MEP Christa Klass and her assistant Astrid Krantz were mugged by a five-strong gang within metres of the chamber.

The inquiry cleared the Parliament's own Group 4 internal security service, despite claims by the MEP that they had stood by and done nothing, but was scathing about the lack of police presence in the vicinity.

Cox discussed the issue with Verhofstadt during the Seville summit last weekend and the Belgian premier assured him that security at the Parliament was a priority.

Parliament's spokesman David Harley said that the extra CCTV cameras, which are directly linked to police control, would enable officers to respond more quickly to incidents such as the recent attack.

'The regular police patrols, which had recently been withdrawn, will provide a much-needed deterrent to would-be troublemakers...the Belgian authorities recognise the seriousness of the situation and the need for immediate action,' he added.

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has agreed to step up security outside the European Parliament in Brussels following a spate of attacks on MEPs and their staff.