Brussels, 23/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 23 November, the European institutions stepped up their security measures, two days after the Belgian government activated its maximum alert level '4' (on a scale of 4), on Friday 20 November, following the risk of attacks and imminent attacks in the Brussels Capital region.
Of the three European institutions, Commission, Council and Parliament, the Council has increased its security level to 'orange' level, and all have offered their staff flexibility in their working conditions, with working from home having been authorised. At the Council, although the Education and Culture Councils and the Eurogroup have still been held, non-essential meetings have been cancelled. For journalists, however, this increase in security measures was not especially apparent and no additional verification was carried out on entering the building. However, according to a security officer, all employees of the Council have to enter through security doors, which is not usually the case.
At the Commission, there is no “specific risk”, a spokesperson for the institution, Margaritis Schinas, explained, on the basis of the information provided by the Brussels authorities. The Commission has not increased its alert level, but has ordered checks and searches on all cars arriving at the Commission. European childcare facilities and schools, on the other hand, have been closed, as have all schools and universities in the Brussels Capital region. The Brussels-Schuman underground station, which runs below the Berlaymont building, the headquarters of the Commission, is also closed.
The European Parliament has closed its “Parlamentarium” visitors' centre and limited the number of people entering its buildings. However, the Parliament has remained at 'yellow' alert level, which was brought in following the attacks in Paris on 13 November, a level which prohibits some access to the building, such as access for journalists to the Paul-Henri Spaak building. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)