Heightened security at European Parliament in Brussels

European Parliament in Strasbourg, France

The European Parliament has raised its alert level in Brussels to orange. 

It heightened security in close cooperation with the Belgian authorities, following the terror attacks in Brussels on Tuesday.  Yesterday staff at the European Parliament and the European Commission was requested to stay inside where they were until further notice. The Parliament remains open, but the visitors' entrance and the Parlamentarium have been closed. European Parliament President Martin Schulz has decided to ask staff to telework on Wednesday and to close all Parliament buildings in Brussels with the exception of the main building. It will remain accessible but will be further secured through systematic checks of ID documents and bags.  Also, all missions, meetings and visits scheduled for Wednesday have been cancelled.  Martin Schulz said in a statement that he was “horrified by the despicable and cowardly attacks which took place in Brussels. My thoughts go out first and foremost to the victims and the wounded, as well as their families and friends.”  He added that “these acts anger and sadden me at the same time. They are born from barbarism and hatred which do justice to nothing and no one. Brussels, like other cities hit by such terrorist attacks, will stand strong, and the European institutions hosted so generously by the Brussels institutions and its inhabitants will do likewise.” The Brussels Times Photo

The European Parliament has three places of work – Brussels (Belgium), the city of Luxembourg (Luxembourg) and Strasbourg (France). Luxembourg is home to the administrative offices (the 'General Secretariat'). Meetings of the whole Parliament ('plenary sessions') take place in Strasbourg and in Brussels. Committee meetings are held in Brussels. Wikipedia