Belgian PM: no compromise on national security

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said on Tuesday that national security will not be undermined by proposed budget cuts.

He said that in light of recent events, Belgium would soon be launching a new national security council to deal with possible security threats.

Speaking in the national parliament on Tuesday, Michel said that the government will ensure the highest protection of the citizens, despite being committed to a series of austerity measures, aimed at cutting expenditure from the national budget.

His comments come days after the deadly attacks in Paris, in which extremists murdered journalists and police officers at the headquarters of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, as well as police stand-offs at a printing works and a Jewish supermarket.

At that time, Belgium offered its support to the French authorities in tracking down extremists.

Michel said that "for all countries in Europe, we know that the budgetary resources are counted. But the government will ensure in all cases to organise the protection of citizens, and raising the level of protection."

He said that despite ongoing negotiations with trade unions and employers over controversial aspects of the budget, fiscal cuts across departments would still mean "no cuts in safety." Endit