France and Belgium agree new anti-terrorism measures

Belgium and France have agreed a series of measures to improve co-operation in the fight against terrorism, the Belgian prime minister's office announced in a statement on Monday.

"In view of a constantly evolving terrorist threat, our two countries are committed to strengthening their cooperation to ensure the security of their fellow citizens and to counter violent extremism," the two countries said.

The agreement follows a meeting in Brussels where French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas met their Belgian counterparts, Charles Michel, Jan Jambon and Koen Geens.

France and Belgium will "pursue and intensify their police cooperation", the statement said, following the Paris terror attacks in January and November last year, and the Jewish Museum shooting in Brussels in May 2014.

The two countries will also be consulting with the Netherlands and Germany about strengthening security on the Thalys high-speed international rail network, where a gun attack was thwarted by passengers in August last year.

A Franco-Belgian investigation team was set up following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, which was described in the joint statement as having "achieved very good results".

France and Belgium will "work together to reinforce the controls at the European Union's external borders", the statement added.

The countries also called on the European Commission to make "accelerated efforts" in its action plan on the fight against the funding of terrorism. Endit