Security Brief for Belgium prepared on: Jul 12, 2021 5:43:31 PM UTC Security Assessment Rating Security Rating for Belgium: 2 - Low Sub-Ratings 1 2 3 4 5 Crime 3 Overall Rating: Security Services 2 2 Civil Unrest 3 Low Terrorism 3 Kidnapping 2 Geopolitical 2 Security Overview : Overview of Belgium Belgium does not face any threat of internal or external conflict. There is a threat of terrorism against tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centers, markets, hotels, schools, places of worship and airports and other transportation hubs. Sunni extremists are likely to continue to use Belgium as territory to plan operations in Europe. Radical Islamist militants will probably continue to try to conduct attacks in the country. Petty crime occurs in major cities and on public transportation. Demonstrations occur and have the potential to turn violent. Related Advice: Personal security while walking. Related Advice: General guidelines to protect yourself against terrorism. Related Advice: Protecting yourself from crime when using taxis abroad. Related Advice: Recognizing suspicious objects and the threat of hidden explosives while traveling Related Advice: Increasing your personal security while traveling. Related Advice: Recognizing when you are under surveillance, and tips to avoid surveillance. Security Alerts & Advisories Informational Alerts Civil Unrest: Protests denouncing COVID-19-related restrictions likely to continue in cities across Europe through July. Localized disruptions likely. Event: COVID-19 Protests Location(s): Urban centers (map) Time Frame: Through at least July Impact: Possible increased security, localized disruptions Summary Sporadic protests will likely continue in cities across Europe through at least the end of July as residents denounce restrictions imposed to combat COVID-19, as well as their economic consequences, particularly for the hospitality industry. Activists could demonstrate outside government offices or at prominent locations in city centers; vehicular go-slow protests are possible. Public transport workers may hold strikes or other forms of labor actions. The COVID-19 measures currently in place in most European cities restrict public gatherings to some extent. Local police will likely monitor protests and may attempt to disperse larger gatherings. Low-level skirmishes and, in some cases, wider confrontations, are possible. Localized traffic and transport disruptions are likely. In addition, though a large proportion of demonstrations involve hospitality workers, the adoption of the COVID- 19 issue as a rallying point by both far-left and far-right-wing groups means that some protests could also prompt counterdemonstrations, posing a potential for clashes between rival activists. Advice Avoid all protests as a standard security precaution. Monitor local media for updates on such gatherings, as organizers may not announce details in advance. If violence breaks out, leave the area immediately. Follow the instructions of security personnel. Allow additional time for travel near known or possible demonstration venues. Alert begins: 03/31/2021 Other Alerts & Advisories Critical Alerts Entry/Exit: Belgium maintaining COVID-19 measures as of July 9; domestic and international travel restrictions remain in effect. Incident: COVID-19 restrictions Location(s): Nationwide (map) Time Frame: Indefinite Impact: Business and travel disruptions Summary Authorities are maintaining measures imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19 as of July 9. Non-essential travel from outside the EU and Schengen Area countries, Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macau, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the US. Exceptions are in place for individuals with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and no less than 14 days old. Exceptions are also in place for EU/Schengen Area residents, limited categories of essential work, and urgent family reasons. All travelers arriving via plane or sea, or arriving via ground transport and spending at least 48 hours in Belgium, must fill out a Passenger Locator Form within the 48 hours before arrival. Travelers arriving from a "red-zone" country within the EU must present a certificate of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours; travelers unable to meet these requirements must take a test on arrival and quarantine until the result is known. Permitted travelers arriving from a red-zone country outside the EU must present a certificate of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, take a test on arrival, and quarantine until the result is known; permitted travelers without these certificates must quarantine for 10 days on arrival and take an additional test on day seven of quarantine. A list of areas designated as red zones is available here. Authorities also maintain a list of "very high-risk" locations. Individuals who have visited a very high-risk country in the previous 14 days are prohibited from entering Belgium with minimal exceptions, including Belgian nationals and residents, individuals in transit, transport workers, and urgent humanitarian reasons. Individuals seeking to travel under many of these exceptions must apply for an essential travel certificate by contacting their local diplomatic mission five days before they are due to travel. All permitted travelers from very high-risk countries must present a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival or an EU Digital COVID Certificate, or equivalent, and self-isolate for 10 days, taking additional tests on days one and seven of the isolation period. As of July 9, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are considered very high-risk locations. The list of very-high risk countries is available here. Domestic Restrictions Individuals may host up to eight people in their homes. Events are permitted for up to 2,000 people indoors and 2,500 people outdoors. Hospitality and catering establishments permitted opening hours will be extended to 01:00. Most businesses and services were previously permitted to reopen subject to hygiene and social distancing requirements. Facemasks remain mandatory in enclosed public spaces and busy outdoor areas as defined by local authorities. Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks. Advice Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Resources Passenger Locator Form Map of Countries by Infection Rates Belgian Coronavirus Portal World Health Organization (WHO) Belgian Department of Foreign Affairs Schengen Area countries Alert begins: 07/09/2021 Entry/Exit: European Council introduces EU Digital COVID Certificate in numerous EU countries as of July 2; travel restrictions remain. Incident: Travel restrictions Location(s): EU member states (except Ireland) and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland (map) Time Frame: Indefinite Impact: Transport and business disruptions Summary Authorities in 21 EU member states have implemented the European Council's "EU Digital COVID Certificate" as of July 2. The certificate is a digital or physical QR code that acts as proof of whether a traveler has been vaccinated against COVID-19, recovered from COVID-19, or recently tested negative for COVID-19. Member states should in principle allow individuals possessing the certificate to enter the country without restriction. The certificate is currently being issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. All remaining EU countries, as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway, are set to recognize and begin issuing the certificate by Aug. 12. The European Council (EC) previously added several more countries, including the US, to the list of countries with which it recommends member states relax entry restrictions due to positive data regarding the COVID-19 situation in those countries. As of July 2, the following countries are on the list: Albania, Australia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the US, and China (provided it implements a reciprocal travel arrangement). The EC advises EU member states to restrict nonessential travel from all other countries outside the bloc as part of measures to combat the spread of COVID- 19. Countries participating in the measure include all EU Schengen Area member states; non-Schengen EU members Bulgaria, Croatia,