Belgium to tighten EU summit security after Greenpeace stunt

(BRUSSELS) - Security is being stepped up around European Union summits, the Belgian government said Wednesday after Greenpeace activists breached bloc leaders' last gathering in December.

"From now on, there will be two ways in -- one for heads of government and another for the rest of their delegations," said interior ministry spokeswoman Margaux Donckier who also promised better coordination between different teams.

Difficulties identified in cooperation between Belgian police, member states' own security teams and those guarding the Brussels building that hosts regular summits was partly blamed for the December 10 protest.

Eleven Greenpeace activists were arrested after jumping out of limousines to surprise VIPs including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and Donckier said outdated rules were to blame.

She said the breach had highlighted "a system that has not evolved at the same rate as the (enlarged) EU and in which protocol was given priority over security" concerns.

Leaders from the bloc's 27 nations will hold an extraordinary summit on February 11 focused on bolstering the economy, with another regular summit set for March 25-26.