BELGIAN JUSTICE MINISTER SUPPORTS INCREASED

S E C R E T BRUSSELS 000974 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2018 TAGS: ASEC PTER PGOV SOCI PINR PREL BE SUBJECT: BELGIAN JUSTICE MINISTER SUPPORTS INCREASED COUNTER-TERRORISM MEASURES Classified By: AMB SAM FOX FOR REASONS 1. (B),(D) AND (G) ¶1. (S/NOFORN) Ambassador Fox and PolCouns met June 24 with Belgian Justice Minister Jo Vandeurzen. Reactions from Vandeurzen, his diplomatic advisor Marc Van den Reeck, and legal advisor Erik Verberb were very positive as the Ambassador emphasized the importance of sharing information on counter-terrorism efforts. The Ambassador cited especially the recent cooperation leading up to the December 21, 2007, arrests in Brussels and important information that has resulted from that operation. The Ambassador and Vandeurzen discussed the difficulty in Belgium for security services in obtaining authorization for investigative techniques critical to terrorism investigations. ¶2. (S/NOFORN) Vandeurzen said he has a new draft law in the parliament that he hopes will make it easier for security services to use wiretaps and other devices to obtain information during a terrorism investigation. The new law would enable the intel investigators to decide internally whether or not to permit wiretaps. The issue is a sensitive one in Belgium, the minister noted, but he said he thinks the right people in parliament support the draft law and he hopes it will be passed by year's end. Vandeurzen admitted that even though there have been no direct attacks here, Belgium is vulnerable to terrorism. FOX .