BRUSSELS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The Belgian government is demanding clear guidelines from the European Union (EU) over the issuing of visas to Hamas members who wish to attend European meetings in Brussels.

    The request comes after the Belgian consulate hesitated last week over the visa request of Hamas member Mahmoud al-Ramahi, reported daily De Morgen on Wednesday.

    The consulate's hesitation resulted in al-Ramahi being unable to attend a meeting of European and Arab politicians in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday.

    European Parliament head Josep Borrell said Belgium refused the visa because the Palestinian militant group is still on the parliament's blacklist of terrorist groups.

    Al-Ramahi was scheduled to attend a parliamentary meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels.

    Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said Belgium will wait for a joint EU stance before taking the matter further, stressing that it was essentially an EU and not a Belgian issue.

    EU member states have said they will only establish normal relations with Hamas, which is charged with forming a Palestinian government, once it renounces terrorism and recognizes Israel. Enditem