Authorities in Brussels have banned a pan-European "freedom convoy" of motorists protesting against restrictions imposed over COVID-19 from entering the Belgian capital, the regional government said in a statement, AP reported.

The convoy was expected to arrive at European Union and NATO buildings on Monday. Paris authorities had also earlier banned the convoy from entering.

Protesters set off from southern France on Wednesday in a so-called "freedom convoy" that will gather in Paris and Brussels to demand the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. They were inspired by the demonstrators who blockaded the Canadian capital Ottawa.

"The Federal Police will control motorized vehicles on the main roads to Brussels that come to demonstrate in Belgium. The Region and the City of Brussels will issue decrees banning demonstrations with trucks on their territory," a statement from the Brussels region said.

In Canada, demonstrations demanding the repeal of COVID-19 vaccination mandates for cross-border truck drivers have blocked the capital Ottawa for weeks and have now moved to key border crossings between Canada and the US.