Secret EU report moots sharing personal data with US
LUCIA KUBOSOVA
07.08.2008 @ 09:31 CET
A secret report prepared by experts from six European Union member states suggests creating an anti-terrorist pact with Washington which would include sharing intelligence across the 27-strong bloc.
The 53-page report drafted by the interior and justice ministers from Germany, France, Sweden, Portugal, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic - recent, current and future EU presidency countries - argues that the stronger link with the US is needed to boost the fight against terrorism, UK daily The Guardian reported.
The document puts together ideas on how the EU's security policy should develop over the next five years (Photo: EUPM)
The new initiative is dubbed as "Euro-Atlantic area of cooperation" and it should involve the transfer of huge amounts of information on EU citizens and travellers to the US.
Negotiations over such a pact have so far been unsuccessful due to privacy concerns in some European countries and institutions but the new report - handed over to all governments last month - suggests that it should be finalised by 2014 at the latest.
"The EU should make up its mind with regard to the political objective of achieving a Euro-Atlantic area of cooperation with the United States in the field of freedom, security and justice," said the report.
In addition, the document argues that anti-terrorist campaigns can only be effective if "maximum information flow between [EU] member states is guaranteed," adding "Relevant security-related information should be available to all security authorities in the member states."
Among other proposals, the document suggests setting up "networks of anti-terrorist centres" as well as boosting powers of security-related European agencies and institutions, such as Europol [police body], Frontex [external frontiers body], and Sitcen [joint intelligence centre].
The document puts together ideas on how the EU's security policy should develop over the next five years. Its preparation was launched by Germany last year.