EU set to tighten security measures across the bloc
HONOR MAHONY
17.08.2006 @ 09:51 CET
A raft of new security measures could be introduced across the EU following the exposure of the alleged terror plot in the UK last week.
A mini-summit of EU justice ministers in London on Wednesday (16 August) discussed several proposals including the tightening of hand luggage checks in airports, the blocking of some websites, more exchange of information on air passengers and teaching of European values to Muslim preachers.
Tougher checks on hand luggage is a measure likely to come into force throughout Europe (Photo: European Commission)
Speaking at the meeting attended by justice ministers from Germany, France, Finland, Slovenia and Portugal, EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini said he would bring forward concrete measures on how to tackle liquid explosives, which he called a "particular vulnerability" in Europe's security.
British investigators say the suspected terrorists were going to blow up planes en route to the US using liquid explosives smuggled on board in ordinary drinking bottles.
Mr Frattini also said that "websites that incite to commit terrorist actions" should be blocked and raised the idea of training Imans, Muslim preachers, to incorporate European values in their teachings.
"We do want a European Islam," he said according to AFP.
"That is very important not only to show to the Muslim communities that we fully respect other religions, other faiths, but we also want them to respect national laws, European laws and fundamental rights, and first of all right to live."
Mr Frattini, who has said he will present a set of concrete measures to all EU justice ministers next month, also suggested that a rapid reaction force of experts be set up that could immediately be sent to any member state that had suffered a terrorist attack.
Last week's events also look likely to result in more passenger profiling with the quicker introduction of a system of advanced screening of passenger name records.
"We could explore positive profiling for passengers allowing them to be checked well in advance in order to make quicker and easier the controls on board", said the justice commissioner.
Uniform measures across the bloc
British home secretary John Reid stressed the importance of uniform security measures across the bloc.
"It's very important that the measures that are taken in one country are reflected in other countries because we want equal security for all our countries."
The Times reports that EU transport ministers are to discuss two key security measures at a meeting next week – the tightening of hand luggage checks and more advanced passenger profiling.
Both of these proposals got strong support from Germany and France during Wednesday's meeting meaning a greater chance of them seeing the light of day.
After the discussions, German interior minister Wolfgang Schauble said there should be an EU-wide ban on liquids in hand luggage.
This is not the first time a crisis has pushed the EU into adopting legislation more quickly.
After the bombings in London in July last year, the UK was able to push through agreement on legislation on retaining telephone and email data - something which EU member states had been dragging their feet on.
Yesterday's meeting was attended by the EU's current (Finland) and future presidencies (Germany, Portugal, France and Slovenia) as well as Mr Frattini and the bloc's anti-terror co-ordinator Gijs de Vries.
