UK presidency on anti-terrorism drive

By Teresa Küchler

Date: 28/07/05

The UK will be using its presidency of the EU to push for progress on several anti-terrorist laws in the autumn.

Charles Clarke, the UK's home secretary, is hoping that the sense of unity sparked by the London bombings on 7 July can lead to greater acceptance of some of the more controversial dossiers on the table.

The first challenge will be clinching a deal on the compulsory storage of data on telephone and internet use at a meeting of EU justice and interior ministers in October.

The Commission has pledged to assist by drawing up a proposal that overcomes the legal hurdles identified in a previous blueprint for data retention - proposed by the UK, France, Ireland and Sweden. Lawyers for both the Commission and Council of Ministers had concluded that telecommunications should be regulated under EU single market legislation, rather than as the justice and home affairs measure sought by the four governments.

On Tuesday (26 July), the Commission approved a plan for greater controls on money transfers to stem the flow of cash for terrorists. Under this, transfers would have to include the identity, address and bank account number of the sender.

Last week (20 July), the Commission proposed amendments to the Schengen agreement, paving the way for greater cross-border surveillance and the 'hot pursuit' of criminals accused of offences covered by the European arrest warrant.

"The free movement of persons within the Schengen area requires action to counter security deficits caused by the abolition of border controls, as perpetrators of criminal acts are equally able to move as freely as law-abiding citizens," said Franco Frattini, the commissioner for freedom, security and justice.

Some EU countries were already re-imposing the border controls dismantled by Schengen. France chose to make use of a safeguard clause in the convention to tighten passport controls for a limited time. The Netherlands followed suit. Calls for the re-introducing of border controls have also been made in Denmark, which has been warned twice in the past month it faces terrorist attacks by groups believed to be linked to al Qaeda. Finland has sharpened border control, too, ahead of the Athletics World Championships in Helsinki (7-14 August).

Rather than proposing new measures, the UK and the Commission are urging an acceleration of work on those which are already in the pipeline and were affirmed at the June European Council.

Germany's constitutional court recently declared that German nationals could not be extradited to other EU countries under the European arrest warrant system but the court's verdict has no repercussions for how the system will function in the other 24 EU countries.

Other measures to be adopted before the end of the year include better exchange of information between national law enforcement services, steps to stop financing of terrorist activities from member states, and measures to protect critical infrastructure. The UK is also advocating the introduction of biometric details in all identification cards and visa applications.

One of the more sensitive topics on the agenda is drawing up a strategy to prevent young Muslims being recruited by terrorist organisations. The UK has announced that combating the radicalisation of Muslims may mean deporting religious leaders who advocate violence. French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has gone further, recommending the surveillance of all mosques in France. In Sweden, the opposition Liberal Party has suggested that teachers should report students who show signs of supporting a radical interpretation of Islam to the intelligence services. This has sparked disquiet among intellectuals and politicians, who believe it is not a teacher's job to police the religious affiliation of their students.

Article reports that the United Kingdom would be using its Presidency of the EU to push for progress on several anti-terrorist laws in the autumn of 2005.

• Primary Source

United Kingdom: Presidency website: Policy Areas: Justice and Home Affairs: Justice and Home Affairs - Presidency Priorities http://www.eu2005.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1115138956534

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