High-level group for terror aftermath

By David Cronin

Date: 24/11/05

EU governments will next week hear details of a contingency plan for a major terrorist attack affecting one or more of the Union's member states.

The plan has been drawn up by Gijs de Vries, the EU's anti-terrorism coordinator. Its main idea is that a high-level group should be formed in the immediate wake of an attack. The group would comprise Javier Solana, the EU's high representative for foreign policy, at least one representative of the European Commission, the holder of the Union's rotating presidency and representatives of the country or countries directly affected.

A source close to de Vries said the rationale behind setting up this group would be to avoid duplication of work if the EU's 25 member states sought individually to help the country affected by a terrorist attack. While de Vries's remit is limited to countering terrorism, it is envisaged that the group could also be convened if a disaster or health crisis occurred.

Next week's meeting of justice and interior ministers (1-2 December) is to take stock of what measures have been taken in dealing with the terrorist threat since the 7 July bombings in London. Britain's EU presidency is hoping, too, that a deal can be clinched on the controversial measure of retaining data on all phone, fax and email communications. However, the agreement would have to be formally approved by the Council of Ministers at a later stage as the European Parliament will not be delivering its verdict on the data retention dossier until 13 December. While the assembly has twice voted against the principle of data retention in the past, leaders of its main political groups appear willing now to accept the move, although they will call for its scope to be more restricted than envisaged by a recent Commission proposal.

In addition, the ministers are scheduled to decide on a common approach for the introduction of ID cards across the Union.

Diplomats have accepted a blueprint whereby a radio frequency chip, containing a facial scan and two fingerprints, would be attached to each card. Officials with the British presidency say that the only mandate it has been given by EU heads of state and government is to work on security standards for cards. No effort is being made to impose legally binding standards or a timetable, the officials add, while member states will remain free to decide whether to issue the cards.

But UK Liberal MEP Sarah Ludford predicted that Tony Blair's government could nonetheless use the EU decision to support its bid to introduce compulsory ID cards in Britain.

Ludford complained that MEPs have not been consulted: "I would have no objection in principle to the EU agreeing security standards for ID cards because they can be used in lieu of passports as travel documents," she added. "But this should be done as part of an EU initiative with proper democratic scrutiny."

Preview of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, 1-2 December 2005. Items to be discussed were the details of a contingency plan for a major terrorist attack affecting one or more of the Union's Member States and the introduction of ID cards across the European Union.