EU security talks - Time to take action against terrorism

EU SECURITY MINISTERS met yesterday in Brussels under the shadow of the recent Madrid bombings to discuss means of increased security co-operation.

There was a similar meeting in the wake of the outrages of September 11, 2001, but most of the wide range of measures agreed then were never implemented.

The ministers who met yesterday admitted that the Task Force on Terrorism that was set up at the time has never even met. Five countries have still to enact the legislative provisions for recognition of an EU arrest warrant, and several countries have delayed on agreeing to a common definition of terrorism, as well as minimum sentences for certain terrorist offences. Eleven countries have failed to implement laws to provide for proper monitoring of the bank accounts of suspected terrorists.