EU launches wide-ranging anti-terror project

BRUSSELS: The European Union on Thursday announced the launch of a wide-ranging bloc-wide anti-terror project aimed at tackling terrorist financing, investigating the causes of violent radicalisation and protecting key infrastructure against attacks.   

The European Commission is putting nine million euros (11.4 million dollars) into the fighting fund this year and plans to more than double the figure to 20 million euros annually from 2007.   

"The actions financed under this project will enhance the European Union's capacity to effectively prevent and respond to terrorist attacks," EU Commissioner for Justice and Security Franco Frattini said.   

The bloc has been attempting to beef up anti-terrorist measures since public transport bombings in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005. An alleged threat to blow up transatlantic flights out of London earlier this year using liquid explosives has already led to new airport security measures.   

The new scheme "will assist in better protecting critical infrastructures, preventing terrorist financing, the use of explosives and violent radicalisation and increase bio-preparedness by training intervention personnel and by identifying key objectives and proper measures to protect our citizens," said Frattini.   

Some of the money will be spent on expert groups and studies on the various problems involved as well as streamlining cooperation between member states, and improving information on terror threats and prevention practices for the general population.   

Law enforcement cooperation between police and customs officers internationally will also be a focus as will "fighting the use of Internet for terrorist purposes" and protecting witnesses in terrorism cases.   

Commission spokesman Friso Roscam Abbing said the wide-reaching project would cover everything from prevention and protection to response, pursuit and prosecution.   

Some of the key areas which it is hoped will be tackled early on is the drawing up of a list of key European infrastructure sites regarded as requiring more protection, and therefore more money.   

Discussion will also take place on what role Muslim Imams can play in reducing the terrorist threat, as well as ordinary school teachers.   

"There is a need to identify and address the factors and causes that are contributing to making people take the path of violence and terror," the spokesman said.   

This could eventually mean operatives infiltrating radical groups in the search for information, he added.   

Experts will also look into the so-called "Swiss model" by which investigators can trace explosives back to their source after an explosion by use of a kind of chemical fingerprint.    

The move came as Europe's six largest countries meeting in England agreed ways to pre-empt terrorist attacks through sharing intelligence about threats and driving extremists from the Internet.   

Among the proposals from the law and order ministers from Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland was the sharing of research into explosives, in particular liquid explosives.   

The talks are timely with the spotlight across Europe increasingly on the levels of particularly Muslim integration -- prompted by rows over wearing the Muslim veil -- and a slew of cases in Britain under anti-terrorism laws.   

"The G6 focus is on deliverables now," said Roscam Abbing.   

"We are starting at a basic level because so much needs to be researched, investigated and this is the reason for our initiative," he added.