EU steps up counter-terror and immigration crackdown

Europe-wide action to fight terrorism and EU decision-making on asylum top the agenda at a meeting of Europe’s justice ministers.

Tackling terror and a series of measures from outgoing EU justice chief Antonio Vitorino are on the table.

Proposals to improve protection of European infrastructure, in particular bridges, harbours, nuclear plants, water supplies, train stations and airports, reports Die Welt.

EU decision-making on asylum issues set for agreement at the Luxembourg meeting.

The move will see Europe take a “joint approach to cross-border problems such as terrorism, organised crime, irregular migratory flows and smuggling of human beings”.

Decisions will be taken by qualified majority voting, but the UK has already warned it will opposed an EU immigration or border guards service.

The long expected moves to scrap national vetoes and move to EU decision-making on asylum exercise the UK press.

British justice minister David Blunkett will tell colleagues that London will not sign up to everything and will maintain an “opt-out”.

The Independent suggests that plans to set-up a European asylum centre, centralised refugee processing and the creation of EU border guards will be tabled – moves set to trigger UK opposition.

Justice ministers are also set to agree measures to include fingerprints as a biometric identifier on passports.

Statewatch report that only Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia are opposed to mandatory digital fingerprints.

The agreement will lead to compulsory fingerprinting and facial scans for all EU passport holders.

The European Parliament’s justice committee will consider the issue on Monday.

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