Frattini vows to toughen EU terrorism laws

The European commission adopted on Tuesday a progress report on justice, freedom and security policies and unveiled proposals to toughen up anti-terrorism laws.

Commission vice president Franco Frattini said that although significant progress had been made at EU level last year, overall implementation of the Hague programme – which sets objectives in the areas of freedom, security and justice – was unacceptable.

“My feeling is mixed,” he said. “In 2006, 53 per cent of actions assessed had been achieved, which is lower than the 62 per cent in 2005.”

He went on to say in his ‘scoreboard’ that not enough progress had been made in criminal justice, and that a number of member states were still delaying the transposition of important legislation.

“We have made progress which helps citizens lead their daily lives in safety, protected from crime and with protected rights but too often work is blocked or delayed due to the decision making process used for police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters,” he said.

“This is a serious problem.”

Frattini said that he hoped the intergovernmental conference would reach agreement and set the “way ahead for all citizens to live in an area of justice, freedom and security”.

In light of the recent attempted terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow, it was inevitable that anti-terrorism would feature strongly in Frattini’s presentation.

The commissioner, who is responsible for justice, freedom and security, announced that he would be presenting a counter-terrorism package in the second semester 2007.

A centre piece of this will be the proposal to criminalise the dissemination of information on bomb-making and explosives – in particular through the internet - and of public provocations aimed at inspiring criminal action.

“There is no freedom to inform others on how to put up such criminal devices,” he said.

“There is no freedom to request others to strike terror.”

Frattini also proposed an action plan on explosives, involving the creation of a rapid alert system on lost and stolen explosives and on suspicious transactions involving explosives and the creation of a network of bomb disposal squads.

“I am also about to send a questionnaire to member states on how they deal with religious education – and with religion. Unfortunately, one of the great religions of the world – Islam – is being abused to foster a new totalitarian ideology that challenges our way of life,” he said.

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