By Henrietta Billings - 24th March 2004
European leaders are set to demand tighter security checks on Europe's ferries at a Brussels summit on Thursday.
An anti-terrorist declaration, set to be discussed by EU leaders, includes a reference to beefing up anti-terrorist measures at ports and harbours across Europe.
The summit will ask the European Commission to come up with new laws to enhance security.
Certain countries such as France and Britain, which see large volumes of cross-channel travel, are particularly concerned that passengers and cars on board roll-on roll-off ferries are not subject to the same level of security checks as other forms of transport.
A French official told EUpolitix.com that possible measures could see the introduction of the kind of security procedures seen on Eurostar - such as random spot checks on passengers.
Baggage screening for luggage could also be introduced.
The move comes after an emergency meeting last week of EU interior and justice ministers, called after terrorist bombings in Madrid, which killed 190 people.
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