By Bruno Waterfield - 16th March 2004
The European Commission will name and shame countries that have failed to act on EU anti-terror laws.
EU justice chief Antonio Vitorino is set to unveil his contribution to Europe’s anti-terror debate to diplomats on Thursday.
The Portuguese commissioner is likely to have a blunt message for the national ambassadors: “Just get on with it”.
“Unfortunately this is necessary,” said a spokesman.
“The commission has decided upon, member states have approved [measures] which are later forgotten and neglected.”
“We need a strong political signal to put our house in order.”
Vitorino will tell diplomats that national governments have a poor track record on putting into practice EU anti-terror laws agreed after September 11 2001 attacks on the US.
In a report stressing “concrete measures” within the EU’s existing structures, Brussels is set to name and shame countries which have not pulled behind Europe’s war on terror.
Five national capitals – Berlin, Rome, Athens, Austria and the Hague – will be singled out for failing to implement the fast track extradition procedures in the European Arrest Warrant.
The enactment in national law of European ‘frameworks’ on anti-terrorism, terror finance and joint investigation teams will also be under scrutiny.
Three, as yet unnamed countries will be criticised for “improper implementation” of a raft of measures cracking down on, and defining, terrorism, tackling money laundering and enabling police cooperation in investigations.
Vitorino’s proposals are not set to contain many “new ideas” – the commission has little initiative beyond enforcing existing EU law in the area of justice and home affairs.
And the EU executive has rowed back on calls – initially backed by Brussels chief Romano Prodi – for a “Mr or Mrs Terrorism” commissioner.
“In the information I have… there is no such proposal,” said the commission spokesman.
“[Vitorino] thinks the priority is to work better with what exists.”
Prodi’s official spokesman confirmed that there would be “less emphasis on institutional issues but on action”.
“One of the key issues is… to convince member states action is needed now, you have to put aside bureaucratic notions,” he said.
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