The EU on Thursday announced the launch of a wide-ranging bloc-wide anti-terror project aimed at tackling terrorist financing, investigating the causes of violent radicalization and protecting key infrastructure against attacks.
The European Commission is putting 9 million euros (US$11.4 million) into the fighting fund this year and plans to more than double the figure to 20 million euros annually from next year.
"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 last year. 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 radicalization 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 quest 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 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.
Nauru has started selling passports to fund climate action, but is so far struggling to attract new citizens to the low-lying, largely barren island in the Pacific Ocean. Nauru, one of the world’s smallest nations, has a novel plan to fund its fight against climate change by selling so-called “Golden Passports.” Selling for US$105,000 each, Nauru plans to drum up more than US$5 million in the first year of the “climate resilience citizenship” program. Almost six months after the scheme opened in February, Nauru has so far approved just six applications — covering two families and four individuals. Despite the slow start —
MOGAMI-CLASS FRIGATES: The deal is a ‘big step toward elevating national security cooperation with Australia, which is our special strategic partner,’ a Japanese official said Australia is to upgrade its navy with 11 Mogami-class frigates built by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles said yesterday. Billed as Japan’s biggest defense export deal since World War II, Australia is to pay US$6 billion over the next 10 years to acquire the fleet of stealth frigates. Australia is in the midst of a major military restructure, bolstering its navy with long-range firepower in an effort to deter China. It is striving to expand its fleet of major warships from 11 to 26 over the next decade. “This is clearly the biggest defense-industry agreement that has ever
DEADLY TASTE TEST: Erin Patterson tried to kill her estranged husband three times, police said in one of the major claims not heard during her initial trial Australia’s recently convicted mushroom murderer also tried to poison her husband with bolognese pasta and chicken korma curry, according to testimony aired yesterday after a suppression order lapsed. Home cook Erin Patterson was found guilty last month of murdering her husband’s parents and elderly aunt in 2023, lacing their beef Wellington lunch with lethal death cap mushrooms. A series of potentially damning allegations about Patterson’s behavior in the lead-up to the meal were withheld from the jury to give the mother-of-two a fair trial. Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale yesterday rejected an application to keep these allegations secret. Patterson tried to kill her
MILITARY’S MAN: Myint Swe was diagnosed with neurological disorders and peripheral neuropathy disease, and had authorized another to perform his duties Myint Swe, who became Myanmar’s acting president under controversial circumstances after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi more than four years ago, died yesterday, the military said. He was 74. He died at a military hospital in the capital, Naypyidaw, in the morning, Myanmar’s military information office said in a statement. Myint Swe’s death came more than a year after he stopped carrying out his presidential duties after he was publicly reported to be ailing. His funeral is to be held at the state level, but the date had not been disclosed, a separate statement from the
RSS