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See other news storiesEU ministers visit Home Office for terror briefing
16 August 2006
John Reid held talks today with EU interior ministers on last week's alleged terrorist activity.
Implementing the EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy
The talks centred around accelerating work to:
- prevent EU citizens turning to terrorism through radicalisation and recruitment
- adopt new standards of protective security at European airports
- increase research into explosives, focussing on the detection of liquid explosives
- tackle the use of the internet by terrorists to radicalise young people, spread messages of hate and plan mass murder
- pre-empt further terrorist plots
Standing shoulder to shoulder
Sitting side by side with his French and German counterparts, the Home Secretary thanked them and said they were the first to be in contact with him after the events of last week. Dr Reid said this was a great gesture of solidarity with the people of Britain.
Europe faces a 'common threat from terrorists, and we should respond in a common fashion,' he said
He pointed out how important it is that 'measures taken in one country are taken in other countries because we want equal security for all our people.'
The French and German interior ministers also emphasised the importance of international co-operation, and exchange of information, in the fight against terror.
The three were then joined by interior ministers from Finland, Portugal and Slovenia, the Justice Commissioner, and the EU counter-terrorism co-ordinator.
Inconvenience to travellers 'regretful' but neccesary
Dr Reid again apologised for the inconvenience and difficulties being experienced by travellers in the UK's airports, describing it as 'regretful'. He said: 'It is not possible to fight terrorism without inconvenience.'
However, he went on to say: 'It is terrible if someone is delayed ... but the inconvenience is not being imposed for the sake of imposing it. It is being imposed in order to defeat terrorism and to protect our public.'
Twenty-four people are now in custody in the UK over the alleged plot.
