Solana Unveils Plans to Analyse EU Terror Threats

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has unveiled proposals to analyse terror threats within the EU. Solana suggested expanding the tasks of the EU situation centre, Sitcen, which currently only analyses threats outside the EU, to also look into threats inside the EU bloc. "It's the first step, but very important", Solana said. He also proposed that the already existing Counter Terrorism Group should hold regular meetings - at the level of heads of security agencies in the member states. The EU’s anti-terrorism co-ordinator, Gijs de Vries, said that there is "an intensive programme underway of strengthening co-operation" of intelligence and security services of EU member states but added that the main responsibility for fighting terrorism lies in the hands of national governments. "I think we should be careful that nobody gets the impression that suddenly Brussels is going to solve the problem of terrorism", Mr de Vries told journalists in Luxembourg. The proposals will now have to be approved by EU leaders meeting in Brussels at the end of next week. (EUobserver.com)