Britain's Fears Over Secret EU Terror Targets
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Courtesy Of: The Telegraph
By Philip Johnston and Bruno Waterfield in Brussels
Last Updated: 12:33am GMT 26/12/2006
EU plans to draw up a top-secret list of major terrorist targets are causing concern in Whitehall. British officials fear Brussels may seek to develop its counter-terror role in the same way Europol has expanded in recent years.
Under a European Commission proposal, Britain and other member states are required to compile a list of ''critical infrastructure" – installations so sensitive that an attack could trigger a European-level crisis.
The list is to be maintained by EU officials in Brussels but Britain is anxious that demarcation lines on counter-terrorism are clearly drawn.
National capitals are being asked to assess infrastructure vital to two or more EU nations, such as airports, gas pipelines and nuclear plants. Officials working on the list will be vetted, work in secure areas and operate under Nato levels of security clearance.
Facilities owned or run by private companies will be obliged to appoint a security officer to liaise with national authorities and draw up plans for detecting and responding to threats.
Officials fear that terror plots, such as last August's alleged conspiracy to attack transatlantic flights, have exposed the vulnerabilities of vital European transport hubs and energy supplies.
Despite commission assurances, Britain is set to raise concerns when discussions begin in the first half of the New Year. ''We will fully contribute to this EU initiative but we do have some concerns with specific aspects," said a UK official.
These concerns relate more to legal jursidiction than to the list itself – what is EU and what is national infrastructure? Britain does not want work that can be carried out on a national level duplicated by Brussels nor does it want the commission seeking a role in counter-terrorism.
The Government is, however, prepared to concede some prevention of terrorism activities where community involvement would be justified. This could include developing technologies to detect explosives or for ''behavioural monitoring" programmes to prevent terror attacks on infrastructure.
Franco Frattini, the Justice Commissioner, said: "The security and economy of the European Union as well as the well-being of our citizens depend on certain infrastructure and the services they provide. The disruption of such infrastructure could mean the loss of lives, the loss of property and a collapse of public confidence in the EU."
Source:
http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/26/nterr26.xml
*******************************************************
Courtesy Of: The Telegraph
By Philip Johnston and Bruno Waterfield in Brussels
Last Updated: 12:33am GMT 26/12/2006
EU plans to draw up a top-secret list of major terrorist targets are causing concern in Whitehall. British officials fear Brussels may seek to develop its counter-terror role in the same way Europol has expanded in recent years.
Under a European Commission proposal, Britain and other member states are required to compile a list of ''critical infrastructure" – installations so sensitive that an attack could trigger a European-level crisis.
The list is to be maintained by EU officials in Brussels but Britain is anxious that demarcation lines on counter-terrorism are clearly drawn.
National capitals are being asked to assess infrastructure vital to two or more EU nations, such as airports, gas pipelines and nuclear plants. Officials working on the list will be vetted, work in secure areas and operate under Nato levels of security clearance.
Facilities owned or run by private companies will be obliged to appoint a security officer to liaise with national authorities and draw up plans for detecting and responding to threats.
Officials fear that terror plots, such as last August's alleged conspiracy to attack transatlantic flights, have exposed the vulnerabilities of vital European transport hubs and energy supplies.
Despite commission assurances, Britain is set to raise concerns when discussions begin in the first half of the New Year. ''We will fully contribute to this EU initiative but we do have some concerns with specific aspects," said a UK official.
These concerns relate more to legal jursidiction than to the list itself – what is EU and what is national infrastructure? Britain does not want work that can be carried out on a national level duplicated by Brussels nor does it want the commission seeking a role in counter-terrorism.
The Government is, however, prepared to concede some prevention of terrorism activities where community involvement would be justified. This could include developing technologies to detect explosives or for ''behavioural monitoring" programmes to prevent terror attacks on infrastructure.
Franco Frattini, the Justice Commissioner, said: "The security and economy of the European Union as well as the well-being of our citizens depend on certain infrastructure and the services they provide. The disruption of such infrastructure could mean the loss of lives, the loss of property and a collapse of public confidence in the EU."
Source:
http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/26/nterr26.xml
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