EU Castigates Greece and Italy for Lagging in Security
Submitted by Templar Titan on Thu, 06/17/2004 - 18:48.
Greece and Italy have been named the EU's worst laggards in implementing
security measures (The Guardian). According to the 9 June report, at a conference of EU justice and interior ministers, the two nations were criticized for failing "to meet almost every target set since the September 11 attacks on the US and the Madrid train bombings in March." EU priorities in fighting terrorism had included the fast-track EU arrest warrant, legal reforms, "action on money laundering and cooperation with the Eurojust agency for judicial interaction." The EU also wants to introduce fingerprints and/or iris scans in passports (Kathimerini). Italy has implemented one of those measures, while Greece has reportedly done none. The Greek justice minister vowed at the EU conference to end the delays, including one affecting an antiterrorist law, "by the start of the Olympic Games." Action on the measures had been slowed by the Greek Socialist government ousted in May, which cited concern for individual rights (EU Business). |
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ANALYSIS: Both Italy and Greece have reasons to upgrade their security, the former because it is a U.S. ally in the Iraqi war. Attention will inevitably focus on poor Greek performance, though, since Athens is in the Olympic spotlight. Greece's task is considerable, given that it has long coastlines, innumerable islands, and long land borders. But observers have questioned why the host of the Olympics, presumably in the bull's-eye of terrorism, is implementing procedures at the last minute. Moreover, terrorists might not strike in the least secure countries but could use them either as a refuge or as a springboard to attack other nations in increasingly borderless Europe. Source: Intellibridge |
