29-30 January European Parliament

EU member states are coming under pressure from the European Parliament to step up their joint efforts to fight terrorism. By an overwhelming majority, MEPs adopted a lengthy list of detailed policy proposals drafted by Luxembourg Christian Democrat MEP Viviane Reding. She insisted that terrorism be clearly defined as a punishable criminal activity which could not be justified by any “so-called political motive”. Among the measures being advocated by MEPs are improved airport security, more sophisticated explosive detection systems, closer monitoring of the arms trade and clear extradition procedures.