Brussels, 04/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish EU Presidency plans to set up a specialised unit involving EU member states for the exchange of sensitive information in the field of counter-terrorism, it was announced in El Pais, which cited government sources on 2 January. The plan, which is not new, consists in effectively creating a European counter-terrorism coordination centre (CCCAT) in Europe, bringing national coordination centres together. The proposal already enjoys support from several countries including Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands. According to El Pais, the new structure will facilitate the direct exchange of information between two or several member states and work in collaboration with European Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove and the European body responsible for assessing the threat, the Joint Situation Centre (SITCEN). The first stage will consist of establishing a network of contacts to speed up information exchange on combating terrorism in Europe, say sources at Spain's Ministry of the Interior. Madrid is soon expected to present a Council group initiative to define the broad lines of CCCAT. The idea of creating a joint structure had been launched by Spain in February 2005 during a meeting of the G6 (home ministers of Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom), then renewed during a preparatory meeting in Madrid in 2008. It was, however, on 13 November 2009 during an exceptional meeting in Paris that the representatives of the counter-terrorism coordination centres agreed to launch the CCCAT. In this context, a third meeting of national centre directors will be held in Madrid, on 21 and 22 January. In their fight against terrorism, EU countries already participate in the “Bern Club” for those at the head of intelligence services, and in the “Atlas Group” for intervention units. (B.C./transl.jl)