Brussels, 30/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Head of US Homeland Security, the White House's Homeland Security Adviser, Tom Ridge, will be making a European trip next week. The aim of the visit is to consult with European officials and experts responsible for combating terrorism. He is to discuss legal cooperation, security cooperation in transport, bio-terrorism, the sharing of information and safety initiatives for the transport of freight in ports, Ari Fleischer, White House Spokesperson, said (see EUROPE of 24 October on this subject). Tom Ridge will be in Brussels on Monday, where he is to meet one or several European Commissioners (notably Commissioner Bolkestein) as well as the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Javier Solana, and NATO Security General Lord Robertson. He will attend a special meeting of the NATO Permanent Council.
The US expert will then go to London and Rotterdam where he will visit the port that has been fitted out with new security equipment, in cooperation with the United States and at the request of the United States.