Brussels, 05/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - For the very first time, in Vienna, the EU, Russia and the United States have opened dialogue on internal security, defining the key sectors for their future cooperation: terrorism, organised crime and illegal immigration. The Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, Franco Frattini, says EU internal security can be enhanced through a “global visa facilitation strategy and readmission agreements” aimed in the longer term at the Union's neighbourhood countries.
The ministers of justice and home affairs of the EU countries, the United States and Russia met in Vienna on 4 and 5 May to discuss internal security. “We have started a process of joint EU/Russia/USA dialogue in the area of internal security and thus achieved one of the Austrian Presidency's key goals”, said Liese Prokop, Austrian Minister for Internal Affairs, on 4 May. She also said she was very pleased that “we have today succeeded in defining the key principles and specific themes for future tripartite cooperation by the EU, Russia and the USA on internal security”. “Global threats such as terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking and trafficking in human beings or illegal migration call for global responses”, she said. In the fight against terrorism, ministers agreed to work on measures to combat radicalisation and recruitment, the financing of terrorism or the abuse of the Internet. In the fight against organised crime, they felt measures were needed against money laundering, drug and human trafficking and cybercrime. The fight against illegal immigration will require security of documents and security at borders. Commissioner Franco Frattini supported a “differentiated and flexible approach” for attaining the common objective of enhanced security for citizens. Although “cooperation … is crucial”, terrorism can be countered “in different ways in different countries”, Mr Frattini said. In his view, “our measures to enhance security must be necessary, proportionate and legitimate for the declared objective. This is a priority for the Commission and for me personally”. This is why the Commission was adamant that States should enhance security “in our internal policies that fully respect fundamental rights”. Describing the meeting as useful, Russia's Interior Minister Rachid Nourgaliev said discussion mainly focused on combating drug trafficking from Afghanistan and on the need to exchange information that would allow such trafficking to be eliminated. “We had a very good discussion (…). We all share the responsibility of protecting our citizens against international terrorism and organised crime”, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said. The next stage in this three-way cooperation will be a meeting of experts in autumn 2006 under Finnish Presidency and an official meeting between ministers of the three partners during the first half of 2007 organised by the German EU Presidency. Other participants at the meeting include representatives from the following Presidencies (Finland, Germany, Portugal and Slovenia), Advisor to President Putin Viktor Ivanov, and Michael P. Jackson, Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security.
On the premise that internal and external security are closely linked, Franco Frattini announced that enhancing EU internal security should be accomplished through a global visa facilitation strategy and readmission agreements aimed in the longer term at the Union's neighbourhood countries, on the model currently being developed in the Balkans. He said that their intentions for the Balkans could become a model for European Neighbourhood Policy countries. In this respect, Mr Frattini recalled that he hoped to conclude talks with at least two countries, Macedonia (EUROPE 9185) and Serbia, by end 2006. “My goal is, however, to have all negotiations concluded and the agreements entered into force by the end of 2007”, he added. Mr Frattini commented that he planned to “pursue as a mid- or long-term perspective with out partner Western Balkans countries … a Dialogue on modalities and conditions for a visa free regime”. Such a dialogue will begin after the visa facilitation and readmission agreements are applicable and operative and once these countries are effectively cooperating with the EU on police border control and the fight against corruption. Document security is also a key element when it comes to enhancing the EU's internal security, Mr Frattini said, taking the example of the introduction of biometric identifiers in passports (October 2006 for photographs and June 2009 for fingerprints), and in the Schengen Information System (SIS). The Commission will be organising a seminar on biometrics for the Western Balkan countries before the summer break.