EU and US Interior and Justice Ministers have called for increased intelligence sharing to tackle the growing number of “foreign fighters” returning to Europe.
They also asked for tighter controls of borders and greater sharing of airline data to help security services fight terrorism after last week’s deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the EU’s external borders must be “strengthened” without changing European law, which guarantees free movement within the economic bloc.
More than 3,000 citizens from across the EU are thought to have left to fight in places such as Iraq and Syria. Fears over their subsequent return as jihadists have provided security services across Europe with a headache.
The Paris gathering, which was held before a massive anti-terror march in Paris that included dozens of foreign leaders, ended with a joint statement by the ministers -- representing 11 EU nations including France, Britain, Germany, Sweden and Poland, as well as the European Commissioner for migration and home affairs, and US Attorney General (Justice Minister) Eric Holder – emphasizing their "determination to fight together against terrorism".
They said it was "essential" that major Internet providers cooperate with governments in closely monitoring and, if necessary, removing online content "that aims to incite hatred and terror.”
They also want to "step up the detection and screening of travel movements of European nationals" leaving or entering the EU's external borders, and modify Europe's internal Schengen freedom-of-movement rules to widen information sharing and subject suspect passengers to greater checks.
They saw a "crucial and urgent need" to establish an EU-wide database of passenger information for travel inside Europe and for flights leaving or entering the 28-nation bloc.
The proposed measures are to be discussed further at a February 12 EU summit focused on reinforcing security.
Holder announced a broader February 18 summit against terrorism in Washington to be hosted by US President Barack Obama.
Schemes such as Schengen, which allow passport-free movement across much of mainland Europe, make it difficult for intelligence agencies to keep track of potentially dangerous individuals within the EU. This has led some security analysts to suggest that Schengen may have to be modified to increase security.
Ministers also urged the European Parliament to stop blocking attempts by governments to share airline passenger details within the EU.
The European Parliament and member states have repeatedly clashed over so-called passenger name record legislation. While member states argue that this move is vital for security, MEPs have protested that it tramples on civil liberties and does little to improve security.
The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker said efforts should be made to improve coordination among national governments and security agencies. He emphasized that that fight against terrorism is primarily a member state competence, but added that “interconnections” must be but in place between national authorities to fight against terrorism, “in a preemptive way”.
New security measures will be discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at a meeting on 19 January and by Interior Ministers on 29 January.
“We should also examine the possibilities offered by the Schengen system to see how it may be improved," Juncker said.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the EU has to address threats through internal security measures and also in its relations with other countries, notably in the Arab world, Africa and Asia. The two aspects need to be coordinated, she stressed, saying that "there are no internal-external division line when it comes to our security".
"The fight against terrorism is not only a political but also a cultural challenge that we share with our partners around the world, starting with the Arab countries, the countries of Africa and Asia because we are convinced that we must completely detach the word 'terrorism' from the word 'Islam'," Mogherini said.