This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6081850.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
European ministers discuss terror Terrorism 'biggest threat to EU'
(about 5 hours later)
Tackling extremist ideas and finding ways to pre-empt terror attacks are being discussed as six European interior ministers meet in the UK. Terrorism is the "biggest threat to all European nations," Home Secretary John Reid has said as he discusses ways to boost security with five EU ministers.
Home Secretary John Reid is hosting his counterparts from Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland for two days. The members of the G6, meeting in the UK, were addressed by the head of Britain's security service MI5.
The ministers are also due to discuss how to encourage dialogue with Muslim communities, international organised crime and illegal migration. Mr Reid said the threat came "particularly from those who would through a perverted use of Islam constitute a terrorist threat".
The Home Office said the meeting would "explore how they can work together". However, he added "the enemy is terrorism, the enemy is not Islam".
The meeting at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, is aimed at sharing ideas and "best practice" rather than taking concrete decisions, the spokesman said. Interior ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland are meeting in Stratford-upon-Avon for two days.
The ministers are due to discuss how to encourage dialogue with Muslim communities, international organised crime and illegal migration.
Bomb attacks in Madrid in 2004 killed 191 people
Mr Reid said every nation represented had recent experience of terror.
The Madrid train bombings of 11 March 2004 claimed the lives of 191 people.
And suicide bomb attacks in London on 7 July 2005 killed 52 people and injured hundreds of others.
Using the example of the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights in August, Mr Reid said co-operation was key to preventing further attacks.
"Each member state controls their own security services. We are all absolutely committed to common action."
The meeting is aimed at sharing ideas and "best practice" rather than taking concrete decisions, the spokesman said.
On Thursday, the ministers will discuss how to shut off illegal immigration routes and how to work with unspecified third countries to control migration flows.On Thursday, the ministers will discuss how to shut off illegal immigration routes and how to work with unspecified third countries to control migration flows.
Fraud and drugs
They will also debate how to reduce the harm caused by organised crime, including value added tax (VAT) fraud and trafficking of drugs and people.They will also debate how to reduce the harm caused by organised crime, including value added tax (VAT) fraud and trafficking of drugs and people.
Known as the G6, the group has no formal decision-making powers and is not an official body of the EU.Known as the G6, the group has no formal decision-making powers and is not an official body of the EU.
But agreements on cross-border co-operation can be made between the six countries - which account for three-quarters of the EU's population - without needing EU approval.But agreements on cross-border co-operation can be made between the six countries - which account for three-quarters of the EU's population - without needing EU approval.
Past attacks
The Madrid train bombings of 11 March 2004 claimed the lives of 191 people.
And suicide bomb attacks in London on 7 July 2005 killed 52 people and injured hundreds of others.
The G6 meeting comes just days after counter-terrorism officials revealed their belief that al-Qaeda has become more organised and sophisticated and has made Britain its top target.
They told the BBC that the network was now operating a cell structure in the UK - like the IRA did - and sees the 7 July bomb attacks "as just the beginning".They told the BBC that the network was now operating a cell structure in the UK - like the IRA did - and sees the 7 July bomb attacks "as just the beginning".
The G6 group was established in 2003 - initially as G5 before Poland joined - and meets two to three times a year.The G6 group was established in 2003 - initially as G5 before Poland joined - and meets two to three times a year.