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EU calls for anti-terror alliance with Arab countries after deadly attacks, raids in Europe

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Araby, left, exchanges booklets with European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini after signing a cooperation agreement after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. The European Union is calling for an anti-terror alliance with Arab countries to boost cooperation and information sharing in the wake of deadly attacks and arrests across Europe linked to foreign fighters. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) (The Associated Press)

BRUSSELS – The European Union on Monday called for an anti-terror alliance with Arab countries to boost cooperation and information-sharing in the wake of deadly attacks and arrests across Europe.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the 28-nation bloc plans to deploy security attaches with certain delegations to promote better anti-terror contacts with authorities in countries in the Middle East, the Gulf and North Africa.

The EU also wants to help certain countries build the capacity to combat terrorism and improve inter-cultural understanding with Muslims, in part by developing Arabic language skills.

"We need an alliance. We need to strengthen our way of cooperating together," Mogherini told reporters as the bloc's foreign ministers met Brussels.

Some ministers emphasized the importance of working with Muslim countries, rather than blaming them for the problem of foreign fighters.

Muslim nations "will continue to be in the front line, and we have to work closely with them to protect both those countries and the European Union countries," British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said.

Mogherini and some ministers also urged the European parliament to move forward on sharing airline passenger information between EU countries.

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said the police raids in his country last week to break up a suspected network of foreign fighters demonstrated that information-sharing is the key to success.

"We have to exchange information in Europe and outside Europe to really follow what is going on and to prevent any acts that could be launched on our territory," he said.

Belgium deployed the military over the weekend to guard public buildings. As the ministers met, soldiers walked the perimeter of the European Council building.

Many ministers said the real answer is to help end the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

"That is what, long-term, will provide stability and security in this region and address the root causes of terrorism and radicalization," said Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstroem.