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Terrorism 'biggest threat to EU' EU members join to fight terror
(about 5 hours later)
Terrorism is the "biggest threat to all European nations" Home Secretary John Reid has said after the first day of a security summit with five EU ministers. Ministers from the six largest European Union countries have agreed to set up a joint operation to tackle terrorism and people-smuggling.
The members of the G6, meeting in the UK, were addressed by the head of Britain's security service MI5. They also focused on international VAT fraud during a meeting held near Stratford-upon-Avon.
Mr Reid said the threat came "particularly from those who would through a perverted use of Islam constitute a terrorist threat". UK Home Secretary John Reid said this crime was costing the country £3bn a year and was helping to fund terrorism.
However, he added "the enemy is terrorism, the enemy is not Islam". He added that all EU members would continue to set their own immigration policies but would "interact" more.
Interior ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland are meeting in Stratford-upon-Avon for two days. 'Pre-empt attacks'
The ministers are due to discuss international organised crime, illegal migration and how to encourage dialogue with Muslim communities. Interior ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland and the UK - known collectively as the G6 - met.
Bomb attacks in Madrid in 2004 killed 191 people Mr Reid said police would try to "pre-empt the next attack and attempted attack" by terrorists.
Mr Reid said every nation represented had had recent experience of terror. They would make the internet "a more hostile place for terrorist networks" to share information and research into explosives, and spread propaganda.
'Best practice' There would be a "continuing struggle where the terrorists try to get ahead of us and we try to get ahead of them", Mr Reid added.
People-smuggling, often for prostitution or enforced labour, was described as an "affront to civilisation".
The G6 members were addressed by the head of Britain's security service MI5.
Mr Reid said the terrorism threat came "particularly from those who would through a perverted use of Islam constitute a terrorist threat".
'Bomb plot'
However, he added that "the enemy is terrorism; the enemy is not Islam".
The ministers discussed how to encourage dialogue with Muslim communities.
Using the example of August's alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights, Mr Reid said greater international co-operation was vital to preventing further attacks.Using the example of August's alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights, Mr Reid said greater international co-operation was vital to preventing further attacks.
"Each member state controls their own security services. We are all absolutely committed to common action," said Mr Reid. The meeting was aimed at sharing ideas and "best practice" rather than taking concrete decisions, a spokesman added.
The meeting is aimed at sharing ideas and "best practice" rather than taking concrete decisions, a spokesman said. Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo also briefed the minister on the efforts of the Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs to clamp down on so-called "carousel" VAT fraud.
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. A Home Office spokesman said the gangs carrying out this type of fraud were "well-organised, well-resourced, innovative and known to be involved in wider criminality".
Fraud High-value items
They will also debate how to reduce the harm caused by organised crime, including the trafficking of drugs and people.
Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo will also brief the meeting on the efforts of the Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs to clamp down on so-called "carousel" VAT fraud.
A Home Office spokesman said the gangs carrying out this type of fraud were "well organised, well resourced, innovative and known to be involved in wider criminality".
In a carousel fraud, goods - usually small, high-value items such as mobile phones and computer chips - are imported into a country and VAT is charged when they are sold.In a carousel fraud, goods - usually small, high-value items such as mobile phones and computer chips - are imported into a country and VAT is charged when they are sold.
But the importer pockets the VAT and vanishes without making the payment due to the Treasury.But the importer pockets the VAT and vanishes without making the payment due to the Treasury.
The goods can then be re-exported, at which point HM Revenue & Customs pays the exporter a VAT rebate. The goods can then be re-exported, at which point HM Revenue and Customs pays the exporter a VAT rebate.
In the worst cases, the whole chain is crooked and the goods are repeatedly imported and exported, hence the 'carousel' term. In the worst cases, the whole chain is crooked and the goods are repeatedly imported and exported, hence the "carousel" term.
The fraud - also known as missing trader intra-community (MTIC) fraud - cost the UK £1.9bn in 2004-05, but the loss is expected to be considerably higher this year.
Cross-border
The Home Office spokesman said: "This is an issue that the Home Office, the Treasury and HMRC are working closely together on.
"The discussion will look at what the problem is and what can be done as a group of nations to tackle the problem."
The G6 group has no formal decision-making powers and is not an official body of the EU.The G6 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 together make up three-quarters of the EU's population - without needing EU approval. But it can make agreements on cross-border co-operation without needing EU approval.
The G6 group was established in 2003 - initially as G5 before Poland joined - and meets two to three times a year. It represents three-quarters of the EU's population and was established in 2003 - initially as G5 before Poland joined. It meets two to three times a year.