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EU members join to fight terror Anti-terror plan targets internet
(about 2 hours later)
Ministers from the six largest European Union countries have agreed to set up a joint operation to tackle terrorism and people-smuggling. Ministers from the six largest European Union countries have agreed to work together to make the internet a "more hostile" place for terrorists.
They also focused on international VAT fraud during a meeting held near Stratford-upon-Avon. UK Home Secretary John Reid said they would seek to crack down on people using the web to share information on explosives or spread propaganda.
UK Home Secretary John Reid said this crime was costing the country £3bn a year and was helping to fund terrorism. The ministers also pledged to fight international VAT fraud, following a meeting near Stratford-upon-Avon.
He added that all EU members would continue to set their own immigration policies but would "interact" more. This cost the UK £3bn a year, some of which funded terrorism, Mr Reid said.
He said the interior ministers wanted to use the internet and other media to target young audiences with messages from "secular Muslim" role models, rather than those believing in radical ideologies.
'Pre-empt attacks''Pre-empt attacks'
Interior ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland and the UK - known collectively as the G6 - met. Mr Reid was speaking after a two day summit with interior ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland and the UK - known collectively as the G6.
Mr Reid said police would try to "pre-empt the next attack and attempted attack" by terrorists. He said police would try to "pre-empt the next attack and attempted attack" by terrorists.
They would make the internet "a more hostile place for terrorist networks" to share information and research into explosives, and spread propaganda. There would be a "continuing struggle where the terrorists try to get ahead of us and we try to get ahead of them".
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. The ministers were addressed by the head of Britain's security service MI5.
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".Mr Reid said the terrorism threat came "particularly from those who would through a perverted use of Islam constitute a terrorist threat".
'Bomb plot''Bomb plot'
However, he added that "the enemy is terrorism; the enemy is not Islam".However, he added that "the enemy is terrorism; the enemy is not Islam".
The ministers discussed how to encourage dialogue with Muslim communities.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.
The meeting was aimed at sharing ideas and "best practice" rather than taking concrete decisions, a spokesman added.The meeting was aimed at sharing ideas and "best practice" rather than taking concrete decisions, a spokesman added.
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.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.
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".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".
High-value itemsHigh-value items
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 and 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.
Mr Reid also said, after the two day summit, that all EU members would continue to set their own immigration policies but would "interact" more.
He said people-smuggling, often for prostitution or enforced labour, was an "affront to civilisation".
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 it can make agreements on cross-border co-operation without needing EU approval.But it can make agreements on cross-border co-operation without needing EU approval.
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.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.