EU chiefs back 'Interpol-style' force to fight terrorism

Ministers from the big five EU nations agreed that sweeping harmonisation of police, counter-terrorism and border control measures was essential to crack down on international terrorism.

They also want to see moves put in place to harmonise individual countries’ legal systems, DNA records, biometric travel documents and residence permits.

At a summit hosted in Derbyshire by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, ministers agreed to give the European police agency Europol a significant boost in resources and information technology.

And in a radical move which may alarm the Muslim communities of Europe, the German interior minister, Otto Schily, said there was agreement that in some cases freedom of association may need to be restricted to combat fundamentalism.

The ministers also agreed that national police forces may need to work more closely together to investigate terrorist networks.

Proposals from the meeting, at Hassop Hall, near Bakewell, will be taken to a conference of all 25 justice and home affairs ministers on 19 July.

After the summit, which included a briefing from MI5’s director, Eliza Manningham-Buller, Mr Schily said there should be greater harmonisation of police intelligence, possibly a European DNA database.

Some intelligence agencies are known to have concerns about such proposals, fearing that data may be exposed.

"We should work towards a pooling of information in Europe in such a way that the police have access to databases which are available at national level," said Mr Schily. "This applies to fingerprints and forensics, and a central register of those and similar initiatives. Europol should be given extra powers in that area."

Asked if a global DNA database could ever be on the cards, Mr Blunkett said: "I think it’s possible.

"But we have to act together in Europe first in order to ask other people to co-operate with us."

He added that he expected to witness "massive expansion" in the use of DNA evidence over the next five years.

Mr Schily also hinted that he wanted to see major legal and constitutional reforms to allow more flexible, pan-European police investigations.

"It’s possible to have joint investigation teams to operate," said Mr Schily.

"However, there are obstacles for doing this in national law or in national constitutions, which will need to be overcome to improve this national co-operation."