EU too slow to blacklist terrorists: US official

Rome, June 22: The European Union is too slow at identifying and blacklisting terrorist organisations, a senior US official today said adding that the EU's failure to brand Hizbollah a terrorist group was ''regrettable''.

Stuart Levey, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said the EU's Clearing House unit which reviews terrorism matters was ''cumbersome''.

European states must unanimously agree to list a terrorist organisation, which then allows its assets to be frozen.

''That is a process that I continue to think could stand significant improvement,'' Levey told reporters in Rome after meeting with Italian officials.

''That Clearing House is one that has not been particularly effective or particularly adaptive, it's hard to move quickly in that process.'' Washington considers Hizbollah, a Shi'ite guerrilla group and political party based in Lebanon, a terrorist organisation and has urged the EU to follow suit, thereby obliging member states to seize its assets and block its funds.

EU officials have said the situation in Lebanon is too delicate to freeze out Hizbollah.

Levey called the EU's reluctance so far to take action against Hizbollah ''regrettable.'' ''This isn't a Clearing House issue, but the need for consensus on these things has resulted in the continued non-recognition of Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation in Europe, which I think is regrettable,'' Levey said.

''I think Hizbollah is a terrorist organisation. It is a quite threatening one. It is one which Iran has a history of funding and supporting and it would be appropriate for that to be recognised in Europe as well.''

Reuters