German EU presidency to tackle internal security

Berlin, Nov 11: Germany will push to beef up the European Union law enforcement organisation Europol as part of an emphasis on security cooperation when it takes over the EU presidency next year, Chancellor Angela Merkel said today.

''The issue of security will be very high on the (presidency) agenda because we know that no nation can guarantee the security of citizens on its own any longer,'' Merkel said in a message to German police officers issued by her office. ''We must work together in this area.'' Germany takes over the rotating presidency from Finland for six months on January. 1.

As well as security, Merkel is expected to focus on reviving the EU constitution, voted down by two member nations last year.

Iran's nuclear programme and the crisis in the West Asia are also likely to be high on the agenda.

Merkel said she favoured the use of video surveillance of public places in the fight against crime in Germany, especially to help counter an upsurge in youth violence and right-wing extremist crimes.

Germany will spend an extra 120 million euros (155 million dollar) in the next three years to help prevent bomb attacks on its soil, and use some revenue from a highway toll to fund the pursuit of terrorists, she said.

REUTERS