EU approves action plan to deal with jihadists

EU approves action plan to deal with jihadists

The EU is determined to address potential security threats from jihad returnees from the Middle East.

The EU is changing its approach to more efficiently deal with Islamic fighters returning from Syria and the Middle East and posing security risks in their home countries, officials said.

"We are engaged now in a more multilateral response. There is growing awareness all around the Mediterranean, from Morocco to Turkey, that we need to work together. We are much more engaged with these countries," Gilles De Kerchove, EU counter-terrorism co-ordinator, said.

More than 2,000 Islamic extremists from Europe have fought in Syria and an undetermined number have returned, De Kerchove said.

The extremists are going to Syria despite pleas from governments -- some have approved laws that make it illegal to fight in foreign wars -- and statements from Islamic leaders who denounced jihad.

Experts have long warned that once jihadists go in the field, they become more radicalised and join a network that spans the globe. Kerchove said not all returnees will mount an attack in the EU, but their high overall number increases the chances of a terror attack occurring.

Representatives of eight most affected EU countries -- Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom -- approved an action plan in Milan on July 7th for a co-ordinated use of information-sharing to prevent terrorist attacks.

"The aim is to improve the use the Schengen Information System, target border controls, transmission of information to Europol for joint analysis, share information about foreign fighters with national authorities as well as practical...