European Union foreign ministers are working this week on strategies to improve cooperation among the EU memeber states in combatting terrorism. The fact that Spain misled German intelligence about their information on the nature of the 11-M in the hours following the Madrid attack emphasizes the need for better coordination. The early hours after an attack can be crucial to apprehending suspects for fairly obvious reasons, such as the perpetrators trying to get to safer countries.
Not surprisingly, better coordination of policies among EU countries is one of the main priorities. One of the measures being discussed is to create a new central anti-terrorism office under Javier Solano, the Spanish social-democrat who is an EU High Commissioners for foreign policy and security issues.
While these measures may seem like dull bureaucratic and police business, that would a large part of the fight against terrorism really is. For Americans, it's notable that the EU measures under discussion do not include preparing for the invasion of additional Middle Eastern countries. The EU is focusing on the law-enforcement aspect of terrorism, not on "neoconservative" fantasies of remaking the Middle East on the basis of American armed force.
Spain is also making a special provision for non-citizens who were injured in the 11-M attacks to apply for Spanish citizenship within the next six months. The action was authorized by royal decree. (Spain is a constitutional monarchy.)
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