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9/26/06

The Peninsula On-line: EU nations split on giving up vetoes in security matters

For the full report in the The Peninsula On-line click on this link

EU nations split on giving up vetoes in security matters

TAMPERE, Finland • European Union countries were divided yesterday on whether to surrender their national vetoes in security matters, which are thwarting EU ambitions to efficiently fight terrorism. “There is a hard core group of countries that are blocking,” said an EU diplomat, on condition of anonymity, after informal talks between the bloc’s justice and interior ministers in Tampere, southern Finland. The issue of national vetoes on cross-border police cooperation in criminal affairs has festered into a major obstacle to the EU’s security ambitions.

While only around four of the 25 EU countries were against a move from unanimity decision-making to qualified majority voting to decide such matters, only three member states appeared to be fully in favour, diplomatic sources said.

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