Brown calls for Europe 'to share terror information'

Gordon Brown called today for greater cooperation across Europe in sharing information on suspected terrorists.

Following talks with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, Mr Brown said they wanted any information taken from biometric visas to be shared among members of all 27 EU states.

"I hope other countries will join in making that possible," he said.

Mr Brown and Mr Ahern were speaking as they arrived at Stormont for a session of the British-Irish Council, bringing together the heads of all the devolved administrations in the United Kingdom.

Mr Brown said he was delighted to be making his first visit to Northern Ireland as Prime Minister so soon after the successful restoration of power sharing government.

"I believe that we have entered into a new historic time for Northern Ireland," he said.

He confirmed that details of a £51.5 billion investment package for the province for the next few years would be unveiled in the comprehensive spending review in the autumn.

Britain and Ireland are outside the Schengen agreement and will therefore be excluded from information-sharing on biometric visas when they come into force within the EU in 2009.

Mr Brown said both he and Mr Ahern were now agreed that there should be information-sharing beyond the Schengen agreement.

"Both of us accept that there must be greater co-operation, the sharing of information about biometric visas with those countries that are part of the Schengen agreement, the sharing of information about alerts about people who are suspected of terrorist activities," he said.

"We want to see that sharing of information extend not just to the other 25 countries of the EU but extend to us in Britain and Ireland as well.

"We, of course, are prepared to share information about biometric visas with other countries. We hope we can have reciprocal information-sharing in the future."

Mr Brown insisted that he wanted to work with all the devolved administrations including with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond - despite the bitter rivalry between Labour and the Scottish National Party.

"I look forward to working with Mr Salmond with the common purpose of bringing prosperity to Scotland," Mr Brown said.

Mr Salmond, arriving shortly before the Prime Minister, also expressed his willingness to work with Mr Brown.

He dismissed suggestions that the council would be an opportunity for the devolved administrations to unite together to exert leverage on London.

"I see this body as being positive. It is not against anyone," he said.

Copyright Press Association 2007

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