EU making it easier for terrorists by not co-operating on mutual security issues: Dodds
THE EU appears to want to make it easier for terrorists by using Brexit to erect barriers over security issues, the DUP has suggested.
Nigel Dodds, the DUP’s Westminster leader, criticised Brussels for its “completely wrong” approach after the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier cast doubt on the UK’s future involvement in the European Arrest Warrant — among other security matters.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Dodds said: “The EU and Michel Barnier say they don’t want a hard border on the island of Ireland and we agree with that.
“But on the other hand yesterday in his remarks on security cooperation, he seemed to be erecting barriers in the way of the best possible cooperation between the UK and the rest of Europe.
“The Belfast Telegraph editorial today says this is a boon, brinkmanship by the EU is a boon to terrorists.
“Will the Prime Minister make it clear that this kind of approach is completely wrong, and it appears the EU is wanting to make Brexit harder for the UK but easier for those who want to cause damage across Europe.”
Mrs May replied: “The future security partnership we want with the European Union is an important part of the deal we negotiated with them. I set out our intentions in that security partnership back in the speech I gave in Munich at the Munich security conference.
“I fully recognise the importance, particularly of some of the instruments we’ve been able to use within the European Union, to the working of the police across the border in Northern Ireland and Ireland in ensuring that those who would seek to do the people of Northern Ireland harm are indeed brought to justice, are apprehended and prevented from doing so.
“I am absolutely clear that that security partnership is a key, important and very essential element of what we’re negotiating.”
Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has warned of the importance of maintaining close UK-EU security co-operation post-Brexit.
“Security co-operation benefits us all. Only today the head of GCHQ has revealed that the UK played a critical role in thwarting terror attacks in four other European countries in the past year,” he said.
“The European Arrest Warrant has been instrumental in stopping so-called dissident republican terrorists and other criminals from evading justice since coming into force in 2004.
“Effective policing of the border between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland has involved some of the closest police co-operation in the EU, and in recent times the European Arrest Warrant has played a significant role in achieving this.
“Maybe Brussels is trying to ratchet up tension ahead of the European Council summit later this month, but this is a step too far.
“To totally reject the UK Government’s pragmatic offer to maintain close security co-operation when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union is at best short sighted and at worst risks the safety of both UK and EU citizens.
“The European Commission should urgently reconsider its stance. The safety and security of innocent people, whether they are in states that are members of the EU or not, should never be used as a bargaining chip.”