UK hosts Europe 'terror meeting'

Plans to harmonise European terror policies are being discussed at a high-level meeting in Sheffield this week. Home Secretary David Blunkett has invited interior ministers from four leading European countries to talks. The politicians from France, Germany, Italy and Spain are expected to debate common issues including policing, security, border control and terror. Mr Blunkett hopes the informal meeting could lead to proposals being adopted across the EU. Among his aims are greater co-operation in DNA and intelligence sharing. The home secretary is also keen to see a co-ordinated approach across Europe to tracking finance for terrorist groups. The interior ministers to make the two-day visit include Dominique de Villepin from France, German's Otto Schily, Giuseppe Pisanu from Italy and Spain's Jose Antonio Alonso.