Experts in aviation security to meet to discuss recent incidents in London
As holder of the EU Presidency, Finland will convene a meeting of experts in aviation security next week. Following the recent incidents in London, Finnish Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki has been in contact both yesterday and today with John Reid, the British Home Secretary, Wolfgang Schäuble, the German Federal Minister of the Interior, and Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini, responsible for home affairs in the EU.
Mr Rajamäki and Mr Frattini today on Friday 11 decided that as holder of the EU Presidency, Finland would arrange an expert meeting on aviation security and counter-terrorism next week together with the Commission and the Secretariat of the Council. It will also be considered whether it is necessary to hold a restricted meeting of the ministers responsible for internal security to discuss further measures under the leadership of Mr Rajamäki. This meeting would be attended by the Ministers of the Interior from Finland and Germany, country holding the next EU Presidency, Mr Frattini and Mr John Reid.
Mr Rajamäki and the Finnish Ministry of the Interior have closely followed the developments of the incidents in London. Finland has also been in contact with Europol.
The police and security authorities of the EU countries cooperate closely in situations like the threat of terrorism in London by exchanging intelligence and providing executive assistance to other Member States in criminal investigation where necessary. In Finland, it is the Security Police which are responsible for operational cooperation in combating terrorism at the international level. The Counter-Terrorism Department of the Security Police is headed by Mr Paavo Selin. At the Ministry of the Interior, the expert on legislation concerning the fight against terrorism is Mr Kimmo Hakonen, Deputy Police Commissioner.
For further information, please contact Kari Salmi, State Secretary tel. +358 9 160 42802; Ismo Kainulainen, Special Adviser tel. +358 9 160 44633; Antti Pelttari, Director-General tel. +358 9 160 42290; Paavo Selin, Head of Counter-terrorism Department tel. +358 9 1344 7901