Homeland Security

DATE=3/25/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= E-U SUMMIT (SCENESETTER) (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-314469

BYLINE= ROGER WILKISON

DATELINE= BRUSSELS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: European leaders are gathering in Brussels for a summit that is expected to be dominated by the specter of terrorism, following the bombings in Madrid two weeks ago. Correspondent Roger Wilkison reports there is rising hope that the stalemate over a constitution for the expanding bloc can be broken in the months ahead.

TEXT: The leaders of the European Union's 15 member states and the 10 others that will join the group in May are expected to adopt a series of measures aimed at bolstering Europe's fight against terrorism.

Some of the measures were approved two-and-one-half-years ago, but have not been fully implemented. Others were drawn up during the past week by E-U interior and foreign ministers.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told his colleagues earlier this week that, after the Madrid attacks, terrorism must be at the top of the E-U agenda.

/// STRAW ACT ONE ///

This is an area in which Europe's citizens are right to expect that the European Union and its member states will deliver results, and that's what we're doing.

/// END ACT ///

European officials admit that they must do better at exchanging information on potential terrorists and the ways in which they finance their activities or enlist new recruits. They also are insisting on a deadline for implementing European laws aimed at boosting police and judicial cooperation. Mr. Straw outlines what he expects to come out of the two-day summit.

/// STRAW ACT TWO ///

Strengthened law enforcement, and, also, an agreement that, by the 30th of June of this year, all the directives and changes in European law which were agreed in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 become domestic law in every European member state.

/// END ACT ///

Germany and Italy are among those countries that have dragged their feet on implementing E-U anti-terrorist laws. For their part, Britain and France say they are not eager to share information across the board with all of their partners because they fear sensitive intelligence may end up in the wrong hands.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin says swapping information should be done on a case-by-case basis.

/// DE VILLEPIN ACT ///

Coordination is, of course, an absolute need, but widening the circle in the treatment of intelligence is something we should do very carefully.

/// END ACT ///

The last time they met in December, E-U leaders quarreled over a proposed constitution that would facilitate decision-making once the E-U expands to 25 members. The row centered on how much voting weight each country should have and pitted France and Germany against Spain and Poland, which demanded that their voting strength be nearly equal to that of bigger states.

Germany has now signaled a willingness to compromise. Spain's new prime minister is softening his country's stance, too. And Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz says his country is ready to make a deal.

/// CIMOSZEWICZ ACT ///

We understand the logic of compromise. That means that everybody should adopt the same position and be ready to respect partners' expectations, partners' arguments.

/// END ACT ///

The E-U Irish presidency is now talking about a deal on the constitution being reached by June. But a lot of hard bargaining still lies ahead. (SIGNED)

NEB/RW/MAR/RAE