Blunkett's talk of co-operation

2.00.00pm GMT Fri 19th Mar 2004

Reacting to the statement by Home Secretary David Blunkett calling on greater European co-operation to combat terrorism West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne said:

"I welcome any calls for cooperation between EU Countries but it is a bit late for this government to be talking about Europe wide cooperation. It was the British Government who fractured the relationship between EU countries with their stance on the war in Iraq.

"The war meant Europe collectively took their eyes off al-Qaeda while we argued about the rights and wrongs of invading Iraq. Member states will rightly have their differences but on Terrorism we must stand together to fight those people who want to destroy our way of life."

The Liberal Democrat MEP however, went on to caution against knee jerk reaction to terrorist attacks:

"We must protect people from terrorist attacks, but we must also guard against bringing in draconian laws across the EU. We must stand up always for the principles of justice, however attractive it might be to get revenge. If we fail to protect our ideals of justice, the terrorists will have won.

ENDS