EU officials seek sweeping changes to face new security risks

PanARMENIAN.Net - European Union officials are seeking sweeping changes in bloc policies and practices to face new security risks arising from terrorism, organized crime and cybercrime, the Associated Press reports.

EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said Tuesday, April 28, there is still too much "mistrust and reticence to cooperate" among European countries.

Timmermans said "we need to make an effort to be more effective in providing security for our citizens." He spoke while presenting the EU Commission's proposed "Agenda on Security" to a hearing of the European Parliament.

The steps proposed by the EU's executive arm range from swift reform of Europol, the agency for EU-wide police cooperation, to enactment of tougher controls on firearms.

Timmermans said "it is unacceptable that a Kalashnikov can be bought easily on the Internet."