Dutchman set for role as co-ordinator of counter-terrorism in European Union

Gijs de Vries, former MEP and former State Secretary at the Dutch Foreign Ministry, is likely to be appointed as the European Union's first counter-terrorism chief. Mr de Vries will work under Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief.

Separately, Wim Kok, another Dutchman, could secure another new EU post as head of a group that will carry out a mid-term review of the Lisbon agenda - the reforms designed to make the EU more competitive and catch up on the US in terms of productivity and innovation. Meanwhile, a new report by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise says efforts to make Europe more competitive are proceeding 'at a snail's pace' and the gap with the US is widening.

http://sn.svensktnaringsliv.se/sn/publi.nsf/Publikationerview/AFDD967B043090E5C1256E5B004FDF32/$File/PUB200403-008-1.pdf http://sn.svensktnaringsliv.se/sn/publi.nsf/Publikationerview/AFDD967B043090E5C1256E5B004FDF32/$File/PUB200403-008-1.pdf

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