Press Release: The fight against terrorism: the Commission proposes measures on the exchange of information and on the ‘European court record’

In the wake of the Madrid bombings and following the conclusions of the European Council of 25-26 March 2004, the European Commission has adopted a Communication on the fight against terrorism, proposing new measures to improve the exchange of information in the EU to enable anti-terrorist services to do their job more effectively. This initiative also opens the way for a future 'European court record'. Information is to be exchanged on all offences, convictions and disqualifications linked to terrorism, including any form of financing of terrorist activities. The Commission proposes that the Member States be equipped with systems for registering bank accounts which would facilitate the gathering of evidence, especially where financing of terrorism is suspected.