EU to criminalize acts supporting terrorism

Brussels (dpa) - The European Commission took further steps Wednesday to ramp up security following last month‘s deadly attacks in Paris, presenting plans to criminalize preparatory terrorist acts and crack down on the illegal trade in firearms and explosives.The European Union‘s executive has been speeding up efforts to crack down on terrorism after 130 people were killed in Paris on November 13 by attackers armed with Kalashnikovs and explosive vests.Most of the measures were already in the pipeline, following an earlier attack on the French capital at the start of the year.The bloc is particularly concerned about the phenomenon of foreign fighters - Europeans who join militant extremist groups in Iraq or Syria and return home radicalized."The increase in the number of EU citizens travelling abroad to become foreign fighters" requires a "common criminal justice response," said commission Vice President Frans Timmermans.The commission unveiled plans to criminalize travelling for terrorist purposes, as well as the funding, organization or support of such travels. Receiving terrorist training and providing funds for terrorist acts are also to become criminal offences.The proposals will also take a tougher stance on recruitment, training others for terrorist purposes and the spread of terrorist propaganda, the commission said in a press release.It also suggested measures targeting the illegal trafficking of firearms and explosives in the EU, following proposals last week to more strictly regulate the legal acquisition of firearms.The new steps include restricting access to illegal guns and explosives, by developing better expertise and boosting the role of EU police agency Europol; strengthening controls on goods arriving at the EU‘s external borders; more information-gathering and sharing among member states; and greater cooperation with third countries.The commission says the help of countries in the Western Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Turkey and Ukraine should be enlisted, suggesting the use of financial aid for the confiscation and decommissioning of firearms.