EU funds security research to combat terrorism

The European Commission (EC) is to fund 15 new security research projects as part of the fight against terrorism, including one to improve the detection of explosives at airports, it was announced on Friday.

Another selected project will aim at improving the protection of drinking water supply against biological or chemical terrorism.

Other projects include the development of an information management tool to improve security of humanitarian operations and rescue tasks in support of the external policies of the European Union (EU). Funding will also go to urgently needed improvements in border security as well as new methods to fight money laundering or financing terrorist organizations.

The commission, the executive body of the EU, is allocating 15 million euros (19 million U.S. dollars) for these projects.

"The commission is determined to do its part to better protect our citizens and fund EU-wide targeted research efforts. A strong European security research program will also enhance Europe's competitive edge in many areas," said EC Vice-President Gunter Verheugen responsible for enterprise and industry policies.

The funding for the 15 projects has brought the commission's commitment to security research to 45 million euros (56 million dollars) since 2004.

Responding to increasing security concerns, security research will become an integral part of the seventh research and technology development framework program (2007-2013), where it will receive an average annual budget of 200 million euros (250 million dollars).

Source: Xinhua