Amerika benoemt nieuwe EU-veiligheidsattaché (en)

The US is set to appoint a new homeland security attaché to the EU, as a new initiative to strengthen transatlantic cooperation against terrorism.

The attaché would serve as the main point of contact for any homeland security matters coming before the EU, reports the Financial Times.

The person appointed will be a member of the US mission to the EU.

Tom Ridge, the outgoing US secretary of homeland security, who is expected to make the announcement during his visit to Brussels and the Netherlands today and tomorrow, writes in today's FT, that the new position is a symbol of the US commitment to increased co-operation across Europe and will allow constant communication at an operational level.

One of the first subjects for discussion for the new attaché could be the issue of visa-free entry to the US for some European states.

Washington is threatening to block it if the countries do not issue new passports with biometric standards, including fingerprints.

However, according to the FT, there is currently not full agreement about the details of biometric data in new American passports among officials in the US itself.