EU cracks down on terror financing

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA)- The European Union on Friday adopted new measures against home-made explosives and terrorist financing.

"Today, the [EU Security] Council adopted two important priority files under the Security Union which strengthen EU rules on explosives precursors and facilitate law-enforcement access to financial information," the EU said in a statement.

Security Union Commissioner Julian King said the move would pave the way for "closing down the space in which terrorists operate, making it harder for them to obtain the chemicals needed to make home-made explosives."

"Terrorists and criminals will find it much harder to get their hands on dangerous chemicals to produce home-made bombs or money to fuel their crimes," the Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said.

Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourava said "following the money" was one of the most effective methods against organized crime and terrorism

"Our law enforcement authorities gain an important tool to get financial information quickly to improve security of our citizens and serve justice," she said.