EU, U.S. Work to Strengthen Security Cooperation

EU Commissioner for Taxation and Customs László Kovács met Monday with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff to discuss security and customs-trade issues, including mutual recognition of trade partnership programs. "Mutual recognition… would reduce the burden on legitimate business by enabling them to receive customized controls and allow the enforcement authorities to concentrate main controls on high risk trade," said Commissioner Kovács. "Bilateral and multi-lateral actions are the way to tackle this problem. Unilateral actions, such as 100% scanning of containers, are not only likely to be much less effective, but may turn out to be counter-productive." Discussions also focused on counterfeiting and piracy concerns. Commissioner Kovacs will meet with Members of Congress today.

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