SOFIA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) and Western Balkan countries should enhance cooperation in countering terrorism and radicalization, European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos said here Friday.
At a press conference after the end of the annual EU-Western Balkans justice and home affairs ministerial forum, Avramopoulos said that during the last year, the EU has taken firm action against the threat of terrorism and radicalization.
The EU has enhanced security at the external borders, improved information exchange, closed down the space in which terrorists operate, and taken measures to prevent radicalization both online and offline, Avramopoulos said.
"Our cooperation with the Western Balkans remains essential in this regard and I welcome the fact that our partnership in this area has been strengthened. We need to further build on this, particularly on issues such as countering radicalization, foreign terrorist fighters, and fire arms trafficking," he said.
The EU and Western Balkans are cooperating on several levels, and need to reinforce that cooperation, Avramopoulos said.
The two sides have also achieved progress in the fight against firearms trafficking, he added.
"However, more needs to done on sharing intelligence, strengthening and enforcing the law and improving stockpile management and preventing theft," the commissioner said.
