European Union foreign ministers will urge partner countries to clamp down on terrorism when they meet tomorrow in Dublin.
The Union intends to monitor efforts by all countries to defeat what it defines as terrorism and will agree that failure to meet agreed standards will affect relations, a draft statement prepared for discussion by ministers says.
EU foreign relations are based mainly on trade, aid - it is the world's biggest aid donor -- and diplomacy, and such comments are a warning to countries that aid and beneficial trade terms are at risk if they fail to cooperate.
Tomorrow's meeting of follows an emergency session of EU interior and justice ministers on Friday where increased coordination of security and intelligence among members states was agreed in the wake of the Madrid attacks.
A suggestion by the Taoiseach Mr Ahern to appoint an anti-terrorism coordinator was also agreed.
The draft declaration, expected to be approved by EU leaders meeting on Thursday and Friday, says the bloc should develop strategies to help vulnerable countries boost counter-terrorism and insist that features in all EU dialogue with its partners.
"The European Union will analyse and evaluate the commitment of countries to combat terrorism... This will be an influencing factor in EU relations with them," the draft reads.