STRASBOURG, France, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Members of the European Parliament are criticizing the European Union for leaving a top anti-terrorism post vacant for six months.
The criticism comes after reports that Danish and German security services broke up alleged bomb attack plots, the EU Observer reported Wednesday.
The anti-terrorism position was created following a March 2004 attack on Madrid commuter trains that killed 191 people. The job has been vacant since Gijs de Vries resigned six month ago.
Center-right leader Joseph Daul said the failure to fill the position "shows the great deal that remains to be done" to fight terrorism, the newspaper said. Daul urged EU governments to appoint someone to the post as soon as possible and provide “adequate means” to be effective.
Liberal leader Graham Watson also criticized the EU.
Portugal, which currently heads the 27-nation bloc, acknowledged delays in filling the post. Manuel Lobo Antunes, the Portuguese European affairs minister, promised to upgrade the position’s responsibilities and authority, the Observer said.
"We have to put our foot on the accelerating pedal,” said Antunes.
