MADRID-PARIS: Armed police officers from Spain and France will operate in each other’s countries to tackle terrorism and drug-trafficking under the terms of a groundbreaking agreement signed on Thursday by President Jacques Chirac and the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar.

The agreement, which provides for the creation of joint units in both countries, is the most far-reaching yet signed by EU states as they seek new ways to tackle international crime.

Police from both sides of the frontier will be able to make arrests and conduct investigations, including court-approved telephone taps, in the other country.

The deal goes well beyond the existing “hot pursuit” agreements between some EU countries, which allow forces to continue pursuing criminals who cross the open borders of the Schengen area.

The agreement creates Europe’s first “joint investigation teams”, a concept agreed at a meeting of EU interior ministers last year.

The teams, which may include public prosecutors and court officials, will enable evidence gathered by a French police officer in Spain to be presented in a Spanish court, and vice versa.

Spain has been behind many of the anti-terrorist measures adopted by the EU since the Sept 11 attacks, and has adapted its legislation to allow the joint investigation teams to operate. Spanish sources said France would be doing so shortly, and the teams would be operating in January.—Dawn/The Guardian News Service.