Call for G6 to unite against terror 

In Stratford-Upon-Avon, Reid emphasised the importance of international co-operation as the members of the G6, an upgrade from G5 since Poland’s EU accession in 2003, were told that the dangers came "particularly from those who would, through a perverted use of Islam, constitute a terrorist threat".

But Reid was quick to point out that he considered terrorism, not Islam, the “enemy”. Ministers also discussed international organised crime, illegal migration and encouraging dialogue with Muslim communities.

Following his rough ride in the UK parliament after he announced strict curbs on unskilled Romanians and Bulgarians working in Britain, a hardline approach (for which Reid was criticised for “pandering to the media”) in sharp contrast with the previous enlargement of the EU in 2004 when Britain took a liberal approach to admitting workers from countries such as Poland and Lithuania, the minister also led discussions on how to shut off illegal immigration routes and how to work with unspecified third countries to control migration flows.

In an interview with Financial Times on 26 October, UK Finance Minister and prime-minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown backed John Reid’s position: “It's important that people realise that, in this fight against violent extremism, the talk about the destruction of Israel, the murdering of innocent people round the world that America and Europe learn to stand together. What unites us are our shared values, above all the importance we attach to liberty of individual.”

Ministers also examined how to reduce organised crime, including value added tax (VAT) fraud and trafficking of drugs and people.