The European Union has added Batasuna, a Basque separatist party banned by Spain for its connections to ETA, to its list of organisations it suspects have links with terrorism.
The EU list was drawn up after the September 11, 2001attacks on the United States. Washington has also compiled suchinformation and put Batasuna on its list in May.
"What is important is to draw a line between crime andpolitics in any civilised country or any civilised union andkilling people is a crime," said a Spanish diplomat after EUinterior ministers added Batasuna to the list.
Diplomats said being on the list meant EU states wouldeventually freeze Batasuna's assets across the bloc and policeforces would cooperate and share information on the group.
Spain says Batasuna forms part of ETA and had been using itsprivileges like public funding, office space and infrastructureto promote the "terrorist" cause.
Batasuna is already outlawed in Spain, although its deputiesare still allowed to sit in the regional parliament until theend of the current legislature.
A protest vote for Batasuna won almost 10 percent of theballot in the Basque country in May 25 municipal elections.
The EU's list also includes Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, blamed for the September 11 attacks. Groups from countries as far apart as Colombia and thePhilippines also figure on the EU's blacklist.