The European Union may appoint a special anti-terrorism chief in the wake of last week's Madrid bombings.
Proposals for tougher EU action in response to Thursday's train blasts - killing 200 people and wounding 1,500 - are being made amid fears Islamic militants are now targeting Europe.
Spanish police believe they have identified six Moroccan Muslim militants who carried out the train bombings, it was reported today.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in his capacity as President of the European Council, said a security coordinator should be considered to boost cooperation between EU states and streamline anti-terrorism measures.
His proposals include a "solidarity clause" committing nations to help each other in response to terror attacks, the appointment of a special EU official to co-ordinate counterterrorism operations in Europe, improved intelligence sharing and closer cooperation with non-EU nations to combat terrorism at a global level.
"The callous and cowardly attacks on 11 March served as a terrible reminder of the threat posed by terrorism to our society," Mr Ahern said.
"We condemn utterly those who planted the bombs that wrought such destruction and cost so many lives last Thursday. he attacks in Madrid were an attack against the very values on which the Union is founded."
The plans are likely to be debated at an emergency meeting of EU interior and justice ministers on Friday before a summit of European leaders on March 25th-26th, where terrorism is likely to overshadow scheduled talks on economic reforms.
The EU Commission and industry leaders are separately recommending a massive increase in security research spending to fight terrorism to €800 million a year, which would put Europe on a par with the US Department of Homeland Security.
EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana was the first to propose a coordinator last week to address the slow implementation of decisions on anti-terrorism measures and lack of proper co-rdination between expert groups.
Among action agreed after the September 11th attacks on the United States was an EU search-and-arrest warrant replacing time-consuming extradition procedures, which some states have yet to implement.
EU co-operation could also be better on the freezing of assets belonging to people linked to terrorism and terrorist groups as well as transport security, according to an assessment of EU anti-terrorism efforts by Mr Solana.
Additional reporting agencies