US vice president Joe Biden scored a hat trick at the close of his European tour when, on October 23 2009, the Czech Republic joined Poland and Romania in expressing approval of the Obama administration’s new anti-missile shield plan.

In September, US president Barack Obama scrapped a Bush-era missile shield plan for Europe in favour of a revised scheme presented as mobile, flexible and intended as a defence against Iranian missiles. The Bush-era scheme was seen by Moscow as directed against Russia.

 In Prague, Biden and Czech prime minister Jan Fischer confirmed that the Czech Republic supported the new plan.

Part of the system will be at a military base in Poland, with a radar installation in the Czech Republic. Technical consultations about the radar system will begin in November 2009.

Earlier, the voice of America reported that Biden had called on America's European allies to step up their defence efforts in the face of security threats from outside Europe.

Biden made the comments in Bucharest, Romania on October 22.

He addressed political leaders and students at Bucharest's Central University Library, after receiving assurances from Romanian president Traian Basescu that Romania supports the new anti-missile system plans.

Biden said the defence system comes as Europe faces a serious threat. "Today, a new major threat is growing that could reach all our European allies well before it reaches the United States. It comes from ballistic missiles -- short-range and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The technology has spread to many new countries and less stable countries since the end of the Cold War," he said.

He emphasised that the new missile defence system would provide more security for the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

"We are determined to ensure that our Nato allies have the protection they need, when they need it because that is our solemn obligation under Article 5. Our missile defence plan means greater security for Europe and greater security for America," Biden said.

Biden also expressed concerns about energy. He said the United States wanted to work with Europe on a new strategy that would provide energy security for the future. "One lesson we need to work together toward is a more secure energy future. We need sustainable energy security that includes diversification of supplies and transit routes," he said.

Energy has become a major concern in several Western countries, after a dispute between Ukraine and Russia over prices led to major natural gas shortages in Europe earlier this year.

Biden's trip to Eastern Europe comes as the region commemorates the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism.

He said that the world watched in awe and admiration in 1989 as the men and women across the region broke the shackles of repression and emerged as free people.