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EU and US must work together against terrorism

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Published 10 February 2005 - Updated 08 June 2007
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justice and home affairs terrorism
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Co-operation and more co-operation – internationally and within the EU: this was the message coming loud and clear from both sides of the Atlantic at a conference discussing a collective EU security strategy against terrorism.

There was general agreement among contributors as to issues which have already been much discussed and towards which moves have already been made, such as promotion of information exchange, security of travel documents (including biometrics), judicial co-operation, border control, transport security issues (e.g. the Container Security Initiative: see EurActiv 21 Jan 2005).

In addition, three further issues were seen as being of overriding importance:

  • Prevention: the European and global community had to find ways to prevent and combat the promulgation of radical ideas that led to terrorist acts. Action must be taken to stop young muslim men in particular, be they living in the middle east or in western Europe, from joining radical groups which led to terrorist groups.
  • Development aid: a crucial part of the above would be to help countries where, because of extremist regimes or conflict-bred poverty, there was little or no economic or political power available to the general population. Such conditions led to the annihilation of hope which in itself could lead to extremism.
  • An EU crisis control policy: should the worst happen, the EU had to be prepared. A comprehensive crisis management policy involving civil and military structures across the EU had to be ready to deal with the aftermath of a possible terrorist attack. In addition protection programmes for the Union’s crucial transport, energy and communication systems had to be put in place.
Positions: 

Gijs de Vries, the EU’s counter-terrorism co-ordinator, saw that definite progress had been made but that it had to be realised that terrorism would be a long-term phenomenon. Prevention, therefore was the key along with robust safety systems for the EU’s infrastructure and a thorough disaster management plan. 

EU Commissioner for Freedom, Justice and Security Franco Frattini noted the need for intelligence gathering services throughout the EU and internationally, to work together and for there to be a smooth and fast exchange of information. He praised the success of co-operative measures between the EU and the US already in place.

The focus of his speech, however, was prevention: the need to understand and deal with the "radicalisation and recruitment" of terrorists. The Commission would leave no stone unturned in its endeavour to turn the EU from "security consumer", surrounding itself with protectionist systems, to "security provider". Such a policy would be pursued through:

  • the promotion of inter-religious dialogue
  • work towards understanding and preventing radicalisation
  • work with third countries on poverty reduction, human rights and democratisation
  • the new Fundamental Rights Agency to work against racism and xenophobia (see EurActiv 26 Jan 2005).

Jean-Louis Gregorin,  from the European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company (EADS), pointed out that according to polls, sympathy for extremist views in the Muslim world had increased in recent months. Action must be taken to reduce recruitment potential. He also stressed the need for the interoperability of information systems. 

William Pope, the acting counter-terrorism co-ordinator from the US State Department, reinforced the need for development aid to diminish the poverty which gave root to terrorism. He also expressed the view that the West should engage in an ideological struggle against fundamentalism, similar to that waged against Communism during the cold war.

However, MEP Elmar Brok, chair of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, was clear that if western governments ran roughshod over human rights and liberties in the name of anti-terrorism, the terrorists in truth would be the victors. There must, he said, be more emphasis on prevention: terrorism would not be overcome by military means only.

Jamie Shea, deputy assistant secretary general for external relations, NATO, saw the role of his organisation mainly in maritime and air-space protection, technology sharing and crisis management (through the NATO response force). He also stressed that discussions on arms control had to be revived (ie the biological weapons convention and the nuclear non-proliferation treaty).

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Background: 

Since the unprecedented attack on New York in Sept 2001, the EU has been alive to the need to formulate an EU-wide anti-terrorism policy together with its international partners. In June 2002 the Council of Ministers adopted a framework decision which was updated after the Madrid attack of March 2004. The framework includes a range of measures concerning information exchange, police and judicial co-operation, security of travel documents, money laundering and specific instruments such as the European arrest warrant and the EU evidence warrant.

Taking the anti-terrorism policy forward is one of the central EU priorities and there is considerable debate on this. At a recent conference on "Towards an EU Strategy for Collective Security", organised by think-tank New Defence Agenda in Brussels on 3 February, all the speakers were clear: no country can defeat terrorism on its own. An effective strategy had to be developed at all levels, beginning with co-operation between different authorities within member states, through inter-member state co-operation and information exchange to working on an international level and with the third countries from which the threat was perceived to emanate. With speakers from the European Union, the US State Department and NATO, the special place for EU-US anti-terrorist policy was also emphasised.

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