The fight against terrorism: security with safeguards for citizens’ rights

The European Parliament Socialist Group published a 13-page paper on the fight against terrorism, setting out detailed recommendations for action at EU level.

The paper entitled «The fight against terrorism: security with safeguards for citizens’ rights» addresses three key policy areas:

 Security and justice, with protection for people’s rights;
 EU foreign policy and the terrorist threat; and
 Prevention strategies, focused on social inclusion and dialogue.

Among the 25 specific policy recommendations set out in the paper are improvements to police cooperation, with a significant upgrade in the role of Europol, and increased powers for the EU’s counter-terrorism coordinator. Balancing measures to safeguard private data would also be introduced.

Foreign policy action envisaged in the paper includes international cooperation to produce a UN Convention on Terrorism, improved relations with the Arab world, measures to foster security sector reform in southern Mediterranean countries and enhanced EU policies for economic and social development through trade, aid and investment.

In order to promote social inclusion, the paper calls for an EU integration policy and a charter setting out cultural, political and civil rights for migrants, including the right to vote at local level. Stronger EU policies against discrimination should be accompanied by a European framework decision laying down standard sanctions against racism and xenophobia.

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The fight against terrorism: security with safeguards for citizens’ rights