European Security Strategy : Fight against Terrorism

In December 2003, the European Council asked the Presidency and SG/HR, in co-ordination with the Commission to present concrete proposals for the implementation of the European security strategy in four areas including the fight against terrorism (para. 85) The Commission welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the further development of EU policy in the fight against terrorism, also in the light of the terrorist atrocities in Spain on 11 March 2004. As recognised in the ESS, terrorism is not a threat which can be tackled by purely military means. Other policies can and do have a role to play.

The EU’s basic objective in the fight against terrorism is to ensure that its citizens have the ability to live in freedom, peace and safety. To achieve this objective we must ensure a high level of security within the EU while at the same time promoting security, stability and prosperity in third countries.

Achieving this implies action, together with partner countries, to eliminate or reduce the threat of terrorist attack whether to citizens themselves, to essential services (such as water supplies, energy, transport and communications) or production systems (agro-food and process industries) as well as to establish mechanisms (surveillance, early warning, alert and response systems and procedures) to deal effectively and efficiently with the consequences of any attacks. Action must also be taken to address the root causes of insecurity and the factors which contribute to the emergence of terrorism. Steps aimed at enhancing security must be taken without prejudice to individual rights and freedoms and the openness and tolerance of our societies must be maintained. At the same time EU actions aim to strengthen governance, including the rule of law, and to encourage the development of sound institutions both within the Union and in third countries.

Terrorism:

- takes advantage of this era of more open borders and integrated economies;

- undermines the openness and tolerance of societies;

- poses challenges to the core EU objectives of the promotion of free movement of persons, goods, services and capital; and

- makes evident the intrinsic link between internal and external security.

The challenge is to benefit from the advantages of free movement, whilst minimising the security threats and to handle the fight against terrorism within a wider framework of action. Security within the EU cannot be achieved at the cost of creating an inward-looking Union. The EU approach is therefore to strengthen internal security in a co-ordinated and multidisciplinary manner, and to promote stability and security beyond our borders whilst avoiding new dividing lines, particularly with the near neighbours.

Numerous EU policies contribute to the fight against terrorism, but have not been developed or designated specifically as counter-terrorism actions. This is also true for actions at the EU and Member State level. Many of the mechanisms and actions necessary to combat terrorism are the same as those needed to tackle other forms of serious and organised crime.

Strengthened police, customs and judicial cooperation help combat organised criminal groups as well as terrorists. Effective anti-money laundering measures help cut off funds to organised crime and terrorism. Mechanisms necessary to protect communications infrastructure against terrorist attack are the same as those to protect against cyber-crime more generally. Health security procedures and alert mechanisms are as necessary for natural health pandemics as for bio-terrorism. The Community civil protection mechanism deals with the response to natural disasters as well as man-made ones such as terrorist attacks. Effective border controls are a defence against drug and human trafficking as well as against the illegal transport of WMD and nuclear devices or other terrorist activities. Using our external programmes for the promotion of good governance including institutional capacity building, fighting terrorism and corruption and improving transparency is essential for overall development and economic growth. But even if they were not designed with counter-terrorism as their primary objective, all these actions constitute a significant element of the EU’s counter-terrorism activity. As indicated in the Communication on the next Financial Perspectives (COM(2004)101 final) the Commission expects work in these areas to be an increasingly important element of EU action in the years ahead.

The key to the effectiveness of the EU approach is for all of our actions to be implemented in a co-ordinated and comprehensive manner, within an agreed framework.

The fight against terrorism involves a plethora of players and many different instruments, both at national and EU level. The key to pulling all these strands together is effective coordination. For its part, the Commission intends to reinforce its internal coordinating mechanisms in order to manage the many crosscutting issues in a coherent manner.

European Security Strategy : Fight against Terrorism (SEC 332)

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European Security Strategy : Fight against Terrorism (SEC 332)