Council Declaration on the EU Response to the London Bombings

The Council adopted the following Declaration:

«The Council of the European Union:

1. Condemns the terrorist attacks on London. It sends its profound condolences to the victims and their families, in honour of whom two minutes of silence will be held across the European Union on Thursday 14 July at 12:00 (London time). It stands united in solidarity as it did after the attacks on Madrid last year, and is absolutely determined that the terrorists will not succeed.

2. Considers that the attacks are an affront to universal values on which the European Union is based. Central to those values is a commitment to democratic and open institutions and societies governed by the rule of law within which people of all faiths and backgrounds can live, work and prosper together. The terrorists who reject that commitment and seek to use violence to impose their ideas will be defeated.

3. Strengthens its commitment to combating terrorism and upholding the fundamental principles of freedom, security and justice. Working with the assistance of the EU Counter- Terrorism Co-ordinator, and with the European Commission and the European Parliament, the Council will accelerate implementation of the EU Action Plan on Combating Terrorism and other existing commitments.

4. Declares that its immediate priority is to build on the existing strong EU framework for pursuing and investigating terrorists across borders, in order to impede terrorists’ planning, disrupt supporting networks, cut off any funding and bring terrorists to justice.»

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JHA Council 13 July 2005