Commission presents comprehensive Counter-terrorism package

Consistent with its all-inclusive and balanced approach in the fight against terrorism, the Commission today presented a comprehensive package of four initiatives, namely: a proposal for a directive on the retention of communications traffic data; a financial decision allocating 7 Mio€ for a pilot-project in the field of prevention, preparedness and response to terrorist attacks; a proposal for a decision authorizing the signature of the Council of Europe’s Convention on money laundering and terrorism financing; a Communication on «Terrorist recruitment: addressing the factors contributing to violent radicalisation».

«This package covers all main aspects of our counter-terrorism strategy,» stated Vice-President of the Commission Franco Frattini, responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, «the Communication on violent radicalisation and the Convention on financing of terrorism deal with prevention, while preparedness is the raison d’être of the pilot-project; and the proposal on data retention is meant to improve the European response to terrorist attacks. The package is also a balanced one, as it seeks to harmonize various fundamental rights, security and data protection, and various interests, those of law enforcement authorities and those of communication providers. It also reflects the Commission’s firm belief that all three EU institutions should be fully involved in the implementation of an EU counter-terrorism strategy».

• The proposal for a Directive on the retention of communications traffic data provides for harmonisation of the obligations on providers of publicly available electronic communications, or a public telecommunications network, to retain data related to mobile and fixed telephony, as well as internet communications, for a period of one year and six months respectively. It is not applicable to the actual content of the communications. It also includes a provision ensuring that the service or network providers will be reimbursed for the demonstrated additional costs they will have. The processing of data will be under the full supervisory powers of the data protection authorities established in all Member States. The European Parliament is involved on a co-decision basis.

(IP/05/1167 and MEMO/05/328 on data retention)

The Financial Decision of the Commission concerning actions in the field of prevention, preparedness and response to terrorist attacks follows the European Parliament proposal, in December 2004, to create a Budget article «Pilot Project - Terrorism» of 7 Mio €. The funds now allocated will enable the pursuit of numerous actions that had been proposed by the Commission in its October 2004 Communications on «prevention, preparedness and response», as well as in a Communication on measures ensuring greater security of explosives and firearms, adopted on 18 July 2005, and in the new Communication on violent radicalisation and the recruitment of terrorists adopted today.

In particular. the Financial Decision aims at linking up the law enforcement community to a facilitate information sharing and crisis management and will supportthe forthcoming European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection;

(MEMO/05/330)

By adopting a proposal of decision of the Council authorizing the signature, on behalf of the European community, of the Council of Europe’s Convention nr. 198 - on laundering, searching, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds from crime and on the financing of terrorism - the Commission incites the 46 member states of the Council of Europe to have the same high standard of rules against money laundering as are applicable in the EU and to present an united front in the struggle against the terrorism financing. The new Convention is a very significant step against terrorism, by attacking its financing on a broad front and ensuring that logistical cells cannot find financial safe havens anywhere in Europe.

(MEMO/05/331)

• The Communication on «Terrorist Recruitment: addressing the factors contributing to violent radicalisation» constitutes the Commission’s contribution, as requested by the Hague Programme , to a strategy to be developed by the Council by the end of this year on the same subject. The document proposes possible ways in which work could be channelled into addressing the issue in various fields like, inter alia, , broadcast media and internet, inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue, education, integration policies, ,cooperation between law enforcement authorities and secret services of the Member States on the subject, and external relations. The actions and recommendations presented are a combination of measures and are to be viewed as complementary to current national efforts. The Commission however believes that the EU, with its span of policies in various areas that could be used to address violent radicalisation, is well placed to gather and spread at European level the relevant expertise that is being acquired by the Member States.

(MEMO/05/329)

+ overview MEMO/05/332 - Commission activities in the fight against terrorism Download at PDF format

Comprehensive Counter-terrorism package