Revised European Union anti-terrorism action plan, work programme

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Rosa DÍEZ GONZÁLEZ (PES, ES), and made several recommendations to the Council on a revised EU Action Plan/Roadmap to combat the terrorist threat. (Please see the document of 24/05/2005.)

It rejected, however, the proposal from the rapporteur to create a European forum to give the victims of terrorism a voice. Instead it called for a unit to be set up, operating under the EU Counter-Terrorism Co-ordinator, to assist the victims. This unit will be a reference point for European policy in this field and its purpose will be to take in, listen to, inform and assist victims and to promote implementation of the measures which are necessary if it is to operate successfully.

Parliament also rejected the rapporteur’s suggestion that thought be given to including terrorism within the International Criminal Court's remit. The resolution states nevertheless that these crimes should not be time-barred, thereby reflecting the reprobation of the international community, which considers them to be some of the most serious and inadmissible crimes against humanity.

Other recommendations include the following:

- promote the transformation of Europol into a EU body under the democratic control of the European Parliament and the Council and under the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice;

- adopt a decision, proposed by the Commission, to provide for the transfer of the European anti-terrorist coordinator to the Commission, and also for effective parliamentary control of the European coordinator's activities;

- request the Commission to identify and study best practice in the Member States and third countries in the area of anti-terrorist policies and the prevention of radicalisation, which could form the basis for the Commission's strategy.