The external dimension of the fight against international terrorism

 The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Luis YAÑEZ-BARNUEVO (PES, ES) on the external dimension of the fight against terrorism. The report argued for more EU cooperation in the fight against terrorism, calling for a common definition, coordination with the United States, and clear and direct support for human rights within and outside the Union.

The committee agreed with the Council that "the most serious threat to Europe at the moment is posed by violent radical groups claiming to defend Islam, such as the criminal Al Qaeda network and the groups which are affiliated to it or are inspired by its ideology".

Against this background, the report advocated a larger degree of coordination and cooperation at EU level. It regretted the fact that "some Member States have not yet signed and/or ratified some of the 16 United Nations universal instruments on combating terrorism," and urged those countries to do so. It also called on the Council to adopt a common position establishing a definition of terrorism, reiterated the need "to exercise effective control over various Islamic charities," and said that it was essential to develop intercultural dialogue and other confidence-building measures within and outside the EU.

The committee made further recommendations for the Union's foreign policy, emphasising "the need for greater cooperation and coordination with the United States in the fight against international terrorism, while stressing the need for fundamental Human Rights principles to be protected." It also called on countries "with which the EU has commenced accession negotiations or which have expressed their intention of joining the EU to take immediate measures to disband nationalistic and fanatical organisations which are directly opposed to the democratic principles of the Union and stir up animosities and racial hatred."

Finally, the report called on the Commission and the Council, in order to make the International Criminal Court (ICC) more acceptable and realistic, to include acts of terrorism within its jurisdiction, as these constitute crimes against humanity. MEPs in the committee insisted on "the need to continue defending human rights and fundamental freedoms in the fight against terrorism," since "their violation clearly jeopardises the fight against terrorism and constitutes a failure of democracy."