Toespraak Frattini over de strijd tegen het terrorisme (en)

"The External Dimension of Security, in particular the fight against terrorismâ€

Security and Defence Agenda conference "Defining a European Security Strategy"

Brussels, 18 October 2007

I am pleased to open today's conference. As one of the patrons of the Security and Defence Agenda, I believe it is important to bring people together at international events such as this conference. Only by working together will we be able to face up to security challenges. Today I will talk about security threats, and how we tackle them together. I will highlight measures to fight organised crime and terrorism.

The European Security Strategy sets out the key threats facing the EU.

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  Terrorism,
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  Weapons of Mass Destruction,
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  Regional conflicts,
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  State failure; and
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  Organised crime.

Today, unlike before, we do not fear large scale military action. Peace, and its resulting stability and prosperity, is the great success of the European Union. But new and complex threats are ever-present. Dangers are posed by terrorists, organised crime gangs and unstable countries.

Victims are usually civilians - not soldiers. Threats are difficult to predict, and what is inside or outside a country's border is unclear. For example violent conflict in an unstable country has consequences outside its borders. And a stable country can have criminals or terrorists inside. Afghanistan under the Taliban or the British raised 2005 London bombers show this.

Today we have more opportunities than before. But this can lead to vulnerability. Three examples:

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  Our economies are integrated. In the Euro zone we closely watch the current US dollar activity for repercussions this side of the Atlantic.

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  Despite concern for climate change, we take for granted electricity, water and gas supplied direct to our houses. But the EU depends on imports and joint infrastructure for transport, energy, and information. We import energy from the Gulf, Russia and North Africa. In the future as much of 50% of our gas supplies may come from Russia.

3 We have increasingly open borders. The passport-free Schengen area will expand to up to 9 new Member States before Christmas this year. The EU has visa and travel agreements with many third countries, including strategic countries such as Western Balkans. This helps bona fide travellers, businesses and citizens. But we must ensure that our security strategy can deal with any potential vulnerability.

To effectively tackle a threat we must understand all its consequences. We must understand that state failure not only destroys infrastructure, and normal daily life; it also encourages criminality and deters economic investment. Violent struggles can cause extremism. And extremists can become terrorists in countries far away from the conflict zone.

Such connections mean we must question how we think about problems. We must remove barriers that stop us working together or thinking widely. We must explore a European security strategy that sees the interdependence between internal and external work. And seeks solutions across policy divides to complex, interlinked problems.

Many things are integral to providing long term security. Trade and development can be powerful ways to promote reform. The EU is the world's most open market for the poorest countries, and their largest trading partner. The best protection for our security is a world of well-governed democratic states. We have to invest in democracy, especially in our neighbourhood.

We must work out how to build security and promote an international order. Societies based on good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights will be more effective in preventing domestic threats to their own security. And more able and willing to cooperate with us against common international threats.

The EU has taken action here. Elections put our commitments to democracy and human rights into practice. Since 2000, almost sixty EU Election Observation Missions have been organised to countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and the West Bank / Gaza.

Justice, Freedom and Security work has been central to operational results. We agreed the European Arrest Warrant - which led to almost 7000 warrants being issued in 2005. This replaces the extradition procedure. It has been used, for example, to secure the rapid return from Italy to the UK of one of the 2005 London bombers. And we have improved law enforcement and judicial co-operation by establishing Eurojust, Europol and FRONTEX, the Borders Agency. You will hear more later from Ilkka Laitinen. We have to look at the issue of the possible mixed flow of illegal migrants and suspect criminals.

Our Security strategy needs input from many people -with different views. We must work together to challenge and refine our strategy - all the EU institutions, Member States, third countries and Public Private Cooperation, which needs to be closer and closer as well as more effective.

The EU is part of, and works with, many organisations. For example the United Nations, G8 and the Council of Europe. The EU also sets up new projects. We have recently decided to help finance the African Union's Counter-Terrorism Centre in Algeria.

Solidarity is one of the main objectives of this Commission. Solidarity gives strength to EU action in the international arena. The Common Foreign and Security Policy and European Security and Defence Policy underline that we are stronger when we act together. The EU brings together different capabilities - the European Development Fund, and Member States military and civilian skills. And, there is the Common Migration Policy where EU and Member States are working together.

Fighting organised crime and terrorism is a central part of the EU's relations with third countries. Most new agreements since September 11th 2001 include counter-terrorism clauses. Our work also includes technical and financial assistance. In total the EU provides several hundred million euros to around 80 countries. This helps institution building and investment, border control, and support for regional counter-terrorism centres. We help countries draft legislation on counter-terrorism, customs, immigration, extradition or police and law enforcement work.

UN Security Council Resolutions, relevant treaties and protocols must be implemented and stuck to. For example the UN global Conventions on combating transnational organised crime (UNTOC) and corruption (UNCAC) set standards for the EU's cooperation with all third countries. Work has been complex but a UN counter-terrorism strategy was finally adopted by consensus just over a year ago in September 2006.

Turning to the United States, often when we think of relations with the United States it is our differences which are highlighted. But the European Union and the United States are global political and economic partners. Together we represent just 10 % of the world's population yet account for approximately 40% of global trade and 60% of Gross Domestic Product.

September 11 th 2001 fundamentally altered how we think of security. The United States rapidly upgraded their response to security threats - especially terrorism. Attitudes are influenced by experience. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that US and EU attitudes can differ. Our experiences are different because of the shear scale and monstrosity of the September 11 attacks. Attitudes influence what policy we develop, what legislation we pass, and how our police, judicial and security people work together.

But the EU and United States have the same goals: to protect our citizens' security by making sure law enforcement authorities have the right information they need to do their work and to protect other citizens' fundamental rights and privacy. We must work together, as we have long done in NATO. And we must work within the EU's commitment to protect fundamental rights. It is time to start thinking about what we have in common rather than the differences between our systems. Right to security is a precondition to enjoy any other fundamental right because it is in the end expression of the right to life.

I am extremely pleased with the successes this year on reaching an Agreement on the transfer of Passenger Name Records and finding a solution to the SWIFT case, both involving personal data. Both sides of the Atlantic showed determination in achieving guarantees for our citizens' privacy while keeping in mind the need to exchange information in order to fight terrorism and serious crime.

There is a role for the EU and USA to play in promoting regional co-operation. Both EU and US have a strategic interest to enforce the regional cooperation in the Black Sea area. Work has been done to tackle human trafficking and vehicle theft - both profitable for organised criminals - through the Baltic Sea Task Force which works closely with Europol. Co-operation in the Western Balkans should be strengthened. The USA is a major donor to SECI - the Southeast European Co-operation Initiative, based in Bucharest. We are hopeful work to strengthen co-operation in the Western Balkans will be an inspiration for future positive regional working.

I will now focus on two areas - organised crime and terrorism. These are central to my area of justice, freedom and security and central to a European Security Strategy.

Transnational organised crime is one of the major threats to security. It damages the social, economic, political and cultural development of societies. It is complex. Organised crime gangs differ - in their structure, and their use of violence.

Organised crime covers a wide range of activity. And many gangs will be involved in more than one activity. The most damaging threats to the EU come from gangs' involvement in trafficking in human beings, drugs, stolen vehicles, robbery and high tech crime such as identity theft. These, and financial crimes - fraud, counterfeiting, money laundering - all generate large profits. Each of these threats requires a specific and adequate response. The Commission is working to improve information and knowledge about organised crime, such as a crime statistics system. This will help us prioritise action to fight crime, check performance and evaluate action taken.

Today, 18 th October, is the first Anti-Human Trafficking Day. This aims to protect the vulnerable and raise awareness- 2.5 million people a year are trafficked worldwide. Roughly 500.000 of them in Europe, many are children. A Commission conference today will help work on identifying and supporting victims.

The internet brings benefits not just to business and citizens but also to terrorists and organised criminals. Identity fraud, spreading propaganda and child abuse are all helped by the internet. In May this year I issued a communication on Cybercrime which contains actions such as improving co-ordination and co-operation between law enforcement authorities and better working with the private sector. We will hold an expert meeting next month on this.

Organised crime gangs seek - and achieve - huge profits. The United Nations estimates the amount of money laundered globally a year ranges between 500 billion US dollars and 1 trillion US dollars. We have long believed that to disrupt criminal activities we must deprive criminals of their profits. The key is to set up appropriate legal instruments which quickly identify and trace illegal transactions. Investigation capabilities and co-operation among law enforcement forces must be urgently improved.

This need is strengthened when we consider the consequences of crime and the way money from organised crime and corruption can be used.

For example around 90% per cent of the heroin on European streets starts from Afghanistan. Because of the destruction of the Afghani farming infrastructure, opium is the crop on which farmers depend. The consequences of drug trafficking from Afghanistan and other countries are felt everyday in Europe. The EU has up to two million drug users and around 8000 die each year of drug overdoses.

And the profits from the opium from Afghanistan, may be used to fund terrorism. Terrorism perhaps aimed at Europe.

The EU is both a target for terrorism and a place where terrorist live.

Security is a long term concern. Terrorists seek new technology and adapt their plans. We must be a step ahead. We must be innovative - more so than the terrorists. Prevention is central to the success of our security. I recently launched [ July 2007] a debate on our ability to tackle bioterrorism. If terrorists in the future use this, such attacks could infect many people, contaminate soil, or destroy agriculture and attack our food supply chain. We must also remain vigilant to the possibility of terrorists getting hold of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The consequences of this would be catastrophic.

I said before infrastructure could make us vulnerable. The London and Madrid bombings showed that terrorists will target transport systems. Last December I presented a package of new measures to protect the EU's critical infrastructure. This included legislative and financial proposals to support Member States.

A European Security Strategy depends on information being shared. We need an intelligent response to security threats. Member States reached political agreement this year to incorporate the Prüm Treaty into EU legislation. This provides controlled access to Member States' databases on fingerprints, DNA and vehicle registration.

Access to information under the principle of availability is key. This means that law enforcement officers can receive information, under the same conditions as their colleagues in the Member State which holds the information.

Terrorists tend to use home made bombs. The 2004 Madrid bombers used commercially available explosives and detonators. I will adopt an ambitious counter terrorism package next month. It will cover action which is better taken in solidarity at EU level.

One of its key elements, an EU Action Plan on Enhancing the Security of Explosives, contains around 50 specific measures designed to improve the security of explosives. Other measures take into account the reality of today's technological world - making it criminal to spread information about bomb-making -including through websites.

Information on Passenger Name Records will also be important. I mentioned before Passenger Name Records and the United States. We must have an effective system within Europe also.

The fight against terrorism must go alongside the protection and promotion of fundamental rights. We need to continue our efforts to combat terrorism, while respecting fundamental rights, including individual rights. Indeed, the two must go hand in hand.

In conclusion, justice, freedom and security work is central to defining a European Security Strategy. We must work together. There are few if any problems we can effectively deal with on our own. We face common threats, shared with all our closest partners.

Member States hold the primary responsibility for security matters. The EU adds value by supporting them. Providing security requires us to think locally and globally at the same time. In today's world of global threats, global markets, and global media our local concerns are common concerns. These common concerns are greater than our differences