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EU action in response to 11th September 2001

EU action in response to 11th September 2001: one year after

The European Union responded swiftly to the terrorist attacks of the 11th September 2001. Within days of the attacks on America, a series of concrete measures were tabled by the European Commission, which led to a Plan of Action adopted by a special European Council [Heads of State and Government and the President of the European Union] on the 21st September.

Over the past year, the European Union has sustained its efforts as one of the leading partners in the global fight against terrorism. Implementing the Plan of Action, all EU efforts are guided by :

• continued solidarity with the US,
  
  
• determination in the fight against terrorism,
  
  
• commitment to the security of all citizens in the EU,
  
  
• efforts to tackle root causes of terrorism and
  
  
• contributions to better understanding between civilisations.

The EU has focused on those areas where it can complement the efforts made by individual Member States:

Police and judicial co-operation

Europe-wide and transatlantic co-operation in the fight against international terrorism and cross-border organised crime has been stepped up, including on extradition, mutual legal assistance, migration and border control.

The EU adopted a European arrest warrant, a common definition of terrorism and a list of terrorist organisations. In addition, joint police investigation teams across the EU and a special Europol anti-terrorism unit have been created, as well as Eurojust, a co-ordinating body between Member States' law enforcement agencies.

Global fight against terrorism

Diplomatic efforts, supported by the quick mobilisation of trade and aid, have focused on Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, the Middle East and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The EU is the main international donor to Afghanistan, providing generous financial assistance to alleviate human suffering, to help integrate returning refugees and to support the Transitional Authority.

The EU has incorporated the fight against terrorism into all aspects of the EU's external relations. While implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1373 it went beyond UN sanctions and froze the assets of an important number of terrorist organisations. The EU has agreed joint law enforcement actions in the fight against terrorism with a great number of third countries throughout this year. At the same time the EU has encouraged dialogue to promote mutual understanding with other civilisations.

• Air transport security has been improved with Europe-wide measures to prevent future terrorist attacks and the air transport industry has been supported;
  
  
• Economic and financial measures have been taken to dry up the sources of terrorist funding through intensified money laundering directives.
  
  
• Emergency preparedness has been increased to protect public health and enhance civil protection in the event of terrorist attacks through the availability of medicinal treatment and the creation of a Monitoring and Information Centre providing for immediate response in the case of major emergencies 24 hours a day.

POLICE AND JUDICIAL CO-OPERATION

By September 13, the Commission had tabled proposals for a European arrest warrant to supplant the current system of extradition between Member States and a common definition of terrorism and related penalties. Both proposals have been formally adopted by the Council. They represent the first of many measures against all forms of cross-border organised crime, including terrorism.

Other measures which are underway include :

• Joint investigation teams of police and magistrates from throughout the EU;
  
  
• Routine exchange of information about terrorism between the Member States and Europol;
  
  
• The creation of a specialist anti-terrorist unit within Europol;
  
  
• The establishment of Eurojust, a co-ordination body composed of magistrates, prosecutors and police officers;
  
  
• Political agreement of the Council on a framework directive on the mutual recognition between EU Member States judicial authorities on orders for the freezing of assets and the preservation of evidence.

Closer transatlantic co-operation :

• A co-operation agreement between Europol and the relevant US authorities was signed on 6 December 2001. A second agreement to allow the exchange of personal data is currently being negotiated.
  
  
• The EU is also engaged in talks with the United States to establish closer co-operation with Eurojust and the relevant US authorities;
  
  
• Efforts are underway to intensify co-operation in practical ways on border control and migration management.
  
  
• EU Justice Ministers agreed in April 2002 to begin negotiations with the US on closer co-operation on extradition and mutual legal assistance; negotiations are proceeding as planned ;
  
  
• Efforts are being made to strengthen co-operation between relevant law enforcement authorities in the US and in each of the EU member states.

• For more information:
  
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/news/terrorism/index_en.htm
  
  
  

  GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

  The EU has adopted the fight against terrorism as a priority policy objective. It has worked with the US to build a global coalition against terrorism, and to establish joint initiatives designed to defeat international terrorism. The fight against terrorism has been incorporated into all aspects of the Union's external relations:
  
  Horizontal actions:
  • EC external assistance programmes support the efforts of third counties to comply with UNSC Resolution 1373 on the fight against terrorism, and further consideration is being given to how further technical assistance could be made available.
    
    
  • Freeze of terrorist assets: A Regulation freezing funds and prohibiting provision of funds, assets, economic resources or financial services to terrorists [For the Council decision, consult: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/dat/2002/I_116/I_11620020503en00330034.pdf. For the text of the Regulation, please consult the Official Journal, L344 of the 28/12/01] was adopted in December 2001. Since 1999, over € 100 million of terrorists' assets have been frozen throughout the EU.
    
    
  • The events of September 11th demonstrated the need for political and cultural dialogue with those parts of the world where terrorism comes into being. The EU has supported dialogue to counter racial, religious and cultural prejudice. A Euro-Mediterranean Foundation is to be set up under the Barcelona Process [For more information on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership/Barcelona Process: http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/euromed/. Firm commitments to enhanced inter-cultural dialogue have been made at a meeting of EU Member States, Candidate Countries and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul on 12-13 February 2002.
  Bilateral relations with third countries and regions:
  
  The European Union has redoubled its diplomatic efforts towards building an international coalition against terrorism.
  • Afghanistan: The EU is the main donor helping to rebuild Afghanistan through reconstruction and humanitarian assistance. At the Tokyo donors' conference in January 2002, the contributions of the European Commission and of individual EU Member States together, made Europe the most generous contributor. The EC alone, has pledged €1 billion over the next five years.
    
    
  • In 2002 the EC will go beyond its Tokyo pledge for this year, giving €265 million instead of €200 million. The sum available for humanitarian assistance has been raised to €60 million from €25 million.
    
    This money has not merely been committed, but is being deployed on the ground very swiftly. The EC is contributing more than any other donor to the operating costs of the new government (including salaries for police, nurses, doctors, teachers and civil servants). It is supporting 450 primary schools, and 200 clinics, and cleaning up five cities around the country to prevent diseases like cholera. It is also making a major contribution to the clearance of mines and the fight against poppy production.
• For more information on EC operations in Afghanistan:
  
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/afghanistan/intro/index.htm
  
  (Political and economic relations, reconstruction aid)
  
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/en/whatsnew/whatsnew_1.htm
  
  (Humanitarian Assistance)
  • The EU responded to Pakistan's changed position on the Taliban regime and its commitments to return to democratic rule, with increased financial assistance and a new Co-operation Agreement. A package of trade measures designed to significantly improve access for Pakistani exports to the EU has been approved. Furthermore, the Commission has mounted a major Election Observation Mission in the run up to the Parliamentary elections on October 12th in order to assist this country in its difficult transition process towards restoration of full democracy.
    
    
  • Negotiating directives for a Trade and Co-operation Agreement with Iran have been adopted by the Council. Negotiations will start in Autumn 2002, including on an intensified political dialogue. The EU calls on Iran to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, to sign, ratify and fully implement international instruments pertaining to the non-proliferation of arms and to join in the international fight against terrorism.
    
    
  • The EU was already deeply involved in the search for peace and stability in the Middle East long before the attacks of September 11th 2001, but those events have undoubtedly thrown into even sharper focus, the urgent need to tackle regional problems that can give rise to terrorism. The EU plays a crucial role in preserving the Paliestinian Authority as a negotiating partner, by providing substantial financial assistance. The EU is also a key player in the 'Quartet' (EU, US, UN and Russia) efforts to find a way forward in the Middle East, and has just prepared a 'road-map' to guide actions on all sides towards the creation of a Palestinian State in 3 years' time.
    
    
  • Commitments to co-operate closely in the fight against terrorism have been included in or agreed alongside new Association Agreements between the EU, Algeria, Lebanon and Chile.
    
    
  • Concrete international commitments to fight against terrorism have been agreed upon with the United States, Russia, the 13 accession candidates [Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey], Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and the western Balkan countries, the 12 partner countries of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership [Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta], Israel, Canada, and India, as well as the Councill of Europe. At the Ninth Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), in December 2001 Ministers adopted a broad-ranging Action Plan on counter-terrorism measures.
  
  

  AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY

  The air transport sector was the hardest hit by the consequences of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. Over the last twelve months, the European Commission has continuously acted to deal with the security, commercial and financial consequences of the attacks for the sector.
  
  New proposals have been put forward to support the industry in areas such as insurance, unfair competition and financial compensations. New initiatives have also been launched to increase security and prevent terrorist acts.
  
  These measures were outlined in a Commission Communication of 10 October 2001 [COM (2001) 574 final] which explored the situation of the industry, gave an overview of measures taken by Member States and looked specifically at the way the US was reacting. Based on this analysis, the Commission made, concrete proposals for enhanced air security rules [COM (2001) 575, OJ C 51 E of 26 February 2002] and outlined areas of action in a number of fields, including air transport insurance, state aid management, slots, capacity co-ordination and third country relations.
  
  Prevention of illegal acts threatening security, notably through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO):
  • New common rules on air security. The Commission proposed new common rules for air security: control of access to sensitive areas of airports and aircraft; control of passengers and their hand luggage; control and monitoring of hold luggage; control of cargo and mail; training of ground staff; classification of weapons and other items prohibited on board or into the sensitive areas of airports. These new rules include the audit for such measures and will become EU legislation once the Commission's proposed Regulation is adopted [COM (2001) 575, OJ C 51 E of 26 February 2002].
    
    
  • The European Commission is co-ordinating the EU position in ICAO on new regulations on access to the cockpit, including strengthened doors, and remote surveillance of the cockpit.
  Material support to the industry:
  • Financial compensation by member states for lost business during the four days following 11 September was claimed and received by many airlines [See in particular IP no. 02/981, IP 02/767, IP 02/395, IP 02/370, IP 02/333, IP 02/168, IP 01/1883, IP 01/1791, IP 01/1682, IP 01/1473];
    
    
  • Governmental insurance schemes in many Member States have taken on insurance cover which was lost when insurance companies cancelled their policies based on war risk clauses. The Commission outlined the way forward in a Communication in July 2002 [See IP no. 02/977, COM 2002 (320) of 2 July 2002] and will propose soon an air insurance package dealing with both insurable and non-insurable risks in the aviation industry;
    
    
  • Agreements between airlines: the Commission made clear that it would examine on a case-by-case basis whether the conditions for an exemption under EC competition rules [Article 81 concerns the incompatibility with the common market of all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices. Paragraph 3 enumerates the possible exceptions] of the Treaty are met. It will also give favourable consideration to the capacity co-ordination agreements designed to maintain a regular service on less frequented routes or to co-ordinate schedules during off-peak periods of the day.
    
    
  • Slots: The Commission considered that the airlines were entitled to retain their slots with grandfather status in EU airports during the summer 2002 and the winter 2002/2003 seasons.
    
    
  • Unfair competition. The Commission proposed on 12 March 2003 legal means to react against unfair competition from subsidised third country airlines exploiting subsidies to undercut normal market prices for air transport services.
  For more information:
  
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/en/whats_new_en.html
  
  
  

  ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL POLICY

  One key EU aim is to dry up the sources of terrorist funding. The 19 October 2001 European Council in Ghent reiterated the importance of effective measures to combat the funding of terrorism by formal adoption of the Directive on money laundering and the speedy ratification by all Member States of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.
  • The EU Council of Ministers adopted in November 2001 a Commission proposal to upgrade the EU's money laundering Directive which will now be implemented by national legislation in each EU Member State.
    
    
  • The Commission and the Member States are playing an active role in the work of the Financial Action Task Force, the leading international body in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. At its last plenary meeting in October 2001 in Washington, the FATF adopted a series of recommendations to combat the financing of terrorism.
    
    
  • In the wake of moves by insurance companies drastically increasing the cost of cover for acts of war or terrorism, for airlines and airports, the Commission asked the Council of Finance Ministers to come up with a co-ordinated response. The Council supported the Commission's flexibility, which allows Member States to provide exceptionally, and as a short-term measure, cover or pay the higher premiums. This possibility has been extended on a monthly basis until the end of the year.
    
    
  • The Commission presented a report on the impact on the tourism sector of the September 11 terrorist attacks. If properly implemented, measures recently foreseen in a Communication on "the Future of European Tourism", should help alleviate the impact of any long-term negative effects.
    
    
  • A Regulation regarding the freezing of funds of terrorists organisations was adopted in December 2001.
    
    
  • The Finance Council reached political agreement in May 2002 on the proposed Directive to counter insider dealing and market manipulation [see IP/02/669, IP/01/1758, and MEMO/01/203].
  For more information:
  
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/finances/banks/01-1580.htm
  
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/whatsnew.htm
  
  
  

  EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

  Public Health
  
  In the event of a terrorist attack the public health response is critical in identifying the nature of the attack and the appropriate response. Civil protection measures must be in place to deal with these needs.
  
  Since September 11, the Commission has promoted discussions on preparedness for bioterrorist threats. Health ministers have met several times to discuss EU-wide co-ordination of efforts. Each Member State has appointed a senior representative to discuss these measures, forming a Health Security Committee. The EU already has a communicable disease network, including a rapid alert system for any outbreak of infectious diseases. Their work focuses on:
  • co-ordination of public health emergency planning and preparedness
    
    
  • availability of the appropriate treatments.
  EU-wide action adds value by:
  • drawing on all Member States' expertise (epidemiologists, microbiologists, logistics, IT, etc.) to assess what measures are needed
    
    
  • reinforcing warning systems, rapid response capacities, analytic capacity and surveillance
    
    
  • developing clear, authoritative communication with the general public,
    
    
  • increasing training for the first line of alert: GPs, vets and pharmacists,
    
    
  • planning for burden sharing of costly logistics like stockpiles and equipment,
    
    
  • co-ordinating international co-operation with partner countries and organisations such as the WHO and the OECD.
  At the international level, a concerted global action to strengthen the public health response to the threat of international biological, chemical and radio-nuclear terrorism was agreed in Ottawa in November 2001 by the G7 Health Ministers, together with Mexico and EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Byrne. The WHO is a key partner in this effort. Risk assessment and management methodologies are being prepared within this framework and exercises are organised to test current response plans.
  
  Health Ministers of EU Member States agreed in November 2001 a set of priorities to establish a health expert consultation mechanism, strategies on availability and stocks of serums vaccines and antibiotics and a European network of experts for evaluating managing and communicating risks.
  
  Availability of medicinal treatment
  • Biological agents have already been prioritised for the various interventions required under the health system response plans being promoted by the health security programme. An assessment of medicine production capacities and national stockpiles has been carried out and advice issued by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency on antibiotics and vaccines. For antibiotics, it is estimated that production capabilities are sufficient to meet demands in the event of an emergency. The matter of creating a EU stockpile of vaccines, anti-toxins and anti-virals is under consideration.
    
    
  • A 25-point action programme was swiftly agreed by the Health Security Committee, exchanging information rapidly and co-ordinating health responses in case of emergency.
    
    
  • A major effort has since been undertaken at EU level to enhance co-operation in health security through the implementation of this programme with the help of a 14-member strong Task Force comprising experts nominated by EU Member States. Work is in hand to ensure that laboratory expertise and capacity is made available to cope with high-risk agents and complex technology and methods, as well as a surge in demand for analyses in case of threats or attacks. Proper and safe arrangements are being put in place for transportation of samples, reagents and specimens and for field investigation teams to analyse relationships between cases, establish common environmental exposures and co-ordinate additional case finding. This is key to determining potentially exposed groups of people who would require antibiotic prophylaxis, vaccination and / or monitoring depending on the agent.
  Civil Protection
  
  The EU wide Community Civil protection action aims at protecting European citizens in case of a terrorist attack. The mechanism is intended to facilitate reinforced co-operation on civil protection assistance interventions. It entered into force on 1 January 2002 and provides for immediate response and support in the event of major emergencies.
  
  On-site intervention teams, experts and other equipment can be dispatched promptly via its Monitoring and Information Centre. There is a comprehensive database with relevant contact details for intervention teams in Member States. Emergency response requests can be dispatched 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  
  Research
  
  The Commission has put in place a group of experts appointed by EU Member States to identify means of combating biological and chemical threats. The group has the the mandate to draw up an inventory of current research activities in this field; examine how these activities can be best exploited and co-ordinated; and identify what gaps there are and what additional research is needed in the short and long-term. Most of the research needs identified by the Research Expert Group will be addressed within the 6th EU Research Framework Programme (FP6).
  
  As regards long term research needs, the development of fundamental knowledge and basic tools should help develop, amongst others, new rapid diagnostics for identifying potential biological and chemical agents, new vaccines against potential bio agents and novel therapeutics. Short and medium-term research needs in support to policy will be addressed under a specific action within FP6, namely the one concerning issues related to civil protection (including bio-security and protection against risks arising from terrorist attacks), and crisis management.
  
  Two studies have been launched by the Commission: a prospective study on EU vulnerable sides and weaknesses in front of potential bio-chemical terrorist attacks, and a Pilot study on the relationship between scientific advice on bio-chemical terrorism and society at large.
  
  The first study includes a number of scenarios describing ways in which terrorists might try to achieve their possible objectives, such as to create panic, to inflict a large number of casualties, or to bring about economic damage for instance in the agricultural sector. These scenarios are evaluated in terms of their likelihood and resources needed to put them in action. The study emphasises how scientific advances are changing the prospects, either by using novel bio-agents, or by using existing ones in new ways, as well as how these advances make it possible to improve countermeasures.The work is directed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre and involves a consortium of European research institutions. An advisory group of high level experts in biological and chemical weapons provides additional input. The results will be available late in the autumn of 2002.
  
  
  For more information, please go to:
  
  http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/whatsnew/index_en.html
  
  
  
  • Ref: EC02-186EN
  • EU source: European Commission
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 9/9/2002

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