EU Presidency Statement - Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts

Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the associated countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA country, member of the European Economic Area, Norway, declare that they align themselves with this statement.

The European Union welcomes this new opportunity to hold an open debate on the issue of terrorism and to review the important task undertaken by the Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC).

The crime of terrorism is one of the most serious common challenges facing the international community today. Terrorism constitutes an acute threat to internal and external security, to peaceful relations between States and to the development and functioning of democratic institutions and principles. The European Union categorically condemns all acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable irrespective of their motivation, forms and manifestation and firmly believes that those who perpetrate, organize and sponsor terrorist acts must be brought to justice and duly punished.

Mr. President,

The horrific terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 made it clear that terrorism is a global challenge and the fight against it requires concerted global action. The fight against terrorism has been and continues to be a top priority for the European Union and its Member States. The Union believes, however, that the combat against this scourge must be carried out in accordance with the rule of law and international law, including human rights law, and, in case of an armed conflict, humanitarian law.

Mr. President,

The EU recognizes the central role of the United Nations in this respect and remains committed to support the UN in its endeavors in this field. Universal implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) and other Security Council resolutions on counter- terrorism, is a matter of continuing priority and urgency to the Union and to its Member States.

The European Union wishes to congratulate the Counter-Terrorism Committee for carrying out its work with determination, dedication and transparency, and to offer to it its full support and co-operation. This Committee has been a landmark in the fight against terrorism as it provides the Security Council with an effective follow-up mechanism for monitoring thoroughly the universal implementation of resolution 1373 (2001). We also would like to pay tribute to the Chairman of the CTC, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, for the excellent job he has done. Under his guidance and advice the Committee has found its way to successfully deal with the many challenges it faced and charter a sure course for the future.

The European Union supports the confidential dialogue that the Committee has established with the interested States and the advice and guidance that it offers them in order to implement resolution 1373. This dialogue allows also the Committee to identify the need for technical assistance to these States and to communicate needs for such assistance to donor States. As Sir Jeremy Greenstock has pointed out at the Security Council Ministerial meeting of 20 January, the majority of Member States throughout the world have begun to respond to the challenge laid down in resolution 1373. The European Union would like to urge those UN Member States who have not yet submitted a report to the CTC to fulfill their obligation within the allocated time framework.

In this connection, the European Union welcomes the Declaration annexed in Resolution 1456 (2003) adopted by the Security Council at the Ministerial meeting of 20 January, which reaffirms the severity of the threat posed by terrorist acts and calls on all States to take urgent action to prevent and suppress such acts. The Declaration also calls upon the Counter-Terrorism Committee to intensify its efforts to promote the implementation by Member States of all aspects of resolution 1373 (2001).

The European Union also recognizes the role of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Centre for the International Crime Prevention to strengthen the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism and to offer advice on the implementation of both the pertinent Security Council Resolutions and the UN legal instruments against terrorism.

Mr. President,

The European Union on its part is playing an important role in the provision of assistance to third countries in their efforts to better implement resolution 1373, and, in this respect, it has identified a number of pilot countries for the purpose of launching new assistance projects in the field of counter-terrorism. The criteria applied for the identification of these countries are: relevance to the fight against terrorism, significance to EU foreign policy, technical assistance needs, readiness to co-operate and existence of EU comparative advantages.

The European Union and its Member States are fully committed to the implementation of resolution 1373. The Union has already submitted three reports to the CTC (contained in documents S/2001/1297, S/2002/928 and the latest one submitted last month in view of the upcoming Special Meeting of 7 March 2003), detailing specific action undertaken to implement resolution 1373. The latest report enlists recent legislation adopted by the Union in the areas covered by resolution 1373, and the regulatory measures that provide for the freezing of funds, financial assets and economic resources of, and the prohibition on the provision of financial services to, persons, groups and entities involved in terrorism.

The European Union has also established an executive mechanism to prevent and suppress terrorist financing, through which it develops and reviews, on a regular basis, a common list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts.

In addition, plans are being developed to improve police and enhance judicial co-operation in Member States. The European Arrest Warrant, which provides for simplified surrender procedures between judicial authorities of the Member States, based upon the principle of mutual recognition of judicial decisions, covers also terrorist offences.

The EU has also developed close cooperation in the field of counter- terrorism with third countries, particularly through an expanded structured dialogue. In this respect anti-terrorism clauses have been included in contractual relations of the EU with third countries. Close co-operation on these issues has also been established between the EU and regional bodies.

Mr. President,

The European Union is of the view that the 12 UN Conventions and Protocols and their implementation play a pivotal role in the fight against terrorism and its Member States are committed to the ratification and rapid implementation of all these Conventions through the adoption of Council Common Position 930 of 27 December 2001.

The European Union also supports the early conclusion by consensus of the negotiations on the draft Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism, and the adoption of the draft International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, in particular, in view of the risk posed by certain terrorist groups that have gained access to weapons of mass destruction.

The European Union wishes to express its full support for the Statement made by the President of the Security Council on behalf of the Council on 17 December 2002, in which the Security Council notes the key role played by international regional and sub-regional organizations in supporting Government capacity strengthening on counter-terrorism and in furthering the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001). In the same Statement the Security Council encourages the CTC to build a dialogue with international regional and sub-regional organizations in areas covered by resolution 1373. The Council also requests the CTC, with a view to improving the flow of information on experiences, standards and best practice, and to coordinate ongoing activity, to invite all relevant international regional and sub-regional organizations to a Special Meeting on 7 March 2003.

The European Union is also of the view that regional and international regional and sub-regional organizations play an important role in the fight against terrorism and a closer co-operation with the CTC would enhance their efforts and would contribute to a better implementation by their Member States of their obligations in this field. The Union welcomes the convening of the Special Meeting of the CTC and believes that this meeting will provide a good opportunity to those participating in it to explore the matters that are covered by the Declaration of the Security Council of 20 January 2003, as was also requested by the Security Council.

The European Union also noted that some proposals were made during the Security Council meeting dedicated to counter terrorism, held on January 20 at the ministerial level, in order to strengthen the role of the United Nations in the fight against terrorism. It is the wish of the European Union that a follow up be given to these proposals in the competent organs of the United Nations.

With respect to the latter aspect, the European Union has on 10 December 2001 launched a targeted initiative aimed at reducing the risk of non-state actors gaining access to weapons of mass destruction, radioactive materials and means of delivery. This initiative which was supplemented by a list of concrete implementation measures adopted by EU Foreign ministers on 15 April 2002 encompasses the following four main elements: strengthening the relevant multilateral instruments in the field of disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation; improving export controls; strengthening disarmament co-operation and enhancing the political dialogue with third states.

Thank you, Mr. President.

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Statement - Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts (16/10/2003)
• EU Presidency Statement - Terrorist acts  (4/4/2003)