Brussels, 01/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - During their meeting on Saturday 30 August, the European leaders took the view that the creation of an Islamic Caliphate in Iraq and Syria was a “direct threat” to the security of European countries. In the leaders' conclusions, they affirmed their support for the decision of certain member states to provide military material to Iraq and, more particularly, to the Kurdish authorities.
France's President François Hollande stated that his country had received a request for assistance and had responded to it. “We have been the first and perhaps the only ones in Europe to have decided to provide arms. Other countries will follow and deliver the necessary means”, he said. The European delegations also focused on “foreign fighters” - mainly European, who have joined with the Islamic State (IS). The UK's Prime Minister David Cameron said important “progress in fighting against Jihadism and the people travelling to Iraq and Syria” had been made, as the Council “agreed to coordinate our action”. For this, efforts are required to finalise work on the air passenger files (PNR data) before the end of the year. The IS issue is due to be discussed again at the next European summit in December. France has reportedly requested that a conference be organised on this issue - a request which met with the approval of the Council, Hollande stated. The Netherlands and the UK have recently taken specific measures with regard to their nationals leaving to fight for IS. (MD)