Brussels, 08/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - Again on Thursday 8 January, the European Union condemned the killing by two heavily armed men of 12 people the previous day in the Paris offices of the satirical publication Charlie Hebdo. The EU observed a minute's silence in all European Commission and Council premises and outside the European Parliament.
Beyond the emotion, the EU has been asked about the assistance it could provide to the French authorities and, in general, about how such terrorist attacks - this was the most deadly in France for 50 years - could be avoided in future.
In the evening of Wednesday 7 January, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini announced that the issue of terrorism would be on the agenda at the next Foreign Affairs Council (see other article), with the aim of improving cooperation with third countries. Mogherini is to meet the EU anti-terrorism coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove.
The next stage will be in Riga on 29 and 30 January, when terrorism will be the main topic at the informal meeting of EU home affairs ministers. Already planned for discussion at this meeting was the issue of foreign fighters.
Since the attacks committed by Anders Breivik in Norway in 2011, of Mohammed Merah in France in March 2012 and of Mehdi Nemmouche in Brussels last May, European ministers have been regularly discussing how to strengthen their armoury against radicalised individuals, including those training in the war zones in Iraq and Syria and returning to Europe intent on carrying out attacks. Several times, they have discussed criminal penalties and other kinds of response, such as seizure of passports to prevent people leaving the country. According to the French media, the two suspects were already known to the security services.
At a joint press conference with Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma in Riga, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that the EU would respond. “The attack cost the lives of twelve people and it is also an attack on our way of life together and Europe will have to respond in consequence”, he said. The meeting between the members of the Commission and the Latvian government focused on the internal security of the EU. Straujuma said that consideration had been given to what could be done at EU level. “The ministers responsible at European level will work on this and the Commission will coordinate everything”, she said. “Action must be taken to stop terrorism from undermining confidence”, she added.
There were rumours on Thursday 8 January of a possible meeting in Paris on Sunday of EU home affairs ministers, to be attended by Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos. The European Parliament will hold a debate on the consequences of this terrorist act in Strasbourg on 12 January.
Security agenda in spring
Around springtime, the Commission will present its new internal security agenda, to replace the 2010-2014 agenda. Unsurprisingly, it is expected that an attempt will be made to resurrect the highly controversial European PNR plans that are at a standstill in the Parliament. “The Commission, Council and Parliament are working to adopt European rules that aim to put in place a European passenger data system (Passenger Name Record, PNR) which will enhance our ability to prevent and detect terrorism and organised crime in a world of unimpeded mobility”, the Commission said on Thursday. Improvement will also be brought to the Schengen Information System (SIS), with tougher, better targeted and non-discriminatory checks being carried out. Possible strengthening of the legal framework will be considered “if necessary by means of amendment of the anti-terrorism framework decision and the appropriate national laws”. Links between Europol and the body responsible for monitoring threats will also be developed. Exchange of information at both European and national levels on the illegal possession of and trade in firearms also forms part of the future strategy.
“Anti-terrorism is primarily a matter for the member states”, Juncker said in Riga. “However, it is clear that jurisdiction must be interlinked among national authorities to tackle terrorism preventatively and proactively.” Juncker said that the possibilities offered by the Schengen system would have to be examined in detail to see “on which points the system could be improved and made tougher” and that cooperation between Europol and the various national anti-terrorism agencies should be enhanced (our translation throughout). (SP/CG)