Brussels, 28/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - MEPs and Internal Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos called on Wednesday 28 January for everyone to work together to tackle terrorism and underlined the importance of making use of existing instruments.
“We must work together and we cannot waste time. We have to agree within the European Parliament on a broad, ambitious package to tackle terrorism, in cooperation with the European Commission and the Council”, stated the leader of the ALDE Group in the Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium). “Freedom and security need to be assured”, he added.
“We will not give our blessing if the measures go against our freedoms”, warned the leader of the S&D Group, Gianni Pittella (Italy). “We already have a number of tools at our disposal, so let's use them”, he said.
“We really have to work together”, argued Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, Germany), adding that there would have to be discussion on the instruments that actually exist, on data retention and on PNR (passenger name record) and on what can be done to address radicalisation.
“Yes, security has to be strengthened. We have to do what is necessary and proportionate but what is proposed is unbridled surveillance of citizens. It is the opposite of what needs to be done”, argued Jan Philipp Albrecht (Greens/EFA, Germany).
The rapporteur on the European PNR, Timothy Kirkhope (ECR, UK), urged his colleagues to work with him to bring about a European PNR while finding ways to protect civil liberties.
Commissioner Avramopoulos stressed that the Commission wanted to examine the possible alternatives “to see how best to help legislators come to a swift and effective solution on the PNR proposal”.
MEPs advocated improving the Schengen and external borders components, information exchange and the resources of Europol and Eurojust. They would also like funding to be made available for education and for addressing fanaticism, and improved cooperation with third countries, including Turkey. Parliament will vote on a resolution on tackling terrorism at the February plenary session (our translation throughout). (CG)