On Wednesday 15 March, the MEPs debated the measures taken and come to in order to tackle terrorism, in the framework of a debate on the first anniversary of the Brussels attacks. On 22 March 2016, 32 people were killed in the Belgian capital in almost simultaneous attacks on Brussels airport and Maelbeek metro station.
“We have to do all we can to make Europe a safe continent”, said Roberta Metsola (EPP, Malta), who had requested this debate. The MEP listed the actions carried out in this field since 2015, including PNR data collection systems, systematic controls on the external borders, notably for European nationals, and the directive making it a criminal offence to assist in preparations for terrorist attacks.
Several MEPs, however, took the opportunity of the debate to flag up ongoing weaknesses, particularly in the exchange of information between the competent services of the member states. An information exchange that has still not been made compulsory, lamented French MEP Eva Joly (Greens/EFA).
In the view of Tanja Fajon (S&D, Slovenia), the exchange of information is indeed critical, as is the prevention of radicalisation. For this, the EU also needs to tackle social inequalities.
According to the Belgian co-president of the Greens/EFA group, Philippe Lamberts, although the exchange of information is the weakest link in European policy, human resources must also be made available to the fight against terrorism, for instance by not “weakening the law enforcement services”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)