On Wednesday 11 November, MEPs debated the recent terrorist attacks in France, Austria and Germany and called on EU leaders to give a firm response, but one that is mindful of fundamental freedoms, starting with the Schengen area or the principles of the Rule of law.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said that an action plan against terrorism, including a reform of Europol's mandate, will be presented on 9 December.
She insisted on the exchange of information on dangerous persons through the Schengen Information System (SIS) or firearms legislation, which is not sufficiently rigorously implemented in the EU27. The same applies to the directive on European PNR (collection of air passenger data) or the interoperability of European information systems.
She referred to the strengthening of the security of public spaces and stressed the role of the dissemination of images or propaganda on the internet, which justifies the rapid adoption of the regulation on terrorist content.
In addition to these repressive aspects, the Commission will also present, as well on 9 December, a plan for integration and inclusion, taking into account the social response to the phenomenon, but also the issue of rights and obligations, especially of people who come to live in the EU and who must respect the values of the EU and the various freedoms.
In front of her, and as Home Affairs Ministers will debate the issue on 13 November (see related article), MEPs stressed the need to strengthen existing tools or external border controls and the fight against radicalisation, but without creating dividing lines between religions and not confusing “Islam and Islamism“, said Iratxe García Pérez (S&D, Spain).
French MEP Manon Aubry, for the GUE/NGL group, urged governments not to further divide societies in the name of the fight against terrorism or to stigmatise Muslims. In the face of terrorism, “the Rule of law is our most valuable shield”, she said. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)