Brussels, 28/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - European member of the Partido Popular Gerardo Galeote Quecedo told the EFE Agency that the declaration condemning ETA terrorism presented by himself and four other Spanish MEPs had already received 316 signatures, while only 314 were needed for it to be considered adopted and forwarded to those interested. The declaration rejects dialogue with those who carry out, justify or tolerate terrorist acts, which is why the elected members of three nationalist parties - Partido Nacionalista Vasco, Eusko Alkartasuna and Bloque Nacionalista Gallego - have not signed it (see EUROPE of 22 September, pages 5 and 6, for the plenary debate on ETA attacks).
The declaration will make it possible to "open the legislative process aimed at creating a mandate for European search and arrest", and European Commissioner Antonio Vitorino should take this into account and make proposals along these lines, said Mr Galeote, recalling that the resolution calls on EU institutions to adopt effective measures to fight against terrorism and above all a European search and arrest mandate. While the EP Regulation provides for a three month delay for the adoption of such declarations, the signatures needed were collected in one week, he stressed moreover.
On 27 September, European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine, on an official visit to Spain, attended a ceremony in Madrid to the memory of ETA victims, alongside Spanish Prime Minister José Maria Aznar and President of the Congress of Representatives, Luisa Fernanda Rudi.
At this ceremony, which took place in lobby of the Congress, Ms. Fontaine made a speech in which she affirmed that the Spaniards were not alone in their fight against terrorism, as each time terrorism killed in Spain, it was the European Union as a whole that was threatened in its most fundamental principles.