Brussels, 17/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the initiative of the Speaker of the Belgian Senate, Armand De Decker and the Chair of the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok, committees from the national parliaments and the European Parliament responsible for matters of defence will together examine, behind closed doors, in the European Parliament in Brussels, on 18 September, the "new challenges" that the recent attacks in the United States pose for Europe regarding security. The aim of the meeting, in which Guy Verhoftadt, President of the European Council, Javier Solaana, High Representative for Cfsp, and Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations will be taking part, is to assess the current situation and its consequences for European security and defence policy, says a press release.