Brussels, 17/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the seminar organised by the European Women's Lobby (EWL), in Brussels on 14 September, on "Strengthening women's rights in the decision-making process" (see EUROPE of 10/11 September, p.18), EWL President Denis Fuchs explained that the beginning of the seminar was to "have public opinion understand that the problems and situations of the countries candidates for membership have ceased being problems external to the EU to become common problems". "Let's build a genuine legal area, a political Europe, one of security and defence. It's the only medium- and long-term future response to the problem of terrorism", she said regarding the attacks in the United States, and that the "natural tendency" of women was not towards violence. In this context, she turned to the situation of women in Afghanistan, stating that their "disappearance" (behind veils, hidden, etc.) was also a "form of violence, all the more incredible in that it is invisible". Yet, Europe precisely "wants to hear the voice of women".