Brussels, 24/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine welcomed the results of Friday's European Council and noted that the Heads of State and Government, "while confirming the EU's solidarity with the United States and calling for as broad a coalition as possible against terrorism, in the context of the United Nations, marked their determination to eradicate it". Like the European Parliament, "they reject all assimilation between terrorism and the Arab and Muslim world and plan to act with determination in this connection, as they plan to combat any aberration of a nationalistic, racist or xenophobic nature", she added. In addition, Ms Fontaine welcomed the priority given to the establishment of a European warrant and the fight against "money laundering networks that are used to finance terrorism".
Hans-Gert Pöttering, EPP-ED Group President, felt that the Summit gave the necessary message of solidarity to the Americans but also a message of strengthened dialogue with the countries of the "Arab and Islamic" world. The fight against terrorism "should not under any circumstances lead to a clash of cultures", he repeated, stressing that the challenge represented by this fight must push the EU to develop its foreign, security and defence policy, and its internal security.