Brussels, 23/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - According to the President of the EPP-ED Group at the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, the conclusions of the Ghent Summit should enable progress to be made in the fight against terrorism throughout Europe as long as Justice Ministers take the necessary decisions without delay. Mr Pöttering also welcomed the results of the Summit on the future Convention to prepare for the next IGC (see EUROPE of 19 October, p.7). He asserted, however, that that the Chirac/Blair/Schröder meeting at Ghent was "regrettable" since this type of meeting could only lead to misunderstandings and concern for the other partners.
Following the meeting of the Party of European Socialists (PES) on Friday morning at Château de Zwijnaarde to the south of Ghent, the President of the Socialist Group at the EP, Enrique Baron, also stressed the strengthening of European co-operation when it comes to fighting terrorism (linking security to freedom, he said) and a substantial EP contingent in the future Convention. The President of the PES, Robin Cook, stressed the need to resolve conflicts that "don't justify terrorism but are used as the excuse for it", and confirmed that the PES was planning to hold a meeting with representatives of the European Union's Islamic communities in Brussels on 30 October.
In Strasbourg on Tuesday, Messrs Pöttering and Baron commented on the Blair/Chirac/Schröder meeting. Hans-Gert Pöttering said that the importance of the meeting should be neither minimised nor exaggerated, although he understood the strong feelings that it raised. Enrique Baron stressed that bilateral and multilateral meetings often took place at Summits, but regretted that this "Mini-Summit" had been convened in a clumsy manner vis-à-vis the other partners.