Brussels, 02/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Kurdistan Labour Party (PKK) and the Kahlq Organisation of Mujahadin (MKO), which operate in Iran, are henceforth considered as terrorist groups throughout the European Union. They are the most important organisations added to the European list of terrorist organisations, it was learnt on Thursday from diplomatic sources, although the list was not to be made public until midnight. The Basque group, Askatasuna, was also added. On the other hand, no Palestinian group has been placed on the black list, the same diplomat said. Despite Israeli and American pressure, the European Union refused to designate the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Hezbollah as terrorist organisations. Other groups, including an Indian group and a Colombian group (not the FARC) are said to have been added to the list. The decision comes the same day as the Summit between the European Union and the United States.
The time lag between adopting the decision and the public announcement is intended to prevent organisations or individuals who did not expect to be placed on the black list from having the time to move their funds before they are blocked, explained a European diplomat. Inclusion on the black list is accompanied by a freeze of assets and of the goods of persons and organisations. Extension of the list of European Union terrorist organisations took effect on Thursday midday. No Member State was opposed to the list approved on Monday by the Permanent Representatives of the Fifteen (see EUROPE of 1 May, p.10). This decision adds new names to the list of terrorists adopted on 27 December last by the Fifteen, in reaction to the attacks on 11 September. It mainly includes the ETA Basques, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the true IRA (EUROPE of 4 January).
On Thursday, the Council adopted two texts. One updates the common position 2001/931 which contains the list of organisations designated as terrorist organisations, whether they are international groups or groups acting within the EU. The other replaces the decision that stipulates to which terrorists the common provisions apply regarding the freeze on assets decreed the same day in an implementation regulation. They are only "international" terrorists. The Council had decided on a general obligation to freeze the assets of European terrorist groups, but its application is not specified in a text. These two decisions will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on Friday.