Brussels, 21/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - A conference entitled "Towards Worldwide Security - Building the Transatlantic Agenda" was organised on 17 November in Brussels by the EastWest Institute of New York, in cooperation with the "New Defence Agenda" (of Forum Europe, Brussels) and the "Institut Royal des Relations Internationales" (IRRI) (of Brussels). John Edwin Mroz, President of the EastWest Institute, underlined that a common approach is needed between America and Europe, and that it is necessary to be prepared for a long journey that will not be without its bad surprises. IRRI President Etienne Davignon deplored the fact that, so soon after the events of 11 September, they had gone from a "general movement of solidarity" to a "general movement of suspicion". He said that the "reservoir of good will" created in the emotional days following the attacks on New York and Washington, "was not put to work". He admitted that, with an enemy that was difficult to identify, it is "difficult to identify concrete actions". The European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, Antonio Vitorino, illustrated the EU's policy of cooperation with its partners, and mainly with the United States. The new era of freedom of movement has also fostered the increase in security threats, organised crime, crossborder crime, drug trafficking and, more generally, asymmetrical threats. Given the fact that the enemy is "without a face" and the "asymmetrical threats", it is necessary to "change the culture" of cooperation, including in the sharing of intelligence and the increased volume of information exchanged, multilateralism, mutual trust and the mobilisation of the private sector. One of the assistants of President Bush and Deputy Adviser responsible for the new American "Homeland Security", Richard Falkenrath, drew a picture of American activities after 11 September. In a wide range of areas covered by the activities of Homeland Security, he cites among others the control of immigration, finance and banking transactions, cybernetic security, transport security, food security and farm production. In response to all these challenges, the United States has, since 2001, created a central command, the NORTHCOM (from the Pentagon), a new Transport Security Organisation, and the Department for Homeland Security (190,000 employed!). Mr Falkenrath nonetheless warned that this US dynamic could create a growing gap between the two sides of the Atlantic for combating terrorism, as Europeans have not carried "reorganisation similar" to that in the United States.
The Chairman of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security, Elmar Brok, German Christian Democrat, stressed the importance of cooperating with the United States and with the democratic world in general. He announced a hearing on the theme of "Homeland Security" at the EP in 2004.