Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-03-Speech-3-020"
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"en.20011003.2.3-020"2
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"The second series of measures in the action plan, which I consider to be very important, involves the development of international legal instruments. There are many such instruments that need to be implemented and it would no doubt be worthwhile examining, as India suggests, the idea of a general convention against international terrorism.
I would now like to turn to the preparation of the Ghent European Council.
The third series of measures on which the European Union would like to work involves the funding of terrorism. Here too, specific action will be taken at EU level, particularly with regard to money laundering and the freezing of assets. The fourth series of measures involves air safety. The European Union intends to swiftly devise a set of specific, technical measures for this purpose, such as baggage checks, technical training for crews and so on.
Lastly, I wish to draw your attention to the fifth series of measures, which involves the common, foreign and security policy as a whole. The emphasis has been placed on the need to coordinate the Union’s overall action; the idea being to bolster the common, foreign and security policy, in order for there to be an integrated campaign against terrorism, including the systematic reassessment of relations between the European Union and third countries in the light of any support that these countries might give to terrorism.
In the medium and long term, the fight against terrorism will also require the Union to strengthen its prevention policy and to become more involved in stabilising regional conflicts. As part of this, the European Union certainly intends to enhance its role, with the assistance of the United States, Russia and its partners in Arab countries, in order to work towards finding a long-term solution to the Middle East conflict.
In addition, the development of the common, foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the European security and defence policy (ESDP) could have long-lasting effects. These EU policies must not be used as tools for reprisals, but as a means of prevention. Conflict prevention also implies an unstinting commitment on the part of the European Union to integrate all countries into a global system of security and sustainable prosperity.
Finally, we must pay special attention to the problem of refugees. On this issue, the Commission will devise projects to assist Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries.
The last message sent by the European Council was to reassure the European countries and the markets about the economy, and it will be helped in this endeavour by the conclusions of the informal ECOFIN Council held at the same time in Liège, and to stress the positive role the euro will play in this economic context that we are experiencing. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the content of the message of the European Council held on 21 September. To sum up, I would like to add two comments.
First of all, as is so often the case, the crisis situation created by the attacks in New York and Washington has given impetus to European unification. The Extraordinary European Council on 21 September provided an opportunity to take practical decisions and to display genuine European leadership. The Belgian Presidency will endeavour to follow up its commitments, particularly at the forthcoming General Affairs Council in October and the Ghent European Council.
Secondly, while making the fight against terrorism a priority, we must not be diverted from other projects that are fundamental to European integration. I would like to confirm here and now that the Belgian Presidency will make every effort to comply with its programme on preparing for the introduction of the euro, enlargement negotiations and the implementation of the European security and defence policy."@en1
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