Fight Against Terrorism

Fight against terrorism and the Treaties of the European Union

Description of Fight against terrorism provided by the European Union Commission: The Amsterdam Treaty inserted in Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union a specific reference to terrorism as a serious crime. Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States, the European Council, at an extraordinary meeting on 21 September 2001, adopted an action plan designed to step up police and judicial cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Decisive progress was made with the adoption of the Framework Decision of 13 June 2002, which defines terrorist offences as intentional acts such as kidnapping or hostage taking, release of dangerous substances, or causing fires, floods or explosions the effect of which is to endanger human life. Also included in this definition are acts which, given their nature or context, may seriously damage a country or an international organisation, were committed with the aim of seriously intimidating a population, or unduly compelling a Government or international organisation to perform or abstain from performing any act, or seriously destabilising or destroying the fundamental political structures of a country or an international organisation. A fresh impetus was given to the fight against terrorism following the train bombings in Madrid on 11 March 2004. On 25 March 2004 the European Council adopted a declaration calling for a solidarity clause whereby all Member States are required to mobilise all their resources, including military resources, in the event of a terrorist attack against one of them. There is such a solidarity clause in the European Constitution currently being ratified. In the fight against terrorism, the European Union has a number of specific tools:

• Europol;

• Eurojust;

• the European arrest warrant;

• joint investigation teams, comprising leading members of enforcement authorities in the Member States and, if required, Europol personnel;

• a common list of people whose assets must be confiscated.

Resources