10.03.2015 europarl.europa.eu REF. : 20150309IPR32555
 

1.  The Council strongly condemns the recent attacks, which have been carried out by terrorist groups and individuals in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Terrorism poses a direct threat to all countries and all people regardless of their ethnic background, religion or belief. In a globalised world, such threats can only be countered through international cooperation and determined national action. In this context, the Council reiterates the EU's strong support to relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, in particular Resolutions 2170 and 2178, and calls on all countries to take the necessary measures to ensure their swift implementation with full respect for human rights and the Rule of Law.

2.  The Council calls for comprehensive action against terrorism in line with the 2005 EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy and in full compliance with international law, fundamental values and international human rights standards. While Member States have the primary responsibility for addressing terrorism, the EU as such can add value in many ways. The actions taken in the area of justice and home affairs need to be complemented by external engagement and outreach, especially to countries in the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel and the Gulf. Close coordination between internal and external action on the one hand, and between relevant EU actors and EU Member States on the other hand, will enhance the impact of our common efforts. We need to put more emphasis on the prevention of terrorism, in particular countering radicalisation, on recruitment, equipment and financing of terrorism, and address underlying factors such as conflict, poverty, proliferation of arms and state fragility that provide opportunities for terrorist groups to flourish.

3.  Against this background, the Council decides to step up, as a matter of urgency, its external action on countering terrorism in particular in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, including Yemen, and North Africa, in particular also Libya, and the Sahel. Counter-terrorism (CT) will be mainstreamed fully into EU foreign policy. It calls for accelerated implementation of the EU Syria and Iraq and Counter-Terrorism/Foreign Fighters Strategy (adopted on 20 October 2014) with a particular focus on foreign terrorist fighters and the EU's Maghreb Communication. The Council welcomes the Joint Communication on EU regional strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the Da'esh threat and looks forward to its implementation as soon as possible.

4.  More specifically, the Council welcomes the following initiatives to be implemented in the course of 2015, building on those actions that are already taking place in the field of Justice and Home Affairs and in Foreign and Security Policy.
 

Strengthening partnerships with key countries
- Mainstreaming counter-terrorism in the EU's political dialogue with third countries to promote international cooperation and implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

- Conducting targeted and upgraded security and counter-terrorism dialogues with Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Cooperation with Turkey should also be enhanced in line with the GAC conclusions of December 2014.
- Strengthening political dialogue with the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and other relevant regional coordination structures, such as the G5 Sahel.
- Developing counter-terrorism action plans starting with Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, including on measures to dissuade and disrupt foreign terrorist fighters' travel as well as to manage their return. Attention will also be given to targeted CT/CVE cooperation with the Western Balkan countries as well as with other countries affected by foreign terrorist fighters phenomenon. Given the importance of the creation of networks of policy makers and security experts on both sides of the Mediterranean, a Ministerial segment will be added to the Euromed group on foreign terrorist fighters established by the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and the EEAS.
- Deploying security/counter-terrorism experts in a number of key EU Delegations to strengthen their capacity to contribute to European counter-terrorism efforts and to liaise more effectively with relevant local authorities, while further building-up of counter-terrorism capacity within the EEAS.

Supporting capacity building
- Launching further capacity-building projects and activities with interested MENA countries addressing law enforcement, criminal justice, security sector reform, including crisis infrastructure, crisis and emergency response, border control and aviation security, strategic communication, radicalisation, dealing with the foreign terrorist fighters threat, recruitment and financing of terrorism, paying due regard to international human rights standards, in close cooperation with Europol, Eurojust, Frontex and CEPOL.
- The EU will respond positively to Iraq's request of CT assistance. Projects will be launched shortly to assist countries in the MENA region to implement UNSCR 2178 on foreign terrorist fighters, to prevent radicalization in Jordan and the Maghreb. Further CT capacity building assistance to countries in the region will be provided in the coming months, in particular related to the threat of foreign terrorist fighters, including fighters returning to their countries of origin and security sector reform. The Radicalization Awareness Network will work with interested countries in the region on prevention of radicalization.
- The EU will work to develop frameworks for information exchange and ways for the EU agencies to engage more strategically with the countries in the region to strengthen law enforcement and judicial cooperation.

Countering radicalisation and violent extremism
- Supporting international initiatives on countering radicalisation and terrorism such as the first International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism ("Hedayah") in Abu Dhabi, and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) in Geneva, while the successful EU Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) offers expertise to engage with local communities as well as with third countries. The High Representative, the Commission and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator will participate in the upcoming Summit on Countering Violent Extremism and related side events in Washington DC on 18-20 February 2015.
- Improving strategic communication, developing an outreach strategy to the Arab World, including developing counter-narratives to terrorist propaganda, promoting fundamental rights, and taking into account the increasingly frequent misuse of the internet in radicalisation, engaging through social media and enhancing communication in Arabic. In this process, we can draw on the expertise of the Syria Strategic Communications Advisory Team.
- Facilitating interfaith dialogue, civil society dialogue, people-to-people contacts, academic and cultural exchanges. Exploring the possibility of creating a Round of Eminent Persons from Europe and the Muslim world, to encourage more intellectual exchanges and promote wider thematic dialogues on the roots and ramifications of terrorism and radicalisation on our societies. In this context, inviting relevant EU Institutions to explore further cooperation opportunities with actors such as the Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue of Cultures in Alexandria, the UN Alliance of Civilisations in New York and the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and intercultural dialogue in Vienna.
- Addressing the underlying factors of radicalization by supporting initiatives across the region with regard to youth, education, vocational training, job opportunities, civil society, security sector reform, role of women. The EU will work with faith-based organizations, as appropriate.
- Inviting the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to continue his efforts to defend and advocate freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief and other universal values in particular in the MENA region.

Promoting international cooperation
- Continue supporting cooperation with the UN on counter-terrorism capacity building initiatives in the MENA region. The EU will enhance further its engagement in the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), including by actively shaping GCTF inspired initiatives such as Hedayah in Abu Dhabi, the Global Community Engagement Resilience Fund (GCERF) and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law in Malta.
- Enhancing cooperation with key partners and countries on countering financing of terrorism, in particular Da'esh financing. The EU hosted a workshop to counter Da'esh financing together with US, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, and UN agencies in Brussels on 4-5 February 2015 with the aim to step up outreach and capacity building efforts in third countries. The EU will engage with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in a dialogue on countering financing of terrorism, in particular Da'esh financing, and will closely cooperate with partners, including in the anti-ISIL coalition.
- Reinforcing, within the existing parameters, the role of EU INTCEN as the hub for strategic intelligence assessment at EU level, including on counter-terrorism.
- Regarding the Passenger Name Record data (PNR), we fully endorse the Riga JHA Ministers Joint Statement, and are looking for sound solutions to the exchange of PNR with relevant third countries.
- Combating illicit accumulation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in line with the 2005 EU Strategy, in particular in the Western Balkans and Libya, and promotion of the Arms Trade Treaty in our Southern Neighbourhood.

Addressing underlying factors and ongoing crises
- Given the role unresolved conflicts play in the context of radicalization and recruitment, the EU will mobilize even more to attempt finding solutions and re-think current policies and approaches. The EU will mitigate terrorist and stability threats through its comprehensive approach combining diplomatic, socio-economic, development, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and crisis management tools.
- Inviting the High Representative and the Commission to continue to ensure sufficient funds and coherent use of instruments to address the threat of terrorism and move effectively from early warning to early action. CT, including prevention of radicalization, will, where appropriate, be mainstreamed into programming of assistance, making full use of the OECD guidelines on terrorism prevention. The EU delegations in the region have been asked to work with their host governments to identify quickly opportunities for twinning and TAIEX projects in the CT context.

5.  These Conclusions will serve as an input of the Foreign Affairs Council for discussion at the informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government on 12 February 2015. The Council agreed to review progress in implementation at its next meetings, also in view of upcoming European Council meetings.

9/2/2015 EU source: Council Ref: CL15-020EN

1. The Boko Haram terrorist actions in north-eastern Nigeria are becoming a growing threat not only for the peace and security of Nigeria but to the whole region including Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The Council stresses the importance of an urgent, comprehensive response to the insurgency, to prevent further terrorist and criminal acts perpetrated by Boko Haram, including stronger governance and economic development.

2. Recalling the European Union's (EU) Statement of 19 January 2015 and its Conclusions of 12 May 2014, the Council condemns the continuing violence and appalling atrocities committed by Boko Haram on civilians, including women and children. It expresses its sincere condolences to the people and governments of countries affected. The perpetrators of these gross violations of international humanitarian law, human rights and dignity must be held to account. The international community cannot rest while such outrages are being committed and stands united against such acts of cruelty.

3. The Council is particularly concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the attacks and their impact on Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger and recalls the primary responsibility of States to protect civilians on their territory in accordance with the obligations under international law. Thousands have been killed. Over one and a half million people have been displaced within Nigeria and hundreds of thousands to neighbouring countries. Families have been separated, girls abducted, children orphaned and women and girls sexually abused. The EU pledges to continue providing immediate relief to those in need and to increase its efforts at regional level. It commends the work of humanitarian agencies in delivering such relief and encourages them to scale-up their presence. At the same time, the Council underlines the need of the Nigerian government to increase the response to the urgent humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency and recalls the EU's readiness to assist. International humanitarian efforts should be appropriately coordinated by the United Nations (UN) in order to enhance delivery capacity and prevent the refugee crisis from escalating out of control.

4. The scale of the Boko Haram extremist threat requires a Nigerian, as well as a collective and comprehensive response to defeat terrorism in full respect of human rights. The European Union notes that the responsibility to address the immediate security challenges lies primarily with the countries most affected, and calls upon them to urgently intensify their cooperation and coordination. In this respect, it commends the Chadian army's recent assistance to the Cameroonian forces already engaged in the fight against Boko Haram. The Council welcomes and supports the decision of the States in the region, endorsed by the African Union (AU), to deploy a multinational force, to be endorsed by the UN Security Council, once the concept of operations is finalised. In this regard it salutes the AU preparatory meeting that was held in Yaoundé from 5 to 7 February. It also welcomes actions already undertaken under the aegis of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, following high-level security conferences held in Paris, London, Abuja and Niamey since May 2014.

5. The EU stands ready with its partners - the UN, the AU, regional organisations, the individual States concerned as well as the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF) - to provide support to the region with its full range of instruments, including the possibility of recourse to the African Peace Facility and EU crisis management tools. The EU will also look at ways to help the countries concerned strengthen their own capacities to handle the challenge, including the root causes of the radicalisation and violence, whilst encouraging intergovernmental cooperation amongst them. The Council emphasises that the crisis can only be overcome when all forces concerned abide by international humanitarian law, human rights and refugee law and practices in support of the communities they are tasked to protect.

6. At the same time, the Council reaffirms its determination to assist Nigeria at the national and local level as well as other countries affected in their efforts to promote the sustainable economic development of the Lake Chad region, fight corruption, provide the social and educational needs of its population and meet up with the aspirations of their young people.

7. The Council invites the HR and the Commission to take forward appropriate actions and propose necessary decisions, notably on the basis of a Political Framework for Crisis Approach (PFCA), including an assessment of the needs of the countries affected by the menace of Boko Haram. The PFCA should include a gender perspective. The Council will remain closely involved in this issue and will revert when necessary.

With the formal entry into office of the new European Commission chaired by Jean-Claude Juncker, a new organisation of the college and its services, as well as a new modus operandi across all EU services will be put to test. This applies to the Commission as a whole – to the extent that it will probably shape its entire mandate and future legacy.

But it will be particularly relevant for the area of foreign policy and external action, in view of the foreseeable implications – and possibly the unintended consequences – of the new setup for the role of the multi-hatted high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and vice-president (HR/VP). Five years after Catherine Ashton took up the newly created function of HR/VP, Federica Mogherini is taking over in a significantly different institutional landscape.

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 14.04.2014 COUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN UNION- Press Office

INDICATIVE PROGRAMME

All times are approximate and subject to change

Public items and events can be viewed live here

MONDAY, 14 APRIL

+/- 12.00 Doorstep by High Representative Catherine Ashton

+/- 12.30 Beginning of Foreign Affairs Council meeting

Adoption of the agenda (8765/14)

+/- 12.40 Adoption of legislative A Items (8768/14) (in public session)

Adoption of non-legislative A Items (8769/14)

Lunch: - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Syria

After lunch: Ukraine

+/- 18.00 Press conference(Foreign Affairs Council)

+/- 18.00 Signing ceremony EU -Tunisia

+/- 18.15 EU-Tunisia Association Council

+/- 19.30 Press conference (EU-Tunisia Association Council)

TUESDAY, 15 APRIL

+/- 9.30 European Defence Agency Steering Board meeting

+/- 10.30 Foreign Affairs Council - Meeting of Defence Ministers

Communication on Maritime Security

Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA)

Ukraine

+/- 11.25 Doorstep by A. F. Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General

+/- 14.00 Press conference (Foreign Affairs Council - Defence and EDA Steering Board)

April 3rd, 2014 By NATO - defencetalk.com

NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday (1 April 2014) reaffirmed their commitment to enhance the Alliance’s collective defence, agreed to further support Ukraine and to suspend NATO’s practical cooperation with Russia. “NATO’s greatest responsibility is to protect and defend our territory and our people. And make no mistake, this is what we will do,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

Ministers directed Allied military authorities to develop additional measures to strengthen collective defence and deterrence against any threat of aggression against the Alliance, Mr. Fogh Rasmussen said. “We will make sure we have updated military plans, enhanced exercises and appropriate deployments,” he said. NATO has already reinforced its presence on the eastern border of the Alliance, including surveillance patrols over Poland and Romania and increased numbers of fighter aircraft allocated to the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic States.

On Ukraine, NATO foreign ministers decided to intensify efforts to support the country’s defence reforms. The Alliance will also provide advice on Ukraine’s protection of critical infrastructure. In a separate meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia, the Allies and Ukraine condemned Russia’s illegal military intervention in Ukraine and Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

NATO Foreign Ministers also agreed to suspend all of NATO’s practical cooperation with Russia. “Through its actions, Russia has chosen to undermine the very foundations upon which our cooperation is built,” said the Secretary General. “In light of this, there can be no business as usual.”

Allied ministers urged Russia to engage in dialogue towards a political and diplomatic solution that respects international law and Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.

In light of the Ukraine crisis, preparations for the Alliance’s summit in Wales this September are even more important, Mr. Fogh Rasmussen said. “We remain committed to all our core missions. We will further develop our partnerships through defence capacity building and by building upon our experience in operations in order to further promote security and stability together and we will continue to invest in our readiness, so that we stay strong and prepared for any challenge.”

April 2, 2014 defense-aerospace.com/

(Source: North Atlantic Treaty Organization; issued April 1, 2014)

NATO Takes Measures to Reinforce Collective Defence, Agrees On Support for Ukraine

NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday (1 April 2014) reaffirmed their commitment to enhance the Alliance’s collective defence, agreed to further support Ukraine and to suspend NATO’s practical cooperation with Russia. “NATO’s greatest responsibility is to protect and defend our territory and our people. And make no mistake, this is what we will do,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

Ministers directed Allied military authorities to develop additional measures to strengthen collective defence and deterrence against any threat of aggression against the Alliance, Mr. Fogh Rasmussen said. “We will make sure we have updated military plans, enhanced exercises and appropriate deployments,” he said. NATO has already reinforced its presence on the eastern border of the Alliance, including surveillance patrols over Poland and Romania and increased numbers of fighter aircraft allocated to the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic States.

On Ukraine, NATO foreign ministers decided to intensify efforts to support the country’s defence reforms. The Alliance will also provide advice on Ukraine’s protection of critical infrastructure. In a separate meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia, the Allies and Ukraine condemned Russia’s illegal military intervention in Ukraine and Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

NATO Foreign Ministers also agreed to suspend all of NATO’s practical cooperation with Russia. “Through its actions, Russia has chosen to undermine the very foundations upon which our cooperation is built,” said the Secretary General. “In light of this, there can be no business as usual.”

Allied ministers urged Russia to engage in dialogue towards a political and diplomatic solution that respects international law and Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.

In light of the Ukraine crisis, preparations for the Alliance’s summit in Wales this September are even more important, Mr. Fogh Rasmussen said. “We remain committed to all our core missions. We will further develop our partnerships through defence capacity building and by building upon our experience in operations in order to further promote security and stability together and we will continue to invest in our readiness, so that we stay strong and prepared for any challenge.”

LA HAYE, 24 mars - RIA Novosti

Une rencontre du chef de la diplomatie russe Sergueï Lavrov avec le ministre ukrainien des Affaires étrangères par intérim, Andreï Dechtchitsa, a commencé lundi soir à La Haye, aux Pays-Bas, a appris RIA Novosti d'une source au sein de la délégation russe.

Il s'agit des premiers entretiens entre Moscou et les représentants des nouvelles autorités de Kiev après le changement du pouvoir du 22 février.

Un changement de pouvoir ayant toutes les caractéristiques d'un coup d'Etat s'est produit en Ukraine le 22 février dernier. La Rada suprême (parlement) a destitué le président Viktor Ianoukovitch, réformé la constitution et fixé l'élection présidentielle au 25 mai. Viktor Ianoukovitch a déclaré qu'il avait quitté le pays sous la menace de persécutions, mais qu'il restait le président légitime de l'Ukraine. Moscou conteste la légitimité des nouvelles autorités du pays.

Peuplée en majorité de russophones, la république autonome ukrainienne de Crimée a refusé de reconnaître les nouvelles autorités de Kiev et proclamé son indépendance et la réunification avec la Russie au terme d'un référendum du 16 mars. La Russie et la Crimée ont signé le traité sur le rattachement de la république de Crimée et de la ville de Sébastopol à la Fédération de Russie le 18 mars. Kiev a protesté, en le qualifiant d'"annexion" de la Crimée par la Russie, soit de rattachement forcé de la péninsule.

12-03-2014 SEDE

28/1/2014 EU source: Council Ref: CL14-011EN

Summary: 28 January 2014, Brussels - Joint EU-Russia statement on combatting terrorism

1. Guided by our common goals and noting with satisfaction the new format of the regular meetings within the political dialogue on counter-terrorism under the auspices of the MFA of Russia and the European External Action Service, that allows, in particular, an exchange of views in this field, we agreed to further develop strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the European Union, especially in combating and preventing terrorism, and to this end, in particular:

- consider possibilities for further strengthening cooperation in response to crimes committed by terrorists and organised crime, including exploring prospects of signing cooperation agreements in the future, to ensure, inter alia, an information exchange between Russia and the EU in the sphere of combating terrorism in conformity with their respective internal legislation including data protection standards;

- expand cooperation in exchanging best practices in counter-terrorism and training experts in counter-terrorism through joint seminars, training courses and other activities, the list of which will be adopted at consultations on combating terrorism within the Russia-EU political dialogue;

- intensify our cooperation in the UN framework as well as other multilateral fora such as the G8, in particular G8 Rome/Lyon Group, and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), OSCE, and the Council of Europe, as well as other international organizations actively involved in combating terrorism.

2. The Russian Federation and the European Union condemn as criminal any acts of terrorism as defined by article 2 of the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (1999). Under no circumstances can such acts be justified, be it based on political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or any other consideration. We declare that we are united in countering terrorism based on the rule of law and respect for human rights and believe that an effective response to this global threat will be achieved through coordinated actions of the international community under the auspices of the UN, based on the UN Charter, the UN Security Council resolutions, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant principles and norms of international law, in particular international human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law.

3. We commit to ensuring that measures taken against terrorism, including by international bodies, fully respect human rights and rule of law principles, and that human rights laws are applied and implemented in counter-terrorism programmes and policies of national governments. We affirm that effective counterterrorism measures and the protection and promotion of human rights are not conflicting but complementary and mutually reinforcing goals.

4. We state that, in spite of the success in addressing this challenge in recent years, terrorism remains one of the most serious and constantly evolving threats to global peace and security. In the context of the increasing speed of globalisation and the growing use of advanced technologies, terrorism develops rapidly, extends to new regions of the world, and the range of activities by its supporters expands.

5. We act on the premise that the fight against terrorism is a long-term process, requiring from the international community a complex approach and united efforts for countering terrorists striving to impose their will on states, both at national, regional and global levels.

We consider it important that the legal protection for individuals is ensured as international regulation on counter-terrorism intensifies.

6. We note with concern the growing ties between global terrorism and cross-border organised crime. We call for joint efforts towards concrete and full implementation of the United Nations Convention against Organized Crime (UNTOC), signed in 2000, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), signed in 2003, as key multilateral tools to fight transnational organized crime.

We are concerned by negative effects of the integration between drug syndicates and terrorist networks which creates a new challenge - the increased link between organised crime, drug trafficking and counter-terrorism. We call for joint efforts, with the coordinating role of the UN, above all, against global centres of heroin and cocaine production, as well as synthetic drugs, from which a part of revenues is used for financing terrorist activities.

7. We intend to strengthen our cooperation countering terrorist financing activities, as well as legal cooperation, in particular in extradition and legal assistance on criminal cases, including identification, arrest, confiscation and return of property acquired through terrorist activities. To this end, we will promote cooperation between the competent agencies of the Russian Federation and EU including Eurojust and Europol.

We will further strengthen cooperation and interaction through Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as well as in the format of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) in order to ensure greater efficiency of joint efforts in blocking channels for financing terrorism and countering money laundering. EU and Russia will encourage a stronger commitment at international level towards fully tracking financial flows originating from illicit trafficking, including off-shore jurisdictions.

8. The European Union and the Russian Federation agree on further exchanges and developing cooperation concerning the prevention of terrorism, in particular on the radicalization and recruitment of terrorists, foreign fighters as well as on the protection of critical infrastructure in the energy field. In this context we also consider it important to focus on the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. We express concern with the increasing threat of misuse of the internet by terrorists for spreading terrorist ideology and propaganda, and for recruiting and training new members and supporters among citizens of Russia and EU Member States. We welcome cooperation and initiatives to counter these threats.

9. We note the importance of developing public-private partnership in combating and preventing terrorism, and contacts with all the components of the civil society, including media, religious groups, business community, cultural and educational institutions in order to prevent the spread of ideology of terrorism and violence.

10. We stand together to assist and support victims of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, according to our national laws and principles of international law. We underscore that victims of terrorism can contribute to the prevention of terrorism, including by serving as credible messengers against the ideology of violence espoused by terrorist groups.

11. We declare our commitment to:

- continue, individually and jointly, our international efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and to ensure and strengthen the widest possible global counterterrorism coalition,

- bring to trial criminals, organisers and sponsors of terrorist attacks on the basis of the principle 'aut dedere aut judicare' (extradite or prosecute) and ensure that persons responsible for hiding, financing, and supporting them are punished in accordance with obligations under international law,

- strengthen international cooperation in order to prevent, detect and suppress terrorist attacks, identify, search for, and extradite persons involved in terrorist activities, block channels for financing terrorism, including through full implementation of relevant international counter-terrorism conventions and UN Security Council resolutions, in particular UNSC Resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

02 juillet 2013 Romandie.com (AFP)

BRUXELLES - Les ambassadeurs des pays de l'Union européenne se réuniront jeudi pour un échange d'informations sur les allégations d'espionnage des Américains contre l'UE, mais ils ne seront pas en mesure d'arrêter une position commune comme le réclame la France, ont confié à l'AFP plusieurs sources européennes et diplomatiques.

De son côté, la Commission européenne a estimé que cette affaire ne devait pas retarder le début des négociations pour un accord de libre-échange transatlantique qui doivent commencer la semaine prochaine à Washington.

La réunion des ambassadeurs jeudi permettra au secrétaire général exécutif du Service européen pour l'action extérieure (SEAE), Pierre Vimont, de faire un compte rendu de son entretien lundi avec l'ambassadeur des Etats-Unis auprès de l'UE, William Kennard, a expliqué une source européenne.

Mais arrêter une position commune, on n'en est pas là, a confié une source diplomatique, laissant entendre que l'UE était divisée sur l'attitude à adopter.

Le président français, François Hollande, presse pour une position coordonnée commune de l'Europe par rapport aux exigences que nous avons à formuler et aux explications que nous avons à demander aux Etats-Unis.

Mais le président du Conseil européen, Herman Van Rompuy, prône la retenue. Il faut avoir toutes les informations avant de lancer des accusations, a-t-il recommandé mardi devant le Parlement européen.

Si les faits s'avèrent exacts, alors il faudra agir, et j'utiliserai alors d'autres mots, a-t-il assuré.

Le chef de la diplomatie belge, Didier Reynders, a expliqué que si ces accusations sont avérées, une consultation au niveau des ministres de l'UE sera nécessaire. Dans un tel cas de figure, le gouvernement allemand réclame l'adoption d'une réaction européenne à l'unanimité.

Nombre d'Etats membres sont sur cette ligne attentiste, et certains sont convaincus que les Etats-Unis vont dissiper les préoccupations de leurs alliés européens.

Le gouvernement italien s'est ainsi déclaré confiant dans le fait que toutes les assurances nécessaires seront données dans l'esprit de collaboration et d'amitié qui caractérise le rapport entre nos deux pays.

La réunion jeudi sera surtout l'occasion de faire sortir du bois certains Etats, notamment la Grande-Bretagne, très silencieuse jusqu'à présent, a commenté une source européenne sous couvert de l'anonymat.

De leur côté, les Etats-Unis cherchent à savoir ce que les Européens savent exactement pour calibrer leur réponse, a expliqué une source européenne. Dans ce genre d'affaire, la règle du jeu, c'est pas vu pas pris, a ironisé un diplomate.

Il faut être un peu naïf pour s'étonner de ce que les Etats-Unis interceptent les conversations des diplomates de pays alliés, a souligné un autre diplomate en estimant que les Américains ne sont pas les seuls. Ni les Britanniques, ni les Français n'ont envie d'un grand déballage public, a-t-il ajouté.

Le président américain Barack Obama a promis de fournir à ses alliés toutes les informations qu'ils réclament, et le secrétaire d'Etat John Kerry s'est engagé à chercher à découvrir exactement de quoi il s'agit. C'est l'élément de langage donné pour l'instant aux ambassadeurs américains, a confié à l'AFP un représentant européen.

Au-delà des condamnations et des demandes d'explication, certains Européens veulent utiliser les négociations commerciales pour faire pression sur Washington.

On ne peut avoir de négociations ou de transactions sur tous les domaines qu'une fois obtenues ces garanties, a affirmé lundi M. Hollande.

On ne peut pas négocier sur un grand marché transatlantique s'il y a le moindre doute que nos partenaires ciblent des écoutes vers les bureaux des négociateurs européens, avait menacé dimanche la commissaire européenne chargée de la Justice, Viviane Reding.

Mais la Commission, qui a la responsabilité de négocier les accords commerciaux au nom des 28, a décidé de ne pas jouer cette carte, en estimant que le début des négociations commerciales entre l'UE et les Etats-Unis ne devrait pas être affecté.

Mais l'UE dira clairement que pour qu'une négociation aussi complète et ambitieuse réussisse, il faut la confiance, la transparence et la clarté entre les partenaires, a déclaré Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, porte-parole de la Commission.

La réunion de jeudi sera consacrée également à la mise en place du groupe d'experts UE/USA décidé en juin après les premières révélations sur Prism, le programme américain de surveillance d'internet.

23-04-2013 AFET Relations extérieures - REF. : 20130422IPR07535

Le service européen pour l'action extérieure (SEAE) a besoin d'un moteur politique adéquat à sa tête, de structures simplifiées, d'une meilleure coordination et d'une planification stratégique à plus long terme, ont estimé mardi, les membres de la commission des affaires étrangères. Lors de leur premier examen du nouveau corps diplomatique de l'UE, deux ans après sa création, ils ont également affirmé que le SEAE devait rendre davantage de comptes au Parlement.

La structure du SEAE devrait être simplifiée et la duplication des services de la Commission et du secrétariat du Conseil devrait cesser, afin de permettre une prise de décision et des réponses politiques plus efficaces, estiment les députés. Ils suggèrent que la chef de la diplomatie de l'UE préside le groupe des commissaires en charge des affaires extérieures et qu'elle soit aidée d'un ou plusieurs adjoints politiques, responsables devant le Parlement.

Les députés font valoir qu'il convient de se concentrer davantage sur la planification stratégique et d'assurer une meilleure cohérence entre les mesures à court et à long terme. Ils prônent une "structure appropriée", semblable à un conseil de crise, réunissant des membres de différents départements en charge de la gestion et de la réponse aux crises.

Davantage de responsabilité politique envers le PE

Les députés demandent à ce que les nouveaux chefs de délégations dans le monde assistent à des auditions devant les commissions parlementaires responsables avant qu'ils ne prennent leurs fonctions. Les principaux titulaires de mandats au sein du PE devraient recevoir des comptes rendus politiques complets des délégations, ajoutent les députés. Ils demandent également des échanges systématiques avec les commissions parlementaires responsables avant chaque Conseil Affaires étrangères.

Des moyens appropriés pour servir les intérêts de l'Union

Les délégations, en particulier dans les pays instables, doivent posséder un attaché sécurité et défense, soulignent les députés. Elles devraient aussi davantage intégrer les droits de l'homme, avec un accent mis sur les droits de la femme, dans leur action. Les délégations ont besoin de personnel avec des qualifications et compétences requises pour refléter et servir les besoins et intérêts de l'UE dans ses relations avec le pays ou la région concernés, ajoute le texte.

Les délégations devraient aussi pouvoir offrir une protection consulaire aux citoyens de l'UE des Etats membres qui ne sont pas représentés dans leur pays, estiment les parlementaires, tout en rappelant qu'à toute tâche supplémentaire devrait correspondre de nouveaux moyens.

Vote en plénière en juin

La résolution de la commission, préparée par Elmar Brok (PPE, DE) et Roberto Gualtieri (S&D, IT) a été adoptée par 38 votes pour, 12 contre, avec une abstention. Le vote en séance plénière est prévu pour le mois de juin à Strasbourg.

La résolution finale constituera la contribution du Parlement au rapport d'examen 2013 du SEAE, qui est actuellement en préparation par la chef de la diplomatie de l'UE, Catherine Ashton, et devrait être publié cet été.

Sous la présidence de: Elmar Brok (PPE, DE)