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Parliamentary question - P-005194/2017Parliamentary question
P-005194/2017

Ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism: criminalisation of travel for the purpose of terrorism

Question for written answer P-005194-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Esther de Lange (PPE)

In combating terrorism it is very important for the Member States to take a consistent line, for example on returning foreign fighters, such as the 271 adult and 54 under-age French jihadis who, according to the French Foreign Minister, have returned to France in the last eighteen months.

Directive (EU) 2017/541 on combating terrorism is an important step towards a uniform approach, requiring as it does that participation in a terrorist group, as well as recruiting, training and travelling for the purpose of terrorism, be made criminal offences.

Recital 5 of the directive also refers to the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, signed by the EU in 2015. In addition to the EU itself, this protocol has also been signed by 24 EU Member States.

Now that ISIS is collapsing, it is vitally important that Member States implement this protocol and the directive as soon as possible. With Europe’s internal borders being open, if one Member State’s action is inadequate, it poses a threat to other Member States. Furthermore, the EU has itself not yet ratified the protocol.

1. Why has the EU not yet ratified the protocol, and when will it do so? If it does not intend to ratify the protocol, why not?

2. Can the Commission yet state which Member States have already made travel for the purpose of terrorism a criminal offence?