Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 19 September 2001 - Brussels

Combating terrorism

  Caveri (ELDR). – (IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, international terrorism is threatening to multiply its actions and the brutality of the techniques it employs too – the atrocities in the United States were evidence of this, I am sad to say – while other serious threats such as chemical or nuclear weapons are still present. Coherent, common European reactions of defence and response are vital, and the Council and Commission statements have set us off in the right direction. However, there is still a complex issue to be resolved in international legal systems or, if you prefer, international law: the attitude to be taken by institutions such as the European Union or even the United Nations to States which tolerate and collaborate with terrorist groups. There can be no allowances or half-measures such as have hitherto been conceded in these matters. In any case, nothing will ever be the same and Friday’s extraordinary Summit will certainly be able to address this issue.