Philip Claeys (NI). – (NL) Mr President, the fight against terrorism must be one of the priorities of the common foreign and defence policy. The report is quite right to draw attention to the importance of respect for human rights and civil liberties. I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my total and unconditional solidarity with the Danish Prime Minister, who is currently under enormous pressure to take action against the cartoonists who had the temerity to depict none other than the prophet Mohammed.

Islamic countries, including Turkey – which is an EU candidate country – demand apologies and sanctions, and even insist on a boycott of Danish products. Prime Minister Rasmussen is more than right when he claims that there is no democracy without free expression of opinion. The Council, Commission and Parliament should stand united in the defence of our liberties. If they fail to do so, then it is hardly worth our while even talking about a security and defence policy, for there will be nothing whatever left to defend.