Reality Bites

The Euroweasels finally got the message: they're next.

EU to step up its fight against terrorism

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The EU is set to come up with new proposals on how to toughen its fight against terrorism following the attacks in Madrid last week.

The European Commission has used the resulting upheaval surrounding the attacks to reprimand member states for not putting anti-terrorism measures - adopted after the 11th of September attacks - into practice and to suggest new measures.

Of course being a committe, the soonest any proposal could be voted upon would be March 25. Theoretically, Europe could be a smoking ruin by the 25th...not to speak of the distant future when measures would actually be implemented.

Anti-terrorism commissioner?
At a meeting on Thursday, member state representatives will discuss ideas for a person specifically tasked with anti-terrorism duties.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had already mooted the idea of such a person to member states at the beginning of this month.

However, today Commission President Romano Prodi gave more credence to the idea by suggesting that anti-terrorism could be a portfolio for a Commissioner.

"We have to discuss thoroughly the entire [security] strategy and we will do it at the Summit next week. The anti-terrorism commissioner could be a piece of that strategy", said Mr Prodi.

Thoroughly discuss. Could.

Dragging feet until now. Up until now, member states have been very slow at implementing anti-terrorism measures.

One bugbear with the Commission is the European Arrest Warrant.

Supposed to be implemented by all the member states by 1 January this year, five countries have still not done it - Germany, Italy, Austria, Greece and the Netherlands. (emphasis added)

"The European Union has already put in place a series of measures to combat terrorism. What we need now is swift action to ensure that all of them are turned into reality", Commission spokesperson Reijo Kemppinen said on Monday (15 March).

Another issue is a pledge by member states in June 2002 to set up common penalties and sanctions to terrorist offences.

"The implementation of this instrument is not even close to perfect", Mr Kemppinen said, adding that the Commission intends to raise this issue with the Member States to ensure that the necessary actions are taken.

This, this and this is reality, asshat.

Posted by feste at March 15, 2004 12:08 PM | TrackBack