Terrorism. Europe is in battle order, dispersed
(B2 archives*) The 25 interior ministers of the European Union will find several proposals on the table today. The emotion of the first moments seems to have passed, after the attacks in Madrid. And the old "bad" habits take over
A super-file of terrorist organizations and their members, a central body ensuring the exchange of information, the traceability and the control of weapons of terror, the lists of prohibited persons established without the right of veto... Here are some of them measures to be proposed today by the European Commission to the 25 Ministers of the Interior, meeting in a special session in Brussels. The whole being completed by a declaration of solidarity, a modern version of the one for all! All for one by D'Artagnan. Each State pledging to do everything to " prevent terrorism on its territory " and " to attend » whichever of them is the victim of a terrorist act. Provisions that do not quite arouse unanimous enthusiasm. It's the least we can say.
Discrepancies...
During the meeting of ambassadors, which was still prolonged in the evening yesterday, the differences of appreciation did not take long to reappear. Thus several States - France and Germany in particular - are not very, very hot as one diplomat put it, to the idea of creating even the embryo of a European intelligence agency. So... the European CIA — of which some people dream — is not for tomorrow!
At the heart of sovereignty
A logical reaction for Anne Weyembergh, an academic specializing in criminal cooperation. " We are here at the heart of national sovereignty. In this reserved sector, the resistance of the States is numerous. On the implementation of new measures, this researcher at the Institute of European Studies in Brussels remains skeptical. " Above all, all the texts adopted should be applied, all the instruments already in place should function properly ". Today, in fact, explains Anne Weyembergh " decisions in criminal matters are taken unanimously. It only takes one country to disagree to block. The agreement is thus made on the lowest common denominator. Clearly, the least ambitious measure.
Slow transpose
The ministers, once returned to their capital, generally take their time to apply it " Transposition is generally slow, if not imperfect ". The reason for this laxity? " It is very simple » replies the university, «There is no penalty. Unlike the internal market, the Commission cannot issue warnings to the recalcitrant, have it condemned by the Court of Justice ". In fact, it is the bonus for bad students..." It is necessary to wait for a major disaster, for the States to decide to move », « The best action to take - she concludes - would be to adopt the European Constitution because it makes it possible to sanction States which drag their feet ". Will Europe be able to equip itself with the means to match its ambitions?
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde) - published in France-Soir, March 2004
