Fight against terrorism: we are not doing enough, says Gilles de Kerchove
(BRUSSELS2) In his latest report on the EU's strategy to combat terrorism, published at the end of November, Gilles de Kerchove, Mr. Anti-terrorism of the European Union, points the finger at several " current challenges that need to be addressed as a priority “: transport security, terrorist movements, cybersecurity, the fight against discrimination and social marginalization and the external dimension. I have chosen to focus only on this last point and on the solidarity clause, but we must also say a word about what he thinks about the movement of terrorists because it is important in terms of developments in terms of personal data and public freedoms, such as external relations.
If the EU could show itself capable in the future of reacting quickly...
« If there is indeed one point that needs to be raised at this stage of the process of creating the EEAS, it is the need to ensure that the EU has sufficient resources to support its external action to combat terrorism. "" During my visit to Yemen last week » says Gilles de Kerchove, « I was struck by the fact that the government of this country complained much more vehemently about the European countries which had taken restrictive measures following the recent bomb threats than about the United States. One of the main reasons for this situation was that the United States had been able to offset the restrictive measures necessary to protect its internal security with an immediate and public gesture of support for the government of Yemen. John Pistole, the head of the American administration in charge of security transport, traveled to Yemen within days of detecting the suspicious packages, and the United States was also able to send personnel and equipment to Yemen within the same timeframe. “And to conclude:” If the EU could prove itself capable of reacting in a similar way to such events in the future, it would considerably strengthen its influence in the countries where we most need to be effective if we are to achieve our objectives in the homeland security. "
"If the EU wants to be a credible actor, it must devote the necessary resources"
« A radical change is needed in the amounts the EU spends on aid to fight terrorism pleads Gilles de Kerchove. " Terrorism is one of the main threats to international stability. In Pakistan and Yemen, it directly threatens the state. In the Sahel, terrorists act as if states do not exist. If the EU wants to be a credible actor in promoting stability at global level and defending an original approach to the fight against terrorism, which is based on the rule of law, it must devote the necessary resources. " The envelope of 10 to 14 million euros (provided for in the Instrument for Stability) is " manifestly insufficient given the scale of the problem and the role the EU can and should play ».
Have the entire Instrument of Stability managed within the diplomatic service
It is important that any immediate action be part of a larger framework, considers Gilles de Kerchove. " If the short-term measures are to produce lasting positive change, these measures must be integrated into a longer-term plan aimed at strengthening the means available to the country concerned to combat terrorism.. (...) This means that, wherever possible, both short-term and long-term measures should be planned and implemented by the same people, ideally people working on the ground and based in the countries concerned. For him, the programming of the Instrument for Stability should be the responsibility of the EEAS. And the long-term financing of the fight against terrorism should be implemented by the people who will manage the financing under the instrument for short-term stability.
Tackle the solidarity clause
« We have to get on with it. (...). Given the security concerns of several Member States and the current threat assessment, it seems all the more urgent that a proposal be presented as soon as possible. The first discussions are now launched in order to assess more precisely the meaning, scope and possibilities of this clause. Some preliminary questions are, in fact, posed such as the scope and meaning of Article 222 TFEU: for example when does "prevention" begin? What is the link with other mechanisms? What is the military dimension? And the coordinator to finish “ Article 222 of the TFEU concerns incidents occurring "on the territory of the Member States" but the experience acquired so far shows that it is essential to better coordinate the various existing crisis mechanisms (internal and external). »
Fight against the risk of comings and goings of terrorist Europeans
« The risk of Europeans traveling to conflict zones or participating in terrorist training camps elsewhere and then returning to their country has been clearly confirmed in recent months. explains Gilles de Kerchove. " We must realize that an increasing number of EU residents are seeking or have received training in countries like Yemen or Somalia, or in the region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The majority of conspiracies uncovered in recent years involved this type of "foreign fighters". It therefore recommends both preventive and more restrictive measures. For example, to develop a " counter-narrative to show that "armed warfare" isn't as exciting as prospective recruits might believe, promote and disseminate information on the reality of life in training camps and in the theater of terrorist operations » ; or to ensure that the “diaspora communities are more resilient, such as with the EU/US project on Somali communities. It also recommends using the measures in force, for example passenger name records and biometric technologies, “ to monitor and prevent the movement of terrorists ". The proposed EU Passenger Name Record Directive, due in January 2011, " should ideally also apply to flights within the EU ". We should also intensify law enforcement cooperation and judicial cooperation with transit countries (e.g. Turkey) and destination countries (e.g. Pakistan and Yemen) and request these countries to transmit Passenger Name Records ».
(*) From his real name: "EU Coordinator for the fight against terrorism"