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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Council Decision establishing the specific ‘Programme Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism, for the Period 2007-2013. General Programme Security and Safeguarding Liberties’

(COM(2005) 124 final — 2005/0034 (CNS))

(2006/C 65/13)

On 25 July 2005, the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 14 November 2005. The rapporteur was Mr Cabra de Luna.

At its 422nd plenary session, held on 14 and 15 December 2005 (meeting of 14 December 2005), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 126 votes, with ten abstentions.

1.   Introduction

2.   Gist of the Commission document

To improve management of the security risks that affect the Union's citizens, ensuring their rights and liberties by

2.1   Types of action proposed

2.2   The following will receive special support

2.3   Respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality

With regard to the principle of subsidiarity, the framework programme does not intervene in areas covered by programmes managed by each Member State's national authorities; rather, it focuses on issues where value can be added at European level. In this sense, it complements national programmes and maximises synergies with bilateral and multilateral activities.

With regard to the principle of proportionality, actions are defined as generally as possible and the administrative and financial arrangements for their implementation are kept as simple as possible.

2.4   Simplification and rationalisation

The legal form and management of the proposed instruments are simplified, financing rationalised, assignment of priorities made more flexible and transparency increased. Potential beneficiaries will be able to apply using a standard system.

2.5   Budgetary allocation

The proposed budget for the framework programme totals EUR 735 million, of which EUR 137,4 million will be for the instrument Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism, and EUR 597,6 million for Prevention of and Fight against Crime.

2.6   Types of intervention and methods of implementation

3.   General comments — Dimensions of the threats posed by crime and terrorism to EU citizens' well-being

4.   Specific comments

5.   Conclusion

Brussels, 14 December 2005.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

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(1)  Report on Human Security Now, United Nations http://www.humansecurity-chs.org.

(2)OJ C 19, 23.1.1999, p.1.

(3)  http://www.europol.eu.int/index.asp?page=publar2004#INTRODUCTION.

(4)  EESC opinion of 24 April 2002 (rapporteur working without a study group: Mr Retureau) (OJ C 149 of 21.6.2002).

(5)  Regarding the Commission Working Document - The relationship between safeguarding internal security and complying with international protection obligations and instruments (COM(2001) 743 final).

(6)  Speech by the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the Club of Madrid's Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security, Madrid, Spain, 11 March 2005 http://www.safe-democracy.org.

(7)  Rohan Gunaratna. Al Qaeda, viaje al interior del terrorismo islamista. Page 27. Editorial Servi Doc., Barcelona, 2003.

(8)  Note to the European Council, 16-17 June 2005, submitted by the Presidency and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator:

http://www.consilium.eu.int/uedocs/cmsUpload/newWEBre01.en05.pdf.

(9)  http://cumbre.clubmadrid.org/agenda/la-agenda-de-madrid.html.

(10)  EESC opinion of 29 May 2002 (rapporteur: Mr Pariza Castaños) (OJ C 221 of 17.9.2002).

(11)  COM(2002) 71 final of 11.2.2002.

(12)  http://www.europol.eu.int/index.asp?page=publar2004#INTRODUCTION.

(13)  http://www.fatf-gafi.org/document/28/0,2340,en_32250379_32236930_33658140_1_1_1_1,00.html#Introduction.

(14)  Note to the European Council, 16-17 June 2005, submitted by the Presidency and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator:

http://www.consilium.eu.int/uedocs/cmsUpload/newWEBre01.en05.pdf.

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