WRITTEN QUESTION E-1428/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Another terrorist attack in Israel

Today's newspaper's carry reports of yet another terrorist act committed by a Palestinian suicide bomber in the town of Kfar Saba in Israel. It confirms that every time that negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are due to be resumed the extremists boycott them. This shows both the inconsistency of the Palestinian leaders as valid diplomatic partners and the continuing inability of the international community (the EU is practically not involved at all) to take tangible action to re-establish peace and security in the region.

Against this background can the Commission say:

1. whether the Union has taken diplomatic steps to ensure that the two sides arrive at a peace which is taking years to achieve;

2. whether it intends to exert political pressure to persuade the Palestinian Authority to intervene and tackle the extremists, who are in effect interrupting negotiations between the two countries;

3. in view of the international nature of Islamic terrorism and the threat it presents for Europe, what measures the Union intends to adopt, including the possibility of alerting Europol, in order to prevent terrorist acts from being carried out in the countries of the Union;

4. whether it envisages holding meetings with the Israeli and PLO authorities in order to assess their respective positions and demands and to draw up a European peace plan which, together with those drawn up by other countries, in particular the USA, may form a useful basis for bringing the conflict to an end?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2001)

1. The Union has remained active throughout the current crisis. The Presidency is in close contact with the parties urging them to continue the peace discussions on the basis of the results of previous negotiations, aiming to reach a final status solution based on international law, including United Nations (UN) Resolutions 242 and 338.

The Union has considered Israeli use of force excessive and indiscriminate. And it has also condemned Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians. The Union has repeatedly called for an end to the violence and a return to negotiations. And following the Kfar Saba incident on 22 April 2001 the Union Presidency issued a declaration condemning all terrorist attacks.

On 14 May 2001 the Council discussed the situation in the Middle East and gave its support to the report and to the proposals of the Sharm al Sheikh Fact Finding Committee (Mitchell Committee), as well as to the Jordanian-Egyptian initiative. It mandated the High Representative to explore ways of ensuring political follow-up to the conclusions in the Fact Finding Committee's report.

2. The Commission has on several occasions conveyed a clear message to the Palestinian Authority (PA) that it must do everything in its power to stop attacks on Israelis; this includes preventing any incitement of such attacks. The Commission has also urged the PA to effectively control its security services.

3. Article 29 of the Amsterdam Treaty mentions the fight against terrorism as a means to contribute to achieving the Union's objective of providing its citizens with a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice. Member States in the Council, with the usual participation of the Commission, co-operate on the internal and external threat that terrorist groups pose to Member States. Co-operation between the Member States is improving through a new system for sharing information on terrorist web-sites.

Before the end of the year, the Commission will submit proposals to approximate Member States' criminal law provisions regarding terrorist offences and to make it easier to extradite persons accused of terrorist activities.

Europol, whose mandate includes the fight against terrorism, supports Member States' law enforcement services through the exchange of information and the supply of strategic and operational analysis. Europol is currently working on a program to support the Member States with information on the modus operandi of terrorist organisations.

4. Following a Union initiative, representatives of the parties met in Athens in April 2001. President Arafat visited Brussels end-May 2001. And several visits to the region were undertaken by the Presidency, the Commission, High Representative Javier Solana and representatives of the Member States. Special Representative Miguel Moratinos has been closely involved in the cease-fire arrangements. In collaboration with other states concerned, the Union will continue to play an active part in the peace process.