WRITTEN QUESTION E-2650/01 by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Council. Combating terrorism in Europe.
Date: 2001-10-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU police cooperation, Europe, judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the EU, religious group, terrorism

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/73

observe coming elections, actions to protect the freedom of the media, independence of the judiciary and
respect of its decisions and an end to the illegal occupation of properties. The Council undertook to take
appropriate measures if no substantial progress had been made in this period.

The Council on 8 October 2001 reiterated its concern over the situation in Zimbabwe and in particular
the lack of progress in the five areas identified by the Council. It agreed to return to the question after the
ministerial meeting between the EU Troïka led by the Council President, Deputy Prime Minster and
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Louis Michel, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, I. S.
G. Mudenge, which took place on 22 October 2001.

On 29 October 2001, the Council discussed developments in the Zimbabwean situation in the light of the
principal concerns it had expressed at its meeting on 25 June and noted that no visible progress had been
made. It reiterated the EU’s readiness to assist Zimbabwe in preparing and holding the elections, by the
sending of an exploratory mission. The Council also decided to launch the consultation procedure
provided for in Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement with a view to strengthening the ongoing political
dialogue. On this same occasion the European Union declared that it will give strong weight to ensuring
coordination and complementarity with the efforts of SADC and the Abuja process vis à vis Zimbabwe.

(2002/C 134 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2650/01

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Council

(3 October 2001)

Subject: Combating terrorism in Europe

In the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in the United States, it has become painfully clear that most EU
Member States do not have specific legislation to combat terrorism.

This is particularly true of Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and
Sweden.

Six Member States do have specific legislation on combating terrorism: Germany, Spain, France, Italy,
Portugal and Britain.

Thus in a Europe without internal border controls enormous disparities exist between Member States in
this field.

Yet there are strong indications that numerous Islamic fundamentalist organisations have their logistic
bases in Europe, where they can freely exploit the open borders.

What urgent recommendations will the Council make to these various Member States with a view to
creating in the very near future at least a minimum uniform legal basis for combating the scourge of
terrorism effectively?

(2002/C 134 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2662/01

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Council

(3 October 2001)

Subject: Threat of attacks on the European institutions

According to authoritative reports which have appeared in the UK press, a group of Islamic fundamentalist
terrorists planned to carry out a murderous attack on the European Parliament during the part-session in
February 2001, using sarin gas.