Debate: Islamist terrorist attack on French schools and the need to protect people and promote social cohesion
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Iliana Ivanova
Language: EN

On Monday evening, just after you included this debate on the agenda, two people were murdered in Brussels in a new Islamist terrorist attack. Two Swedish citizens were killed because they were Swedish, supposedly in revenge for the Koran burnings, an unacceptable provocation that most people disapprove. The Commission strongly condemns these terrorist attacks in the strongest terms, and expresses solidarity with the victims in the countries hit by them: Sweden, France and Belgium. Together with the Member States, we are united to fight terrorist organisations that try to divide our societies, attack our institutions and radicalise our citizens. Terrorism hits the core of our European way of life: freedom and tolerance, the capacity to live together in security and prosperity with people of all origins, all nationalities, all beliefs. Our response must be equally determined in two fronts: the anti-terrorist actions and the promotion of tolerance at all ages and between all cultures. While national security remains the responsibility of the Member States, the security of one Member State is the security of all. Fighting terrorism is a priority in the EU security strategy for 2025. The Commission 2020 counter-terrorist agenda sets the way forward around four pillars: better anticipation of threats, stepping up our prevention efforts, protecting people, public spaces and infrastructures, and responding when terrorist attacks occur. Europol, the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, with its recently reinforced mandate, supports Member States in preventing and combating terrorism in the EU and globally, including through its cooperation with key international partners. Europol and its European Counter-Terrorism Centre provide an information hub for counter-terrorism with unique information and criminal intelligence-sharing capabilities for law enforcement authorities in EU Member States and beyond. Since March this year, the renewed Schengen Information System includes new categories of alerts and more data, in particular new types of biometric data and new functionalities, providing additional tools to combat terrorism and serious crime. Considering the evolution of the Middle East conflict, all Member States remain extremely vigilant for the possible spill-over effects. Several Member States continue stepping up the already increased security measures around especially Jewish public space, notably schools or places of worship. Some Member States have taken additional restrictive measures against the potential public support of Hamas. Lone actors or small cells acting independently from terrorist organisations are currently a substantial threat. With these kinds of threats, the fight against terrorism online is as important as offline. We need a whole-of-society approach against radicalisation, preventing citizens from being exposed to harmful and terrorist content. We all have seen the horrific images and videos produced by the perpetrators. Being exposed to this content not only contributes to spreading terror, but it can also contribute to radicalisation and incites further violence. The EU Internet Referral Unit of Europol refers content in the light of offences related to terrorist activities as defined in the EU Directive on Combating Terrorism. We need to act in a swift and determined manner to remove this content online. Last week, the EU Internet Forum led to concrete outcomes to support companies in quickly identifying terrorist content stemming from the attacks. With the Terrorist Content Online Regulation, Member States have the needed legal framework to request the removal of terrorist content from platforms within one hour. The regulation has strong safeguards in place to protect fundamental freedoms, in particular freedom of expression. Honourable Members, experience tells us that these events spark a huge increase in racism, hate speech, hate crime and intolerance against minorities. An atmosphere of tension between communities can escalate towards the use of violence. For example, we are already getting alarming signals that waves of hate speech and hostility are affecting Jewish and Muslim communities, particularly online but unfortunately not only online. Hate speech – defined as public incitement to violence or hatred on grounds of race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin – is illegal in the EU. Since 2016, we have in place a voluntary code of conduct on countering hate speech online. Participating companies have committed to assess and remove hate speech content notified to them within 24 hours. Finally, I want to underline the need to promote tolerance and social cohesion among the young generations. We will not see the results immediately, but if we fail on this, we will suffer serious consequences in the medium term. In strengthening social cohesion, we look to education, culture and sport as a means to nurture societal resilience, pluralism and respect. The Council recommendation on promoting common values, inclusive education and the European dimension of teaching is five years old and fully pertinent. The recommendation indicates ways in which education can help young people understand the importance of and adhere to the common values of the European Union, and aims at strengthening social cohesion and contributing to fight the rise of populism, xenophobia, divisive nationalism and the spreading of fake news. The Commission also adopted an action plan on integration and inclusion that provides many of the answers in the drive to build resilient and cohesive societies that do not leave people marginalised.