Speeches

Speech from Mr Hans-Gert Poettering,
Chairman of the EPP-ED Group,
in the European Parliament
on Wednesday, 19 September 2001

Council and Commission statements: Terrorism and attacks in the USA

Extracts from the speech:

The Group of the European People's Party and European Democrats very much welcomes the initiative to organise an informal extraordinary summit of Heads of State and Government on Friday of this week. Our President, Nicole Fontaine, will speak there on behalf of the European Parliament.

I think that we in the European Parliament can be extremely proud that in the last Strasbourg session we adopted the Watson report, which sets out our proposals for our struggle against terrorism. This summit next Friday in Brussels is intended to be a signal in several aspects. A signal to our American friends that these satanic attacks in Washington and New York do not only represent an attack on the United States of America, but an attack on the entire world civilisation. An attack on each and everyone of us. An attack on our ideals of democracy, human rights and peace.

Last week we held a very impressive sitting here, and what we said there holds true today. This morning I asked the High Representative Javier Solana, who at the moment with President of Council Louis Michel and Commissioner Chris Patten is on his way to Washington, to tell Mr Powell in America, that we in the European Union expressed our full solidarity with the Americans immediately after the attack. Now that Chris Patten, Javier Solana and Louis Michel are on their way to Washington, we are saying that we expect not only decisions about what will is to happen but true discussions and consultations, so that when action is taken, this action has the full backing of both the Europeans and the Americans.

Madam President, I have the greatest respect for Mr Solana. We have to ensure in the future it is possible to debate matters with the High Representative of the European Union here in the Parliament as well. I think there could be some improvements in that respect in the future.

Ladies and Gentlemen. On Friday next at the summit we have to send a signal as well with regards to the Middle East. We are calling on Israel and Palestine for hold talks. It is not the time to refuse to hold talks, to call talks off. It is the time for dialogue, it is a time for confidence building measures, so we can actually achieve peace. Anyone who rejects dialogue at this stage does not merit our sympathy and solidarity. We need to move towards peace, and we need confidence building measures now as never before in the Middle East. We need to signal to the Arab and Islamic world.

In our Group this morning we said, Madam President, we want a meeting very soon between the European Parliament and the Parliaments of the Muslim and Arab world in the context of the Mediterranean forum. Let us send this signal now, so that they are aware of that what we want is partnership and friendship.

Commissioner Vitorino, we would like to thank you for your work. We thank you for presenting these proposals to us here today. We really have to make Europol a crime fighting instrument. We call on our Member States to provide Europol with the necessary information for its work. This has not been the case hitherto. Only one Member State has fully co-operated but all other Member States so far have refused to co-operate fully. We are very much in favour of introducing a European arrest warrant. Now is the time to act. Anyone who is not in favour of European co-operation in Europol, that is someone who is refusing to express solidarity not only with Europe but with our American friends. Because we have to pull together to fight terrorism.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our Group has tabled an amendment to the 2002 budget. We want to make the resources available to Europol, so it can act in a fully operational capacity.

It is now time for action rather than words. We have to act consistently and we have to act in a considered fashion. Wherever we can, we have to try and resolve conflicts peacefully. Military action must never be proposals of retaliation but to create more security. Let us act properly, let us act in spirit of peace.

(translated from the original German)