Combatting terrorism requires an intelligent and comprehensive approach

3.44.19pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 10th Mar 2005

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Madrid terrorist bombings (11 March 2004), the Members of the European Parliament commemorated the tragedy with 1 minute silence.

Graham Watson, current leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the parliamentary chamber (and author of Parliament's early positions in the fight against terrorism following 09/11, including the European Arrest Warrant) pointed out that the European Union was now acting together to combat the threat but could and must do more especially to address the unacceptable delays in implementing agreed EU measures as highlighted by the anti-terrorism coordinator this week, Gijs de Vries. Watson was especially critical of Italy which is the only European country that has still not applied the European Arrest Warrant (EAW).

" The fight against terrorism is an evident area where the EU can and must act together - where the collective effort is greater than the sum of its constituent parts. We have to present a common front on this all important issue of security to our citizens. Member States must also realise that their citizens are also citizens of Europe comprising 450m people ", stated Watson. "The EU approach, laid out in the Hague programme adopted last year combines strengthening security with more efforts at social and economic integration of European society. Terror is not a tangible enemy that can be easily targeted by military means. It requires an intelligent and comprehensive strategy that involves not just all levels of government and society in the EU but a truly global approach through the UN" he added.