International terrorism: Political Committee adopts recommendation on Europe’s security after the 11 September attacks
Brussels, 18 October 2001: Reacting to what parliamentarians called “a disappointing lack of resolve and responsibility on the part of WEU Council members” the Political Committee of the Assembly of WEU – the interim European Security and Defence Assembly – voted a recommendation on the consequences of international terrorism for Europe’s security in Brussels today.
Recalling that European defence is still based on the link between WEU and NATO, parliamentarians said they were “alarmed that the WEU Council has not issued any public statement reaffirming its solidarity with the Alliance and supporting the decision taken by NATO, and that the European Council also failed to express such solidarity”.
Referring to NATO’s decision to invoke Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, Chairman and Rapporteur Jim Marshall, MP (soc., United Kingdom), emphasised that Article V of the modified Brussels Treaty also uses the term “armed attack” and “logically this means we WEU nations must recognise this fact or else we seriously question the relevance of the Treaty that has been the basis of our collective defence solidarity for the last 50 years”.
In their recommendation the parliamentarians therefore urge governments to “assure the citizens of WEU member states ... that their security is still based on both the modified Brussels Treaty and the Washington Treaty and that there is no difference in interpretation as to what is understood by an “armed attack” under either treaty”.
Parliamentarians also invite EU governments to revise the ESDP remit for “Petersberg” missions “to include measures to counter international terrorism and to develop appropriate capabilities and resources to that end”; a point parliamentarians said was missing in EU declarations after the terrorist attacks of 11 September.
“ESDP crisis management is based on the experience of the conflicts in the Balkans” said the Rapporteur. “It must be adapted to the new challenges and risks Europe faces today.”
Download the recommendation from our website: http://assembly.weu.int
