Paris, 9 September 2002: The members of the Assembly of WEU remember the victims of the terrorist attacks against the United States on 11 September 2001. They praise the courage of those who died trying to help others. “Our thoughts are particularly with the families of the victims, for whom the anniversary of these barbaric acts will be a very difficult day”, President Klaus Bühler said, adding that “we should do everything in our power to prevent this happening again.” The members of the Assembly’s Presidential Committee will observe a minute’s silence at their next meeting, in honour of those who died in New York, Washington and Shanksville/Pennsylvania.
Mr Bühler said that 11 September 2002 would also be an occasion to look at the European response to the threat international terrorism poses. “The results are not entirely satisfactory”, he said. “The EU has so far focused its anti-terrorist activities on long-term prevention measures and dialogue”. But member states had so far failed to come up with a comprehensive policy concept that would also involve military means and the use of military force. There were a number of ways the military means provided for ESDP could be used in the fight against international terrorism.
“When it comes to pre-emptive strikes against international terrorists or against countries which harbour and support them as the US-Government proposes, EU members still lack a common vision. This is making it difficult for the EU to become a global player in international affairs and risks putting another strain on euro-transatlantic cooperation in security and defence matters.” Mr Bühler stressed that “Europe is militarily weak and lacks political influence, not least because there are still too many individual national diplomatic initiatives going on”.
He believes that the real political will to create, maintain and exercise the necessary military capabilities to protect European citizens is painfully lacking. No country could on its own withstand the threat posed by international terrorism. “International terrorists’ strategic ambitions are global. We would be deceiving ourselves in thinking that the United States was the sole target of terrorist activity and that Europe is not at risk”.
President Bühler voiced the opinion that European Defence could progress and political influence could improve if European governments pressed for better trained and equipped troops (with particular emphasis on special forces), for force protection measures, for enhanced deployment capabilities and for more cooperation among intelligence services with a view to arriving at a joint European analysis and assessment capability.
On 18 September 2002 the Presidential Committee will be approving the Assembly’s work programme dealing with these and other questions related to European security and defence. The list of reports for the next plenary session will be available on the website.