Annex V
DRAFT DECLARATION OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL
ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF CFSP, INCLUDING ESDP, IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
TERRORISM
1. The European Council reaffirms that terrorism
is a real challenge for Europe and the world and poses a threat
to our security and our stability. To this end, the extraordinary
European Council meeting on 21 September 2001 decided to step
up the action of the Union against terrorism through a co-ordinated
and inter-disciplinary approach embracing all Union policies,
including by developing the Common Foreign and Security Policy
(CFSP) and by making the European Security and Defence Policy
(ESDP) operational.
2. The European Council has noted the significant
achievements accomplished in the implementation of the Plan of
Action to combat terrorism and reiterates that the fight against
terrorism will continue to be a priority objective of the European
Union and a key plank of its external relations policy. Solidarity
and international co-operation constitute essential instruments
to fight this scourge. The Union will continue to maintain the
closest possible co-ordination with the United States and other
partners. The Union will seek to contribute further to these international
efforts, both internally and in its relations with third countries
and international organisations, such as the UN, NATO and the
OSCE.
3. The Common Foreign and Security Policy,
including the European Security and Defence Policy, can play an
important role in countering this threat to our security and in
promoting peace and stability. Closer co-operation among the Member
States is being put into practice to take account of the international
situation after the terrorist attacks of 11 September.
4. The European Council welcomes the progress
achieved since 11 September on incorporating the fight against
terrorism into all aspects of the Union's external relations policy.
The fight against terrorism requires a global approach to strengthen
the international coalition and to prevent and contain regional
conflicts. The Union is:
— strengthening the EU instruments
for long-term conflict prevention;
— focusing political dialogue with
third countries on the fight against terrorism as well as on non-proliferation
and arms control;
— providing assistance to third countries
in order to reinforce their capacity to respond effectively to
the international threat of terrorism;
— including anti-terrorism clauses
in EU agreements with third countries;
— re-evaluating relations with third
countries in the light of their attitude towards terrorism and
taking appropriate measures accordingly; and
— implementing specific measures in
the fight against terrorism in accordance with United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1373, which laid down a wide range
of comprehensive steps and strategies to combat terrorism, including
financial measures.
5. The European Council also welcomes the
progress achieved in the implementation of ESDP, following the
Declaration on the operational capability of the European Security
and Defence Policy. This progress has allowed the Union to take
its first decision to establish a crisis management operation—the
European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUPM).
The EUPM is one example of the European Union's commitment to
stabilise post-conflict regions, and to help establish the rule
of law. By promoting stability, including by strengthening local
law enforcement capabilities, norms and standards, the European
Union helps to deny terrorist organisations the opportunity to
take root. As indicated at the Laeken European Council, through
the military and civilian capabilities developed by the European
Union for crisis management, the CFSP will become stronger and
better contribute to the fight against terrorism for the benefit
of the populations concerned.
6. ESDP will strengthen further as Member
States enhance their military and civilian capabilities for crisis
management. To this end, the European Council underlines again
the importance it places on the timely achievement of the Headline
Goal targets. In this context, the development of ESDP must take
fuller account of the capabilities that may be required, in accordance
with the Petersburg tasks and the provisions of the Treaty, to
combat terrorism.
7. Priority action for the European Union,
including in the field of CFSP and ESDP, concerning the fight
against terrorism should focus on:
— devoting greater efforts to conflict
prevention;
— deepening political dialogue with
third countries to promote the fight against terrorism, including
by the promotion of human rights and democracy as well as non-proliferation
and arms control, and providing them with appropriate international
assistance;
— strengthening arrangements for sharing
intelligence and developing the production of situation assessments
and early warning reports, drawing on the widest range of sources;
— developing our common evaluation
of the terrorist threat against the Member States or the forces
deployed under ESDP outside the Union in crisis management operations,
including the threat posed by terrorist use of weapons of mass
destruction;
— determining military capabilities
required to protect forces deployed in European Union-led crisis
management operations against terrorist attacks;
— exploring further how military or
civilian capabilities could be used to help protect civilian populations
against the effects of terrorist attacks.
8. The European Council requests the Presidency
and the Secretary-General/High Representative, and the Commission
as appropriate, to step up their efforts in these priority areas
by promoting co-ordinating work within Council bodies and with
relevant international organisations, notably the UN and NATO,
in order to increase the effectiveness of the contribution of
CFSP, including ESDP, in the fight against terrorism, as well
as to report to the General Affairs Council on this matter.
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