Cette note du CEPS, intitulée « The EU’s Fight against International Terrorism: Security Problems, Insecure Solutions », analyse les stratégies anti-terroristes mises en oeuvre ces dernières années par l’UE à la lumière des attentats ayant frappé Londres en juillet dernier. Les auteurs, Sergio Carrera et Thierry Balzac, posent la question de la pertinence des mesures retenues – au regard de l’objectif de prévention de la menace terroriste -, mais aussi celle de leur adéquation avec les principes fondamentaux de l’Union que sont le respect des droits de l’Homme, la protection des libertés civiques et la prévalence de l’Etat de droit.
The EU’s Fight against International Terrorism Security Problems, Insecure Solutions
CEPS Policy Brief, July 2005
Introduction
The investigations on the London attacks of 7 July 2005 have yet to clarify the intricate storyline of the bombings. Yet, the European Union has already set about tightening up its fight against international terrorism through policies that, unfortunately, compound the difficulty of addressing the challenge. The problems arise partly because the policies put forward do not match the diagnosis nor do they fully comply with the principles of legitimacy, proportionality and efficiency. In addition, it is unclear how these Community measures will minimise the lack of trust among member states, which has put the brakes on the implementation of instruments adopted after the Madrid attacks. This relates to the vexed question of the extent to which intergovernmental initiatives such as the Prüm Treaty are compatible with a credible EU policy in the area of terrorism.
This Policy Brief proceeds in two sections: First, we critically examine the main EU measures and legislative initiatives intending to fight what has been qualified as ‘terrorism’ following the Declaration on the EU Response to the London Bombings, as adopted by the Council on Wednesday, 13 July 2005. Second, we investigate how, if the freedom and justice dimensions are not set at the centre of EU policies developing an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, human rights and civil liberties can be endangered and finally lost to the exceptional security demands.