Ashton benadrukt belang voorkomen terrorisme bij mondiaal forum terrorismebestrijding (en)

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 22 September 2011

Remarks by High Representative Catherine Ashton at the launch of Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, New York, 22 September 2011¹

I'd like to thank the US and Turkey for this initiative, which will give multilateral Counter-Terrorism cooperation renewed energy and direction.

The EU is pleased to see the strong link between the UN and the GCTF, which will contribute to the implementation of international standards, and in particular the 2006 UN Global Strategy.

At any event like today we must first remember the victims of terrorism. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the relatives and friends of all such victims.

As I said on Tuesday at the UN, security is always closely linked to democracy and functioning institutions. Governance, the rule of law and a functioning criminal justice system are crucial. We need to look beyond governments and involve also parliaments, civil society, social networks, journalists, women and youth organisations.

There is broad agreement on the need to put more emphasis on the prevention of terrorism by examining and addressing conditions conducive to its spread, by raising awareness, and by working with media, society and education programmes.

I am glad to announce that the EU has just established a specific Radicalisation Awareness Network.

Externally, the EU is a key provider in capacity building world-wide.

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We are already working with 10 countries worldwide (the Arabian Peninsula, South and Central Asia, the Sahel) to help develop national counter-terrorism strategies.

More broadly, since 9/ll,the EU has supported 160 countries worldwide, with some €5 billion in funding to assist in establishing the rule of law, good governance, justice and security.

For instance, we have trained thousands of police officers, State Prosecutors and Judges.

We have 17 different ongoing police missions in Afghanistan, Palestine, the Western Balkans, Western and Central Africa. We are one of the biggest donors to the AU police mission in Somalia.

The EU stands ready to support the GCTF at all levels, in particular its five working groups.

Concretely, the EU offers to co-chair the GCTF working group on the Horn of Africa region. We have already organised a first event in Brussels in July, and will remain in close cooperation with regional partners.

We note the commitment by the US and others to support capacity building projects related to the rule of law. I am happy to announce that the EU is enhancing its Counter Terrorism capacity building efforts, as part of our long-term commitment.

Under new and existing resources, we will be able to support Counter Terrorism capacity building projects with a specific focus on the rule of law, criminal justice and preventive measures, worth approximately € 25 million.