EU Terrorism : The ‘Trumps’ of Europe hamper cooperation on counter terrorism says Pitella - by Daniela Vincenti

European unity is essential to curb errorism

The blind illusion of some governments that think they can tackle global threats unilaterally must be blamed for the lack of cooperation in Europe to fight terrorism and find a common response to solve the migration crisis, said S&D leader Gianni Pittella, in an interview with EurActiv.

Gianni Pittella is the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) chief in the European Parliament.
Pitella spoke with EurActiv’s Editor-in-Chief Daniela Vincenti.

 Q: EU justice ministers on Thursday (24 March) agreed to set up a team of national counter-terrorism experts to strengthen Europol as a response to the Brussels attacks. Is that enough to deal the threats?

P: It cannot be enough. It is a positive step but there is a lot to do to make up for lost time. Paradoxically, the terrorism threat and the migration crisis could turn out to be an opportunity to finally turn Europe into a fully political Union.

Besides the shameful and clear shortcomings of the Belgium services, we must point the finger at the blind illusion of some national governments that think they can tackle global threats unilaterally. Intelligence services’ information is still jealously guarded and not shared amongst partners.

The sooner we realize that we need greater integration, the better we will protect citizens

This lack of cooperation is as evident as it is unjustified. It stems from the same silly attitude that prevents the setting up of a common European approach to the migration crisis.

The sooner we realize that we all need greater European integration, the better we will be able to protect citizens’ security and freedom.

Q: Some insist that successful counter-terrorism cannot be carried out by security forces, it needs to be carried out by intelligence services. What’s your view?

P: I couldn’t agree more. It is clear that security is a right that has no political colours. It belongs to all citizens. In front of tragedies such as those that took place in Paris and Brussels, European leaders should put aside their national selfishness and be ready to think and act differently.

They must deliver a European Intelligence Agency. Europol already has great potential and its database represents a unique and strong asset for Europe. The cooperation with National intelligence services must be strengthened, starting with data sharing.

 Read more: Pittella: The ‘Trump’ of Europe hamper cooperation on counter terrorism – EurActiv.com

The European Union Must Face the Islamic State - by Marc Pierini

Diplomatic missions, think tanks, and the media are rife with analyses of the Islamic State. Assessments of how to deal with the jihadist group range from “wait and see” to “degrade and destroy,” and there are even mundane controversies about whether the entity should be called the Islamic State (IS), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or Da’esh (the movement’s Arabic acronym)—even though these names carry almost identical meanings.

The bottom line is that the self-proclaimed Islamic State, which has now taken hold in large parts of Iraq and Syria, is posing unprecedented challenges to the Western community of nations. The group is a particular threat to European states. To cope with those aspects of the situation that are specific to Europe, EU leaders must focus their efforts on five key areas: counterterrorism cooperation, the interruption of financial flows to the Islamic State, humanitarian assistance, political dialogue, and long-term policy reforms.


Read more: The European Union Must Face the Islamic State - Carnegie Europe

France, UK appear headed for about-face on campaigns in Africa

Not long after France sent soldiers to Mali to prevent what was becoming a militant Islamist rout of that country's forces, the talk in London was of a "new front in the war on terror" in North Africa, led by the United Kingdom and Europe taking the place of an increasingly hesitant United States.

But a month later, such talk seems like so much political posturing and wishful thinking.

As John Kerry, the new US secretary of state, holds talks with Britain's prime minister, David Cameron, on the first stop of a nine-day trip through Europe and the Middle East, it is clear that the capacity for sustained military involvement by the United Kingdom and France is sharply limited, not least because the public's perception of the threat posed by recent events in North Africa is not dire enough to sustain such engagement.

The predictions were very different at the end of January when Mr Cameron made the first visit by a British prime minister to post-independence Algeria, promising to improve security coordination in the wake of the deadly attack by gunmen on the Ain Aminas oil and gas field where hundreds of hostages were taken by an Islamist gang claiming affiliation with Al Qaeda.

Read more: France, UK appear headed for about-face on campaigns in Africa - The National

Germany bans Islamic Salafist organization amid raids across the country - by David Rising

German authorities launched a nationwide crackdown Thursday on an ultraconservative Islamic organization, raiding homes, meeting halls and mosques, while banning one related group and opening in an investigation of two others.

Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich said he had banned the Salafist organization Millatu Ibrahim, saying it has been calling on Muslims to fight against Germany's "constitutional order."

The raids, conducted by 850 police officers in seven of Germany's 16 states, focused on two other groups — DawaFFM and DWR — to determine whether evidence exists to ban them as well. DWR's initials are the German abbreviation for "The True Religion.

Friedrich said a "comprehensive collection of evidence" had been seized — videos, laptops, cellphones and other items. "All these things will be evaluated over the coming days, and we will see to what extent the evidence is sufficient to ban the two organizations which are being investigated," he said.

Read more: Germany bans Islamic Salafist organization amid raids across the country - Winnipeg Free Press

Poll: Obama trumps Mitt Romney when it comes to fighting terrorism

President Barack Obama trumps Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney when it comes to fighting terrorism and foreign policy, according to a new Fox News Poll. Participants selected Mr. Obama over Mr. Romney when it comes to terrorism (a 13 point spread) and foreign policy (an 11 point spread). The former Massachusetts governor, however, defeated the president when it comes to improving the economy and encouraging job creation (both 7 point spreads).

Given the state of the economy and the foreign policy decisions made by Mr. Obama during his first term, it makes sense that terrorism would be one of the president’s strengths. Mr. Obama authorized a mission to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden in his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan last May. The former Illinois senator also authorized the use of military force to kill Somali pirates.

While Mr. Romney has not been faced with similar foreign policy situations while running for president, managing Bain Capital or governing the state of Massachusetts, he has racked up a considerable amount of experience in the private sector of the economy.

Read more: Poll: Obama trumps Mitt Romney when it comes to fighting terrorism | The Capitol Column

EU could be the home to 400 'lone wolf' extremists, expert says

Alvise Armellini reporting for the Deutsche Presse-Agentur said that anti-terror experts believe the French/Algerian serial-killer suspect who died after a 32-hour stand-off with French police was one of about 400 al-Qaida trained extremists in the European Union.

"It is a phenomenon of 'lone wolves,' as we call them," EU top Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove told the German news agency dpa. "We can estimate that they are in the 400s all across Europe."

Like Merah — who also had a criminal record — all such individuals "are obviously monitored" by European intelligence services, de Kerchove said. Most are in "Germany, France, Britain, maybe also Belgium, and in all other EU countries to a much lesser extent," he indicated.

Commenting on appropriate countermeasures, de Kerchove suggested extending across the EU legislation already enforced in Germany and Austria that criminalizes anyone who travels abroad to attend terrorist indoctrination camps.