EU resolution on the fight against terrorism

[truthmonger]

There's a really important debate happening today in the European Parliament.

It's really about MEPs concern about the response to 'terrorism', specifically after 9/11, Madrid and 7/7.

"The EU firmly intends to assess the achievements, limits and prospects of the EU's anti-terrorism policy after the attacks of 11 September 2001, 11 March 2004 and 7 July 2005 .."

The motion regrets "that the European Institutions responded to the exceptional pressure, as a result of terrorist attacks, by adopting acts that have not been thoroughly discussed with the European and national parliaments and that have been in violation of the rights to a fair trial, to data protection or to access to documents of the European Institutions connected with the fight against terrorism, and as a consequence rightly have been annulled by the European Court of Justice"

and expresses concern "about the far-reaching consequences of using large-scale immigration and asylum databases at the EU level in the fight against terrorism, and in particular about giving access to the Eurodac database to Member States' police and law enforcement authorities, as well as Europol, in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences and other serious criminal offences ..."

It regrets "that there is a substantial lack of transparency, democratic oversight, accountability and judicial review .."

and expresses "dismay at the refusal of some European governments and the Council to answer to allegations of abuse of powers under the pretext of counter-terrorism, in particular in the case of CIA extraordinary renditions and black sites"

and "deep concern at the the function creep of many measures introduced under the counter-terrorism label, but which in practice are used for a wide range of purposes"

expresses concern "at the Member States' knee-jerk attitude in anti-terror legislation, in which the desire to send a political message often takes priority over serious and conscientious consideration of the boundaries of the possible and the useful, which includes the increasingly inadequate consideration of rule of law principles, such as the proportionality principle and the presumption of innocence"

"Urges the Commission to come forward with a proposal to ensure parliamentary control over the joint and coordinated intelligence activities at EU level"

There's lots more (the full document should be accessible on the EU website. References are: RE\699152EN.doc and PE 398.196v01-00.

OF COURSE it fails to challenge the myths of Islamic terrorism - but I still believe it's an important initiative which expresses considerable unease in the EP about the 'war on terror'.

Please consider mailing your MEP(s) to express your support for this motion - and also your disappointment that it doesn't go far enough e.g. there should be an EU commission of inquiry into the facts of 9/11, 3/11 and 7/7 ( and the promised FULL report on Operation Gladio!).

I tried to attach the PDF file of the full motion, but it was too big. If you email me I can send it.

[Rory Winter]

I just discovered this link, Truthmonger. This is very interesting stuff from the EU. A great pity that our traditional clique of Europhobes have ignored it as they always do with anything that doesn't fit in with their prejudices.

[blackcat]

[Rory Winter]

[truthmonger]

This wasn't just a debate ... it was a motion which resulted in a vote after the debate.

The motion was carried by a majority i.e. EU parliamentarians voted for a review of the 'anti-terror' legislation (including and especially the heightened airport security measures forced through by the U.K. during its presidency and based on the bogus 'liquid explosives plot').

There should have been a review - that is normally what happens when a parliament has voted for something. Unfortunately, the way the EU was set up - undemocratically - means that the EU Commission can overrule the Parliament - which they promptly did.

The MEPs were doing their job - with far greater integrity and resolve than you get at Westminster, where there would never have been a debate or vote on an issue as 'sensitive' to the government's interests as this.

Though it seems that most people on this site have a knee-jerk negative/dismissive reaction to anything to do with the EU, the simple fact is that the EU parliament is a hell of a lot more democratic than our own - and that should be acknowledged. It's far less of a talking shop than Westminster.

And it's worth reminding everyone that it is an MEP - Giulietto Chiesa - who has gone far beyond anything Michael Meacher dared to do in backing the demand for an independent inquiry into 9/11 and supporting the 'Zero' group in making films about 9/11 which unequivocally label it an inside job. Chiesa organised an unofficial conference in the EU Parliament at which the new Zero film was shown and speakers included David Ray Griffin and Japanese MP Yuki Fujita. There were also 6 other MEPs present.

Can you imagine this happening at Westminster??

[TonyGosling]

Good to see the EU doing something useful for a change

But doesn't change the bigger picture

[Rory Winter]

[blackcat]

[Rory Winter]

[Rory Winter]

Don't forget. It was the European Parliament that demanded and got a proper investigation of the Commission's finances. That was a small but significant move which led to big changes.

Now if a toothless Parliament can do that, imagine what would happen if there was a popular outcry for the Parliament to be given sovereign powers!

Moreover, if the energy that went into the French No-Vote on the Constitution and now in Eire against the Lisbon Treaty could be redirected into a popular campaign for a representative, all-powerful Parliament ... that would really be something.

But it means a preparedness to first lay aside present nationalistic prejudices to do so and to embrace the idea of a European people.

Whether it be NWO oppression via the EU or via national governments such as Westminster, the police state will have to be challenged by people like you and me. It will not go away without a struggle. History shows us that power is never given away without a struggle, it has to be wrested from the hands of the rulers.

[xmasdale]

[Rory Winter]

[Rory Winter]

The Europe Controversy



A new Thread meant to continue this & related topics has now been opened in the Scotland Group at

http://www.nineeleven.co.uk/board/viewtopic.php?t=14190

All are welcome to post there, Thanks!