EU home affairs ministers agree on measures to fight terrorism
On 13 November 2020, the home affairs ministers of the EU member states unanimously adopted a joint statement on the recent terrorist attacks. It outlines the areas in which the member states want to strengthen the fight against terrorism and extremism.
Germany's Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer said:
If Europe joins forces to fight terrorism and extremism, Europe is a superpower. All the member states adopted the joint statement on the recent terrorist attacks. This is a tremendous show of solidarity. The EU stands united in the uncompromising and long-term fight against terrorism and extremism.
At the initiative of the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union, public security has moved to the top of the European agenda after the recent attacks in Germany, France and Austria.
Federal Minister Seehofer:
The people can count on European governments to do everything humanly possible to get this scourge of our time under control once and for all.
Federal Minister Seehofer assessed the unanimous adoption of the joint statement as a strong signal of European cohesion.
Federal Minister Seehofer:
The talks were marked by our determination to work together to combat terrorism and extremism in Europe. We are not fighting against a religion, but against fanatical and violent extremism of all kinds.
Another meeting of EU home affairs ministers is planned for December. One of the topics for discussion at that meeting will again be the European police partnership. The European Commission has announced that in early December it will present an action plan on combating terrorism.
Info
Further information on the EU home affairs and interior ministers' videoconference can be found on the website of the Council of the European Union.