EU Presidency Statement on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001

Press release 354/2006
11 September, 2006

On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States, the European Union solemnly remembers the many victims, renews its sympathy to their families and friends, and reiterates its condemnation of all forms of terrorism.

These horrific attacks clearly demonstrated that terrorism is a threat to all States and to all peoples. It poses a serious threat to our security, to the values of our democratic societies and to the rights and freedoms of people, especially through the indiscriminate targeting of innocent people. No cause, no grievance, can justify acts of terrorism.

The fight against terrorism is a priority for the European Union. The EU values counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States and with all partners and emphasizes that any measures undertaken to prevent and combat terrorism must comply with obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law. In this regard, the European Union also welcomes the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the first Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy on 8 September 2006. The European Union is committed to contributing to global security and building a safer world.

While the enhanced cooperation of the international community has brought many successes in the fight against terrorism and many potential terrorist attacks have been thwarted, long-term sustainable success in combating terrorism can be achieved only if we also can successfully tackle the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.