Informal European Council, Ghent, 19 October 2001 and European Conference, Brussels, 20 October 2001

A one-day informal European Council on 19 October 2001 resulted in three declarations: on the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the euro, and the Union's economic situation. Disagreement was reported over the decision of France, Germany and the United Kingdom to hold their own 'mini-summit' to discuss the attacks on Afghanistan and cooperation against terrorism.

The following day a meeting of the European Conference, plus Russia, Ukraine and Moldova, also discussed the fight against terrorism and issued a declaration.

The Ghent Summit

The informal Summit in Ghent (in French 'Gand', in Flemish 'Gent') was originally intended to focus on the introduction of the euro and the enlargement of the Union.

The programme was, however, amended to incorporate discussions on the economic impact of the 11 September 2001 and on the attacks on Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism. The invitation from Belgian's Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, identified four agenda items:

• preparing for the introduction of the euro
• the future of Europe and the Declaration of Laeken
• the fight against terrorism in the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001
• enlargement

According to a BBC report (Analysis: Europe's fragmented voice) the meeting was originally called to 'show off the sense of purpose of the European Union'. However, the Union is reportedly divided over approaches to the American-led fight against terrorism. France, Germany and the UK are the only Member States so far invited by the US to provide military assistance in the war against terrorism. Those three Member States decided to hold a brief meeting immediately prior to the informal European Council - a move which angered other leaders. The Italians were said to be particularly upset over their exclusion, and The Guardian reported that Commission President Romano Prodi criticised France, Germany and the UK for holding the 'mini-summit' (see Anger over secret Blair war talks).

Some Member States apparently feel that national governments are acting individually rather than collectively, and that the Union is struggling to find a single voice. Particular criticism has been leveled at Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is seen by some as being too aggressive. Concerns have also been expressed by Poland and the Czech Republic over the Union's evolving security relationship with Russia (see Analysis: Europe's fragmented voice).

The view expressed in the Financial Times was that 'The heads of state of the EU's leading members have seized the opportunity to further their own agendas. As a result, the common voice on EU foreign policy that was beginning to be heard seems to have broken down into a cacophony of individual pronouncements' (see Power to the capitals).

Security at the Summit was inevitably very tight. Although there were protests against global capitalism and against the attacks on Afghanistan, there were no reports of the sort of violent incidents which marred the Gothenburg Summit and the G8 meeting in Genoa.

Decisions taken at Ghent

The Belgian Presidency issued three declarations after the meeting, dealing with the attacks of 11 September 2001, the euro, and the economic situation in the EU.

Terrorism

The Declaration on the 11 September 2001 attacks reaffirmed the Union's 'total solidarity with the United States' and enumerated eight further points:

1. Support for the military operations in Afghanistan which began on 7 October 2001. The Union 'must now, under the aegis of the United Nations, work towards the emergence of a stable, legitimate and representative government for the whole of the Afghan people, one which respects human rights and develops good relations with all the neighbouring countries. As soon as that goal is attained, the European Union will embark with the international community on a far-reaching and ambitious programme of political and humanitarian aid for the reconstruction of Afghanistan with a view to stabilising the region.'

2. The Action Plan against terrorism is being implemented, with 79 operations now underway. The meeting requested the Council to focus on four specific elements of the Plan:

• the European arrest warrant, the common definition of terrorist offences and the freezing of assets
• increased cooperation between services responsible for combating terrorism: Europol, Eurojust, the intelligence services, police forces and judicial authorities
• adoption of the Directive on money laundering and the speedy ratification by all Member States of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism
• approval of the Commission's proposals on air transport security

3. Humanitarian aid for Afghanistan and neighbouring countries is an absolute priority.

4. The European Council examined proposals for cooperation made following a meeting on 27 September 2001 between the President of the European Council and the President of the United States.

5. Threats posed by terrorists' use of biological and chemical weapons were discussed. A European coordinator for civil protection measures will be appointed. Member States will react 'firmly' towards anyone involved in hoaxes (in the UK, new legislation came into force on Sunday, 21 October 2001, under which the maximum penalty for hoaxes involving bio-chemical, radioactive or nuclear weapons is seven years imprisonment - see New law targets anthrax hoaxers).

6. The Middle East peace process should be re-launched without any pre-conditions.

7. The European Union will increase its efforts in other regions of the world to promote a fair international system based on security, prosperity, democracy and development.

8. Steps will be taken to avoid equating terrorism with Arabs and Muslims.

The euro

In its Declaration on the euro, the European Council invited the Member States, the Ecofin Council, the European Commission and the European Central Bank to pay particular attention to:

• local authorities' preparedness for the changeover
• the need to prepare businesses with fewer than 50 employees
• the need to ensure that economic operators do not take the opportunity to increase prices
• iproving cross-border payment systems and reducing their cost

Economic situation

In the Declaration on the economic situation the European Council confirmed that the economic slowdown has been accentuated by the events of 11 September 2001, but 'expressed its confidence that the sound economic fundamentals of the Union and the fiscal consolidation already achieved will help to ensure that the impact will be limited and temporary.' There will be no departure from the Union's economic policy strategy.

The European Council invited Member States to give particular importance to:

• the positive effects of tax reforms
• strengthening confidence and private investment and, where appropriate, public
• infrastructure investment
• automatic stabilisers, which have a role to play in accordance with the Stability and Growth Pact
• implementing structural adjustment efforts in labour, product, services and financial markets.
• launching WTO negotiations

According to the Financial Times 'The economic slowdown, which is already triggering rising unemployment, is promoting public friction between some eurozone countries and the European Central Bank' (Ghent will see tensions of war debated in private). The ECB has been criticised by Belgium, France and Germany for not reducing interest rates. Although some observers feel that the Union is unrealistically restrained by the requirements of the Growth and Stability Pact, Commission President Romano Prodi has said the Pact must be honoured, and has warned Member States that any budgetary excess could result in a formal reprimand from the Commission (as happened to Ireland earlier this year).

The European Conference

On 20 October 2001, the day after the Ghent Summit, the Belgian Presidency convened a meeting of the European Conference in Brussels, to discuss the fight against terrorism. Some 40 countries were involved in the 'expanded' European Conference, which included the associated countries, EFTA countries and those involved in the stabilisation and association process. Due to the importance of the subject matter, the Presidency also invited the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Moldavia to the working lunch.

The European Conference Declaration included a condemnation of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, together with a statement of solidarity with the United States in the fight against terrorism and support for the measures taken, 'including wholehearted support for the action in the framework of legitimate defence and in accordance with the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 1368.'

The countries of the European Conference, together with Russia, Ukraine and Moldova, agreed to:

• strive, under the aegis of the United Nations, to strengthen the international coalition against terrorism
• develop and implement national anti-terrorism programmes inspired by the EU Action Plan, and to intensify coordination
• combat the financing of terrorism
• ensure that the fight against terrorism is conducted in observance of human rights and the rule of law
• study the conditions and arrangements for an exchange of information on: the activities and movements of individuals or groups belonging to terrorist networks or linked to them; deliveries of weapons, explosives and dual-use goods; new forms of terrorist activities, including chemical, biological and nuclear threats.

The Belgian Presidency expressed the hope 'that this conference will serve as an example that other regional groups will follow as they set up a regional coalition in the fight against terrorism.'

Further information within European Sources Online:

European Sources Online: In FocusTerrorist attack in the United States, 11 September 2001 - the implications for Europe, September 2001

European Sources Online: Topic Guides:The European Council

Further information can be seen in these external links:
(long-term access cannot be guaranteed)

Belgium: EU Presidency of the Council:

• Homepage
• Declaration by the Heads of State and Government and the President of the Commission: 11 September 2001 attacks
• Declaration by Heads of State and Government and the President of the Commission: EURO
• Declaration by Heads of State and Government and the President of the Commission: Economic situation
• European Conference Declaration

Council of the European Union:

• Homepage
• Presidency conclusions

European Commission: Press and Communication Service

	Home page
	18.10.01:	Mr Romano Prodi President of the European Commission Preparation of Ghent European Council Press Conference Brussels, 18 October 2001
	18.10.01:	Report from the Commission Overview of EU action in response to the events of the 11 September 2001 and assessment of their likely economic impact

European Central Bank

• Home page

BBC News Online

	17.10.01:	Analysis: Europe's fragmented voice
	17.10.01:	EU ministers back terror crackdown
	18.10.01:	Schroeder issues EU rallying cry
	19.10.01:	Blair welcomes EU anti-terror support
	19.10.01:	EU takes softer stance on war aims
	19.10.01:	European press review
	19.10.01:	The ghost town of Ghent
	19.10.01:	Italy stumbles on world stage
	19.10.01:	Rate cut row mars summit
	21.10.01:	New law targets anthrax hoaxers

CNN.com

	18.10.01:	Terror to dominate EU summit
	19.10.01:	EU ministers tone down rhetoric
	20.10.01:	EU unites region against terror

FT.com

	15.10.01:	Power to the capitals
	18.10.01:	Anthrax and the Nice agenda
	18.10.01:	Editorial comment: Leadership in Ghent
	18.10.01:	Europe's tight corner
	19.10.01:	Ghent will see tensions of war debated in private
	20.10.01:	EU leaders to hold line on budgets

Guardian Unlimited

	18.10.01:	Cracks begin to show
	19.10.01:	Anger over secret Blair war talks
	19.10.01:	Row over EU 'mini-summit'
	20.10.01:	Europe backs US action

Hindustantimes.com

	19.10.01:	Belgium warplanes ready to stop EU summit attack
	19.10.01:	Thousands protest Afghan strikes at EU summit

The Independent

	19.10.01:	EU 'pre-summit' meeting upsets uninvited nations
	20.10.01:	Heavyweights accused of acting like 'inner club'

Eric Davies
KnowEurope Researcher
Compiled: 20-21 October 2001

A one-day informal European Council on 19 October 2001focussed on the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the euro, and the Union's economic situation.