Activites

• 2008/12/09 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Decision 2008/919
  • OJ L 330 09.12.2008, p. 0021
• #2908
• 2008/11/28 Council Meeting
• 2008/11/28 End of procedure in Parliament
• 2008/11/28 Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
• 2008/09/23 Results of vote in Parliament
  • Results of vote in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
  • T6-0435/2008 summary

    The European Parliament adopted, by 556 votes to 90 with 19 abstentions, a legislative resolution amended the proposal for a Council Framework Decision amending Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA on combating terrorism. The report had been tabled for consideration by Roselyne LEFRANCOIS (PES, FR) on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.  The main amendments are as follows :Definitions: the term 'provocation' should be replaced by the term 'incitement', since the latter is a clearer concept and it is more frequently used in legal language. The definitions of "public incitement to commit a terrorist offence", "recruitment for terrorism" and “training for terrorism” have been tightened up with a greater emphasis on the element of intent. The words 'whether or not directly advocating terrorist offences' have been dropped from the definition of 'public incitement to commit a terrorist offence'. The jurisdictional rules applicable to the new offences: Parliament felt that the new paragraph 1a incorporated by the Commission into Article 9 of the framework decision goes much too far and should be deleted. The Commission's text had stated that each Member State shall also establish its jurisdiction over the offences referred to in Article 3(2)(a) to (c) where the offence was directed towards or resulted in the carrying out of an offence referred to in Article 1 and such offence is subject to the jurisdiction of the Member State under any of the criteria set out in paragraph 1(a) to (e) of this Article. Members felt that Member States should not be required to establish their jurisdiction extra-territorially as regards the three new offences, since this is a highly sensitive matter, the perception of which varies greatly from one Member State to another. Member States should instead be allowed to choose whether or not to apply the jurisdictional rules laid down in Article 9(d) and (e). Criminalisation of acts: Member States shall ensure that the three acts referred to in the text are criminalised with due respect for the obligations relating to freedom of speech and freedom of association by which those States are bound, in particular the obligations relating to freedom of the press and freedom of expression in other media, and with due respect for the confidentiality of correspondence, including the content of e-mail and other kinds of electronic correspondence. The criminalisation of these acts shall not have the effect of reducing or restricting the dissemination of information for scientific, academic, artistic or reporting purposes, the expression of radical, polemic or controversial views in the public debate on sensitive political questions, including terrorism. Proportionality and safeguards relating to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms: the criminalisation of the acts listed in this Framework Decision should be effected in such a way as to be proportionate to the legitimate aims pursued, necessary and appropriate in a democratic society, and non-discriminatory; it should, in particular, be compatible with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The text states that the Framework Decision shall not have the effect of altering the obligation to respect fundamental rights and fundamental legal principles as enshrined in Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union, in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms."Council of Europe Convention on the prevention of terrorism: lastly, Parliament noted in a new recital that the Framework Decision is complementary to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism of 16 May 2005, and it is therefore essential, in parallel with the entry into force of the Framework Decision, that all Member States ratify that Convention.

• 2008/07/24 Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • A6-0323/2008
• 2008/07/15 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
• 2008/04/23 Legislative proposal published
  • 08707/2008 summary

    PURPOSE: to update the 2002 Council Framework Decision on combating terrorism.BACKGROUND: terrorism threatens the fundamental freedoms on which the EU is founded. In recent years, however, the threat of terrorism has grown. At the same time the modus operandi of certain terrorist organisations has changed. They have evolved from structured and hierarchical groups to semi-autonomous cells loosely tied to each other. Such cells inter-link international networks and increasingly rely on the use of new technologies, in particular the Internet, which acts as a “virtual training camp”. The Internet has allowed terrorists to provoke the public to commit terrorist offences; to recruit terrorists and to train terrorists at very low cost and risk. In November 2007, therefore, the Commission presented a proposal to amend Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA on combating terrorism. The main objectives of the proposal are to update the Decision and align it with the Council of Europe Convention on Prevention of Terrorism. This will include new references to: (i) public provocation to commit terrorist offences; (ii) recruitment for terrorism; and (iii) terrorist training. In April 2008, the Council reached a general approach on this proposal, subject to further parliamentary scrutiny in some Member States and the opinion of the European ParliamentCONTENT: this proposal amends the 2002 Council Framework Decision, by setting out and specifying three key concepts relating to the combating of terrorism namely,Public provocation to commit a terrorist offence: this will mean the distribution, or otherwise making available of a public message, that includes:public provocation to commit a terrorist offence;recruitment for terrorism;training for terrorism;aggravated theft with a view to committing any of the offences mentioned above;extortion with a view to the perpetration of any of the offences mentioned above; anddrawing up false administrative documents with a view to committing any one of the offences listed above.Recruitment for terrorism: this will mean soliciting another person to commit any of the offences list above.Training for terrorism: this will mean providing instruction in the making or use of explosives, firearms or other weapons or noxious or hazardous substances, or in other specific methods or techniques, for the purpose of committing any one of the offences list above.For an act to be punishable, is will not be necessary for the offence to have actually been committed. The Member States will be responsible for ensuring that aiding or abetting any of the offences set out in the proposed Council Framework Decision will be made punishable. The Member States will not be expected to take measures that contradict the fundamental principles relating to the freedom of expression, the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression in other media.

  • DG {'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/justice/', 'title': 'Justice'}, BARROT Jacques
• #2863
• 2008/04/18 Council Meeting
  • 2863 summary

    The Council reached a general approach on a framework decision which aims at including three new crimes in EU legislation:public provocation to commit terrorist offences;recruitment for terrorism; andtraining for terrorism.The inclusion of those offences will bring the advantage of a more integrated EU institutional framework. There will be rules in respect of the type and level of criminal penalties and mandatory rules on jurisdiction which will be applicable to the offences.EU cooperation mechanisms (see for instance the Decision of 2005 on the communication of terrorist-related information to Europol and Eurojust) will be triggered since they have as their scope of application the Framework Decision.In accordance with the text,"public provocation to commit a terrorist offence" means the distribution, or otherwise making available, of a message to the public, with the intent to incite the commission of one of the offences listed in the framework decision, where such conduct, whether or not directly advocating terrorist offences, causes a danger that one or more such offences may be committed;"recruitment for terrorism" means to solicit another person to commit one of the offences listed in the framework decision; and "training for terrorism" means to provide instruction in the making or use of explosives, firearms or other weapons or noxious or hazardous substances, or in other specific methods or techniques, for the purpose of committing one of the offences listed in the framework decision, knowing that the skills provided are intended to be used for this purpose.

• #2853
• 2008/02/28 Council Meeting
  • 2853 summary

    The Slovenian Presidency considered that this proposal was very important and stressed that it was very delicate since it was situated on the borderline of fundamental rights and freedoms such as freedom of expression, assembly or association and the right to respect for family life. It was therefore essential that the right balance was struck in the instrument.The Council focused its debate on the safeguards relating to respect for human rights and the principle of proportionality. The Slovenian Presidency concluded that a majority of Member States agreed to add to the recitals of the text a clause on proportionality based on Article 12.2 of the Council of Europe Convention on prevention of terrorism.A majority of Member States also supported the addition to the framework decision of a new article based on the framework decision on combating certain forms of expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law.The Presidency announced its intention of reaching a general approach on this proposal at the next JHA Council in April 2008.

• 2007/12/11 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• #2838
• 2007/12/06 Council Meeting
  • 2838 summary

    The Council had an initial exchange of views concerning a proposal amending the Framework Decision on combating terrorism.The Presidency indicated that:– the text struck the right balance with fundamental rights and freedoms such as freedom ofexpression, assembly or of association and the right to respect for family life, – the text of the Framework Decision should be agreed as regards the charges (Article 3 of the Commission proposal) with the objective of avoiding any contradiction with the Council of Europe Convention, and without jeopardising the process of ratification of the Council of Europe Convention,– it should be made absolutely clear that the principle of proportionality applied in the implementation of the Framework Decision; a paragraph should be added to the preamble similar in content to Article 12 (2) of the Convention, and that – in order to enhance cooperation, especially with other countries, member states should seek to accelerate procedures for ratification of the Council of Europe Convention.In the light of the debate, the Presidency concluded that delegations broadly welcomed this Commission proposal.

• 2007/11/06 Initial legislative proposal published
  • COM(2007)0650 summary

    PURPOSE: to update Framework Decision 2002/475/JAI on combating terrorism, in order to include in the concept of terrorism, public provocation to commit terrorist offences, as well as recruitment and training for terrorism.PROPOSED ACT: Council Framework DecisionBACKGROUND: terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to democracy, to the free exercise of human rights and to economic and social development. The European Union has set itself an objective in the Treaty on European Union to provide citizens with a high level of safety within an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. It is vitally important that Member States of the European Union have effective criminal laws in place to achieve this objective in the context of the fight against terrorism. Modern information and communication technologies play an important role in the propagation of the terrorist threat. The Internet, in particular, is cheap, fast, easily accessible and has a practically global reach. All these advantages, highly appreciated by law-abiding citizens that benefit from the Internet in their daily lives, are also unfortunately exploited by terrorists. They use the Internet as a means of dissemination of propaganda aiming at mobilisation and recruitment as well as instructions and online manuals intended for training or planning of attacks. Both are addressed at current and potential supporters. The Internet serves in this manner as one of the principal boosters of the processes of radicalisation and recruitment and also serves as a source of information on terrorist means and methods, thus functioning as a 'virtual training camp'.Preventing such a growing threat constitutes a political urgency for the EU. Therefore, the Commission proposes to amend and update Framework Decision 2002/475/JAI on combating terrorism (see CNS/2001/0217) to take this new development into consideration and to:offer Member States the advantages of a more integrated institutional framework of the European Union for these particular offences (in particular, common interpretation by the Court of Justice);provide for a specific legal regime that will be applicable to the newly integrated offences (in particular, criminal penalties in all Member States and compulsory rules on jurisdiction);strengthen the EU’s antiterrorism policy by triggering the European Union cooperation mechanisms for such offences.CONTENT: this proposal aims to amend Framework Decision 2002/475/JAI in order to align it with the Council of Europe Convention on the prevention of terrorism (Warsaw, 16 May 2005) by including in the Framework Decision’s current concept of terrorism: i) public provocation to commit terrorist offences; ii) recruitment and training for terrorism.In this context, the following definitions are added to the text of the Framework Decision:"public provocation to commit a terrorist offence" means the distribution, or otherwise making available, of a message to the public, with the intent to incite the commission of terrorist acts as listed in the Framework Decision (whether or not this behaviour directly advocates terrorist offences);"recruitment for terrorism" means to solicit another person to commit an act of terrorism as listed in the Framework Decision;"training for terrorism" means to provide instruction in the making or use of explosives, firearms or other weapons or noxious or hazardous substances for the purpose of committing a terrorist act as listed in the Framework Decision (including providing skills to be used for this purpose).The Framework Decision, as amended by this proposal, will aim at approximating the definition of terrorist offences in all Member States and harmonising national provisions on public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, and recruitment and training for terrorism, so that these forms of behaviour are punishable, also when committed through the Internet, throughout the EU. Aggravated theft, extortion or drawing up false administrative documents with a view to committing a terrorist act would also be considered as terrorist activities punishable by sanctions. In addition, the Framework Decision specifies that for an act to punishable, it shall not be necessary that a terrorist offence actually be committed (provocation is sufficient).The Framework Decision also aims to ensure that existing provisions on penalties, liability of legal persons, jurisdiction and prosecution applicable to terrorist offences, also apply to the provocation to commit terrorist offences and to recruitment and training for terrorism.Member States shall take the necessary measures to comply with this Framework Decision by 31 December 2008.

  • DG {'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/justice/', 'title': 'Justice'}, BARROT Jacques

Documents

• Initial legislative proposal published: COM(2007)0650
• Debate in Council: 2838
• Debate in Council: 2853
• Debate in Council: 2863
• Legislative proposal published: 08707/2008
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A6-0323/2008
• Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T6-0435/2008
• : Decision 2008/919
• : OJ L 330 09.12.2008, p. 0021

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)