Terrorism
De Kerchove: terrorist threat remains high
The EU States must work together to fight terrorists, calls for years of the Anti-terrorist Officers of the EU, Gilles de Kerchove. Why he does not despair, he says in the Interview.
Deutsche Welle: Before the terrorists attacked last week in Brussels, have tried the Turkey, the Netherlands and the USA to share potentially important information about a suspect returning from Syria with Belgium. That’s what went wrong. Why are States still so difficult, this maybe critical to share information?
Gilles de Kerchove: It is much too early to say who is to blame, Turkey, the Netherlands or Belgium. We want to actively figure out where the stumbling blocks are. You can be technical in nature, they can be justified legally or culturally. We are working with high pressure.
As far as we know, exchange in fact, only five countries in the EU intelligence findings about terrorist. Your Job would be to coordinate and to bring the States and more cooperation. What can you do?
Europol to co-ordinate in The Hague: counter-terrorism
It’s a way to make these things public. If you read the report that I have published only three weeks ago, then you see all the facts. I hope that as a result, some member States recognize that they need to do more. We see progress. Take, for example, the number of the alarm messages in the Schengen information System (SIS) by the secret services (common database, the Schengen States at the external borders, ed.). There, you can’t find in the last few months, only 1000, but 8000 names of Gefährdern. The real challenge is to act very quickly.
The countries of the EU to protect its external borders is sufficient? You mentioned the Schengen information System (SIS), with the returning radicalised fighters tracked down. Is fed, the System of the member States are really sufficient and used?
You’re right that we need to proceed at the external borders much more systematic. The EU heads of state and government have decided, and the legislation is almost complete. You need legal regulations, but also new equipment. All of the Islands in Greece have to be connected (in SIS) and exchange information. Some EU countries will help Greece today, now with equipment – not only because of the terror suspect, but also because of the refugees. As we make progress, but it can be more and go faster. I am confident that we will be able to control the external border in a few months really to 100 percent.
Watch the Video
04:44
Share
Belgium: life after Terror (30.03.2016)
Send
google+
Tumblr
VZ
Mr. Wong
del.icio.us
Webnews
Yigg
Newsvine
Digg
Permalink : http://dw.com/p/1IMOj
Belgium: life after Terror (30.03.2016)
Much has been criticized in the last few days in Belgium. Belgium is a special case?
I wouldn’t say that. All mention now, Molenbeek, but the French Minister has said, there are a number of Molenbeeks in France. By the way, was arrested yesterday in France, someone with a whole Arsenal of weapons and explosives. That was a Frenchman. We must be clear that this is a global threat. It could also happen in Germany or in the UK. It happened in Turkey, in Lebanon, in Jordan, in Egypt. So, Belgium is not alone.
Takes, what the Europeans do, not all of it for far too long? You are impatient? How many “Wake up calls” do you need?
We have made progress. I always say that Edgar Hoover has taken 30 years to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The European police authority Europol is busy for maybe ten years, with terror. But it will be better. It is the member States lies in the Hand. We will invest more in Europol because we have them all. For example, the Internet: If the small Belgium alone speaks with Facebook, Google or other Internet giants over data or decryption of a communication, it will not achieve much. If we act together, we can achieve much more, in order to secure digital evidence and Propaganda of the terrorists.
Belgium and France are trying feverishly to destroy the current terrorist network. If this is done, then the threat is over?
No, unfortunately not. I think the more military pressure we exert on Daesh (Islamic state) in Syria and Iraq, the more terrorist attacks will try to Daesh to carry out attacks in the West, especially in Europe. The terrorist organization wants to show the achievements, but it is military it just happens to be in the Defensive. This can also mean that the fighters have gone from Europe to Daesh, return earlier to Europe than we have expected, actually. The leadership of Daesh could move from Syria to Libya. The threat remains very high indeed. I have to say that you can Park of Terror can never be entirely 100 percent. If someone wants to blow up in the centre of Berlin in the air, then you can stop him. This would be very difficult.
Gilles de Kerchove (59) since 2007, Anti-terrorism representative of the European Union. The Belgian lawyer, previously held senior Posts in the Belgian government and the EU Commission.