Planning terrorist attacks must be made a crime in all EU members states

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Travelling abroad for terrorist purposes, training or being trained, incitement to terrorism, or financing of terrorist activities must be made a crime in all EU member states, urge Members of the European Parliament (MEP) in the Civil Liberties Committee in a resolution voted on earlier this week. Ahead of upcoming talks with the European Council on a draft new counter-terrorism directive, MEPs also stressed the need to protect and assist victims, especially across borders.

According to Homeland Security News Wire, the European Parliament said that the amendments, prepared by lead MEP Monika Hohlmeier, were passed by 41 votes to 4, with 10 abstentions.

“We have managed to strike a fair balance between ensuring security and respecting basic human rights, such as freedom of opinion, to travel and access education,” said Hohlmeier after the vote. “This is the first time that the Parliament has taken decisions in the field of counter-terrorism, after the Lisbon Treaty granted it legislative powers in this area,” she noted, stressing that a broad majority backed the common approach.

The draft counter-terrorism directive, presented by the Commission on 2 December 2015 in the wake of the November Paris attacks, is considered a key tool in the joint fight to prevent terrorism by criminalizing preparatory acts.

The committee also gave the rapporteur a mandate to open up negotiations with the Council. The three way talks between Parliament, Council, and Commission are expected to begin before the summer recess.