Cities and regions in front line of terrorism and crisis management 27-02-2006 The Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted a report which calls for the
drawing-up of a specific action plan on freedom, security and justice addressed
to cities and regions on 16 February 2006. Rotterdam Mayor Ivo Opstelten, chair
of the commission which presented the report, says the current proposals,
foreseen under the EU's ‘Hague Programme', do not sufficiently recognise the
crucial role played by regional and local authorities in providing the
front-line response to terrorist attacks, pandemics, natural disasters,
industrial accidents and other catastrophes.
Opstelten, newly-elected as President of the Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group in the CoR, stresses that local and regional
authorities also form the front line in dealing with street crime, violence and
extremism. He says there should be more focus on radicalisation trends and
identifying groups susceptible to extremism. Above all, Opstelten´s report
underlines that Member States and local and regional authorities need each other
to achieve a noticeable improvement in freedom, security and justice. In his
opinion, shared by the CoR, the EU will strengthen public confidence in the
European project considerably if it is seen to be making a real difference in
improving security and protecting citizens' rights and freedoms.
The report is a response to the European Commission's communication on
implementation of the Hague Programme, as well as other related proposals and
initiatives. It strongly recommends a common migration policy. Opstelten
stresses this should be coupled with a thorough integration programme , with
local authorities given responsibility for maintaining and promoting social
cohesion.
And their involvement should not stop there, says Opstelten. He urges CoR
members and other representatives of local and regional authorities to play a
more active role across the whole spectrum of issues related to freedom,
security and justice. He calls on the Commission, in turn, to pay greater
attention to their input and to take account of his recommendations in the
mid-term review of the action plan.
LinksSource: Committee of the Regions Files back |
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