Terrorism: Treaty of Lisbon and European Union Counter-terrorism
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
Before we start to discuss the counter-terrorism strategies of European Union, we have to first answer the question: “What is terrorism?” or “How exactly can be terrorism defined?” When answering this question we will encounter two “problems”. Firstly, it is not straightforward to define this worldwide-known term because of its complexity of relating criminal, unlawful activities and there is no universal definition of terrorism. And secondly, there are as many definitions as many scholarly publications, governmental or non-governmental institutions. For instance, the FBI defined the terrorism in the Code of Federal Regulations as follows “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85).
At the international level was terrorism adjudged as:
Criminal acts, including against civilians, committed with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or taking of hostages, with the purpose to provoke a state of terror in the general public or in a group of persons or particular persons, intimidate a population or compel a government or an international organization to do or to abstain from doing any act, which constitute offences within the scope of and as defined in the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, are under no circumstances justifiable by considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other similar nature (UN Security council Resolution 1566, 2004, art. 2).
And at European level are terrorist offences precisely defined as: offences under national law, which, given their nature or context, may seriously damage a country or an international organisation where committed with the aim of seriously intimidating a population, or unduly
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
Before we start to discuss the counter-terrorism strategies of European Union, we have to first answer the question: “What is terrorism?” or “How exactly can be terrorism defined?” When answering this question we will encounter two “problems”. Firstly, it is not straightforward to define this worldwide-known term because of its complexity of relating criminal, unlawful activities and there is no universal definition of terrorism. And secondly, there are as many definitions as many scholarly publications, governmental or non-governmental institutions. For instance, the FBI defined the terrorism in the Code of Federal Regulations as follows “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85).
At the international level was terrorism adjudged as:
Criminal acts, including against civilians, committed with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or taking of hostages, with the purpose to provoke a state of terror in the general public or in a group of persons or particular persons, intimidate a population or compel a government or an international organization to do or to abstain from doing any act, which constitute offences within the scope of and as defined in the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, are under no circumstances justifiable by considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other similar nature (UN Security council Resolution 1566, 2004, art. 2).
And at European level are terrorist offences precisely defined as: offences under national law, which, given their nature or context, may seriously damage a country or an international organisation where committed with the aim of seriously intimidating a population, or unduly
References: Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.) Terrorism 2002-2005. Retrieved on (October 13, 2012) from FBI’s website: http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/terrorism-2002-2005 United nations Whittaker, D. J. (2001). The Terrorism Reader. London: Routledge. Griset, P. L., Mahan, S. (2003). Terrorism in Perspective. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. Whittaker, D. J. (2004). Terrorists and Terrorism. London: Routledge. Alexander, Y. (2006). Counterterrorism Strategies: Successes and Failures of Six Nations. Washington, D.C.: Potomac Books, Inc. Freedman, L. (2002). Superterrorism: Policy Responses. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Madsen, F. G. (2009). Transnational Organized Crime. New York, NYC: Routledge. Spence, D. (2007). The European Union and Terrorism. London: John Harper Publishing. Mahncke, D., Monar, J. (2006). International Terrorism: A European Response to a Global Threat?. Brussels: P. I. E. Peter Lang S. A. Kennedy, P. (2010). Local Lives and Global Transformations towards World Society. London:Palgrave Macmillan.