Council of Europe Summit Issues Two New European Anti-Terrorism Conventions

By Victor Comras

The Council of Europe convened a two-day summit meeting in Warsaw May 16th to consider its future role in light of European Union Enlargement. The organization's 46 members also opened for signature three new European Wide Conventions including a new Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism and a Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds From Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism.

The Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism seeks to increase the effectiveness of existing international anti-terrorism treaties by criminalizing specific acts that lead to the commission of terrorist offences. According the explanatory report that accompanies the treaty, these include public provocation, recruitment and training for terrorism. It also re-enforces intra-European and international cooperation including extradition, mutual assistance arrangements and other cooperative measures. The Convention also contains a provision on the protection and compensation of victims of terrorism. A consultation process is planned to ensure effective implementation and follow up. Austria, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom signed the Prevention of Terrorism Convention. Other Council of Europe Countries are expected to also sign up shortly.

The Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds From Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism updates and widens a 1990 convention by criminalizing terrorism financing from both licit and illicit sources. It is the first international treaty covering both the prevention and the control of money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The text stresses that quick access to financial information or information on assets held by criminal organisations, including terrorist groups, is the key to successful preventive and repressive measures, and, ultimately, is the best way to stop them. A detailed explanatory report was issued by the COE Committee of Ministers 3 May 2005. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sweden signed this convention on its opening. Most other European countries are expected to sign it shortly.

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