Communiqués de presse

Council Declaration at the occasion of the European Day of victims of terrorism, 11 March 2006

On the occasion of the second European Day of victims of terrorism, held on 11 March 2006 the Council of the European Union:

• Expresses its deepest solidarity with all victims of terrorist attacks in Europe and elsewhere in the world, with their families and loved ones. Europe stands united on this day of remembrance. We shall continue to preserve and honour the memory of the dead. We shall maintain and reinforce our support to the victims of terrorism and their families. Their memory inspires us in our quest for justice.
• Exhorts all citizens and their representatives to make this European day of victims of terrorism a day of remembrance and also a day of civic and democratic debate on securing freedom. Those who try to strike at our societies through terror strive in vain. Our countries, our citizens and our Union are bound by common values, principles and freedoms; democracy, human rights, the rule of law and solidarity. No act or campaign of terrorism will be allowed to undermine them.
• Recalls that terrorism strikes victims all around the globe and that the human suffering caused by terrorism knows no boundaries. From America to the Middle East, from Asia to Africa and Europe, there is a single pain, a single resolve. Every human being on this planet is today a potential victim of terrorism. Terrorism spares no one, whatever one’s age, gender, culture, beliefs or nationality. Just as the rejection of terrorism is universal, so must be our global action to defeat it.