Terrorist content online: MEPs agree to start negotiations with EU countries

• Internet companies would have one hour to remove terrorist content
• Penalties of up to 4% of the company’s turnover in case of persistent breaches
• Online platforms should not be subject to general monitoring obligations, nor compulsory use of filters
Civil Liberties MEPs agreed on Tuesday to begin discussions with EU ministers on new EU rules to tackle the dissemination of terrorist content on the internet.
According to the draft legislation, internet companies hosting content uploaded by users (like Facebook or YouTube) that offer their services in the EU will have to remove terrorist content when told to do so by the competent national authority, at the latest within one hour of receiving the order.The European Parliament adopted its position on this proposal last April and the Civil Liberties Committee today confirmed it with 55 votes in favour to 6 against and 4 abstentions. EP and Council negotiators will soon begin the discussions on the final form of the rules.MEPs do not want platforms to be obliged to monitor the content they upload or to have to apply automatic filters. Parliament also wants to ensure that free speech and press freedom are guaranteed, so MEPs made it clear that the expression of polemic or controversial views on sensitive political questions should not be considered terrorist content.
Negotiations with the Council of the EU may start as soon as the negotiating mandate is confirmed by plenary, which will consider the proposal at the 9-10 October session in Brussels.

Terrorist content online should be removed within one hour, says EP

Companies could face sanctions of up to 4% of turnover if there are persistent breaches No general monitoring obligation for online platforms, nor compulsory use of filters MEPs insist that free speech and press freedom must be safeguarded Internet companies should remove terrorist content within one hour after receiving an order from the authorities, to combat radicalisation and contribute to public security.
With 308 votes in favour to 204 against and 70 abstentions, Parliament backed on Wednesday a proposal to tackle the misuse of internet hosting services for terrorist purposes. Companies that systematically and persistently fail to abide by the law may be sanctioned with up to 4% of their global turnover.The newly elected European Parliament will be in charge of negotiating with the Council of Ministers on the final form of the text.Once an internet company hosting content uploaded by users (like Facebook or YouTube) that offers their services in the EU has received a removal order from the competent national authority, they will have one hour to remove it or disable access to it in all EU member states. However, they will not be generally obliged to monitor the information they transmit or store, nor have to actively seek facts indicating illegal activity.To help smaller platforms, MEPs decided that, when a company has never received a removal order before, the competent authority should contact it, to provide information on procedures and deadlines, at least 12 hours before issuing the first order to remove content that they are hosting.If a company has been subject to a substantial number of removal orders, the authorities may request that it implements additional specific measures (e.g. regularly reporting to the authorities, or increasing human resources). MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee agreed not to impose an obligation to monitor uploaded content nor the use of automated tools.The legislation targets any material -text, images, sound recordings or videos- that “incites or solicits the commission or contribution to the commission of terrorist offences, provides instructions for the commission of such offences or solicits the participation in activities of a terrorist group”, as well as content providing guidance on how to make and use explosives, firearms and other weapons for terrorist purposes.
Content disseminated for educational, journalistic or research purposes should be protected, according to MEPs. They also make clear that the expression of polemic or controversial views on sensitive political questions should not be considered terrorist content.

Terrorist content online: companies to be given just one hour to remove it

Internet companies should remove terrorist content quickly, at the latest one hour after receiving an order from the authorities, Civil Liberties Committee agreed.
With 35 votes to 1 and 8 abstentions, the Civil Liberties Committee approved on Monday a draft piece of legislation to tackle hosting services being misused to publicly disseminate terrorist content online across the EU. Hosting service providers that systematically and persistently fail to abide by the law may be sanctioned with up to 4% of their global turnover. Once an internet company hosting content uploaded by users (like Facebook or YouTube) that offers their services in the EU has received a removal order from the competent national authority, they will have one hour to do so. But they will not be generally obliged to monitor the information they transmit or store, nor have to actively seek facts indicating illegal activity.If a company has been subject to a substantial number of removal orders, the authorities may request that it implements additional specific measures (e.g. regularly reporting to the authorities, or increasing human resources). The Civil Liberties Committee voted to exclude from these measures the obligation to monitor uploaded content and the use of automated tools.Moreover, any decision in this regard should take into account the size and economic capacity of the enterprise and “the freedom to receive and impart information and ideas in an open and democratic society”, MEPs agreed.To help smaller platforms, MEPs decided that the competent authority should contact companies that have never received a removal order to provide them with information on procedures and deadlines, at least 12 hours before issuing the first order to remove content that they are hosting.
The legislation targets any material -text, images, sound recordings or videos- that “incites or solicits the commission or contribution to the commission of terrorist offences, provides instructions for the commission of such offences or solicits the participation in activities of a terrorist group”, as well as content providing guidance on how to make and use explosives, firearms and other weapons for terrorist purposes.
Content disseminated for educational, journalistic or research purposes should be protected, according to MEPs. They also make clear that the expression of polemic or controversial views on sensitive political questions should not be considered terrorist content.

Cutting off terrorist financing: Parliament ready to negotiate

European Parliament is ready to start talks with ministers on two laws targeting the financing of terrorism and organised crime.The two laws will clamp down on the funding of terrorism and other organised crime, by countering money laundering as well as easing cross-border freezing and confiscation of the proceeds of crime. The directive to counter money laundering would improve enforcement by laying down EU-wide definitions of crimes and minimum penalties. MEPs also propose barring those convicted from running for public office or holding a position of public servant. The cross-border confiscation regulation would set tight deadlines for member states to act on cross-border requests to freeze or confiscate assets, leaving criminals with less time to move them. Furthermore, the process would be simplified in order to make cross-border confiscations easier to carry out, as they are under-used under current rules. At the moment, only an estimated 1.1% of criminal proceeds are ever confiscated.
In both cases, harmonising rules throughout the EU will ensure that terrorists and other criminals will no longer be able to take advantage of the variation in national legislation. The two laws aim to more efficiently deprive terrorists and other organised criminals of the money they depend on to carry out their activities. The mandate for MEPs to start talks with the Council and the Commission was deemed approved after no objections were received by the deadline of midnight on Tuesday. The talks can begin immediately, as the Council has already agreed on its general approach on both drafts. Both files – “Countering money laundering by criminal law” and the “Mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders” – are part of the Commission’s Action Plan against terrorist financing, proposed in December 2016.

The Kurdish-European Society condemns the terrorist attack in Barcelona

A van rammed into a crowd in Barcelona.Several people were killed and many innocent children were injured. The terror group IS confessed to the act.The Kurdish-European Society (KES) condemns the cowardly deed.The President of KES Kahraman Evsen expresses condolences to the relatives and friends of the killed and to all Spaniards. Evsen continues: “In the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, we stand firmly on the side of the Spanish people.
We as Kurds in particular can feel the pain and sorrow of our Catalan friends. In Kurdistan, we have been exposed to the terror of extremist groups for years and have made many sacrifices in the fight against the IS. The terrorists have not managed to intimidate us. On the contrary, in Iraq and Syria we were able to successfully repulse them. Together with our Spanish and Catalan friends, we will also defeat the terrorists in Spain.”

The lessons of a terrorist attack at a London mosque

IT COULD have been London Bridge, Westminster, Berlin or Nice. A man in a van, mowing down pedestrians, spewing hate: the ritual is sadly familiar. But this time the victims were Muslims, worshippers who had been at prayer after breaking their Ramadan fast. Just after midnight on June 19th a van mounted the pavement outside the Muslim Welfare House near the Finsbury Park mosque in north London. One man, already receiving first aid after slipping over, was killed. Nine others were injured. Witnesses say the attacker leapt from the vehicle shouting “kill all Muslims” and “you deserve it” before being overpowered by onlookers.Darren Osborne, a middle-aged man from Cardiff, has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences, including murder and attempted murder. The police and government are clear in describing the attack as terrorism. Theresa May convened an emergency COBRA meeting. It is not known if the attacker had links to extremist groups or was a “lone wolf”. But his actions have turned attention back to the threat from the far right.
Prevent, part of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy, is often criticised for focusing unfairly on Muslims. In fact it deals with all forms of extremism. In 2015 around 15% of all referrals to Channel, a Prevent programme that offers those identified as at risk of radicalisation a mix of education, counselling and support, were related to the far right, against 70% for Islamist extremism. The proportion varies locally. In Leicestershire about a quarter are for far-right extremism and half for the Islamist sort. In South Wales and Yorkshire, it could be more like 50-50, reckons Sean Arbuthnot, a Prevent co-ordinator.The political threat from far-right extremists has never been weaker, says Vidhya Ramalingam, founder of Moonshot, an organisation that combats online violent extremism. Support for the far-right British National Party, which won more than 560,000 votes in the 2010 general election, has collapsed. In 2017 it took just 4,642. Its short-lived political success may have contributed to its downfall; activists may have chafed at the party’s attempts to become a legitimate political movement.Far-right extremists are a disparate bunch. Much activity happens online. They agree on little. Common to them all, however, is a hostility towards Muslims, even more than hatred of Jews, says Matthew Feldman of Teesside University. As the Finsbury Park attack shows, the risk of violent extremism is rising. The numbers referred to Channel are growing. Last year the government banned National Action, a group that supported Thomas Mair, the murderer of Jo Cox, a Labour MP. It was the first far-right group to be banned in Britain since the second world war.The far right’s ideology may differ sharply from that of Islamist extremists, but the process of radicalisation is almost identical, says William Baldet, a Prevent co-ordinator in Leicestershire. Those most at risk are often vulnerable, perhaps because of mental-health problems or drug misuse. A sudden event, such as a bereavement, can lead them to reach out to far-right groups whose extremist ideology they then espouse.The response is accordingly similar. Police and other agencies try to identify the underlying causes of an individual’s radicalisation before challenging the ideology. But it is hard to spot those at risk on the far right. When it comes to Islamist extremism, there are institutions, such as mosques and schools, to work through, and Muslims are often concentrated in particular areas. One way to find the far-right kind is to look for spikes in hate crime. But for some ethnic minorities, hate crime is now so common that many do not bother to report it, worries Mr Baldet.The big fear is that Finsbury Park, itself possibly a response to earlier attacks, may trigger a cycle of “tit-for-tat terrorism”. Far-right extremism and the Islamist sort are two sides of the same coin, says Mr Arbuthnot. They may be ideologically opposed but they thrive off each other. Still, some hope can be found in the response of Mohammed Mahmoud, an imam from the Muslim Welfare Centre. He and others protected the driver from an angry crowd, before handing him over to the police. (by The Economist) (photo: terrorist attack)

EU security policy debate one year after Brussels terrorist attacks, 15.00 today

MEPs will debate progress on the European security agenda since the 22 March 2016 terrorist attacks in Brussels with EU Commissioners Dimitris Avramopoulos and Sir Julian King, and Maltese Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg for the Council Presidency, on Wednesday at 15.00. Enhancing information sharing, combatting terrorism financing, preventing radicalisation and strengthening controls at the EU’s external borders are key priorities.In the past year, the EU has approved, inter alia, a directive on the use of Passenger Name Records (PNR – which should help to trace terrorists), updated rules on counter-terrorism measures and new requirements to check everyone crossing EU external borders as well as new rules on Europol to allow the agency to respond faster to terrorist threats. Further initiatives in the pipeline include reviewing the Schengen Information System and the European Criminal Records Information System and establishing a new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to pre-screen travelers entering the EU visa free.In September 2016, Sir Julian King was appointed as Commissioner for Security Union, a newly created portfolio.

Terrorist threat and refugee crisis: French and German answers/Menace terroriste et crise des réfugiés : réponses franco-allemandes

On the anniversary of the Franco-German Treaty of the Elysée we issue a declaration from the “Think Tanks Tandem”, series of meetings organised between representatives of French and German think-tanks.
The challenges created by the threat of terrorism and the migrant crisis are so important that they could affect Franco-German relations, on a governmental level as well as on citizen level, especially if the the populist and anti-European actors from the two countries manage to provoke closure reflexes using these challenges in interior politics.
The necessity for tight cooperation is therefore more obvious today than ever before. If our two countries become closer the cooperation in the face of these challenges could consolidate not just Franco-German relations, but also the cohesion of the European Union.
Tribune par Yves Bertoncini, Gilles Finchelstein, Marcel Grignard, Julie Hamann, Ronja Kempin, Guillaume Klossa, Nicole Koenig, Martin Koopmann, Jean-Paul Maulny, Marc-Olivier Padis, Sophie Pornschlegel, Dominic Schwickert, Stefan Seidendorf, Hans Stark
Texte intégralTexte intégral. À l’occasion de l’anniversaire du traité franco-allemand de l’Elysée, nous vous adressons une déclaration issue du “Think Tanks Tandem”, série de rencontres organisées entre des représentants de think tanks français et allemands.
Les défis que représentent la menace terroriste et la crise des réfugiés sont à tel point importants qu’ils pourraient affecter les relations franco-allemandes, tant à l’échelon gouvernemental qu’à celui des citoyens. A fortiori si les acteurs populistes et anti-européens des deux pays parvenaient à attiser des réflexes de repli en instrumentalisant ces défis sur le plan de la politique intérieure.
La nécessité de coopérer étroitement est donc plus évidente aujourd’hui que jamais. Si nos deux pays font un pas l’un vers l’autre, la coopération face à ces défis pourra consolider non seulement les relations franco-allemandes, mais aussi la cohésion de toute l’Union européenne.(photo: tribune)

Civil Liberties MEPs quiz Gilles de Kerchove on counter-terrorism measures

In the wake of this summer’s terrorist attacks in Europe, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove debated trends revealed by such attacks and EU counter-terrorism measures with Civil Liberties Committee MEPs on Monday afternoon.MEPs quizzed Mr de Kerchove on his plans to cooperate with newly-appointed security Commissioner Sir Julian King, information exchange, prevention strategies and the possibility of training Imams in Europe. They also asked how smaller towns could counter the risk of an attack and EU member states’ progress in implementing the EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) directive approved in April.On 31 August, MEPs debated this summer’s attacks in France and Germany with representatives of the Commission and the Presidency of the Council. As Mr de Kerchove was unable to take part in that debate, he attended Monday’s meeting of the Civil Liberties Committee instead.

Fight against terror: Planning terrorist acts must be criminalised, Civil Liberties MEPs say

Travelling abroad for terrorist purposes, training or being trained, incitement to terrorism or financing of terrorist activities must be criminalised in all EU member states. In a vote on Monday night, ahead of upcoming talks with the Council on the proposal for a new counter-terrorism directive, MEPs also stressed the need to protect and assist victims, especially across borders.
The amendments, prepared by lead MEP Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, DE), were passed by the Civil Liberties Committee with 41 votes to 10, with 4 abstentions.Rapporteur Hohlmeier will give a press conference on Tuesday morning at 9.30am in Parliament’s press briefing room in Strasbourg on the outcome of the vote. The proposal for the Counter-terrorism directive was presented by the Commission on 2 December 2015 in the wake of the November Paris attacks and is considered a key tool in the joint fight to prevent terrorism.

Global Travel and Tourism leaders’ statement on the recent terrorist attacks

The leaders of the Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC), meeting in Montreal on the occasion of the 2015 ICAO World Aviation Forum, condemn the terror attacks in recent days and weeks and extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all the victims affected by such senseless violence. Our thoughts are with them at this terrible time.Terrorism is a global threat that can only be addressed through the strong and concerted efforts of the world’s governments and the international community.The Travel & Tourism sector recalls that security is a prerequisite for tourism and therefore the sector is fully available to cooperate with governments to include tourism representatives from the public and private sectors in national security planning and implementation structures and procedures. Our sector is fully available to apply its experience to work even closer with governments around the world to develop the appropriate response and recovery plans for the sector where necessary.

Terrorist attacks: MEPs demand more information-sharing and coordination in EU

The urgent need to step up information-sharing among EU member states and between them and Europol to fight terrorism, the work on the Passenger Name Records data (EU PNR) proposal and the de-radicalisation of EU citizens joining terrorist organisations were among the topics discussed by MEPs with Europol chief Rob Wainwright and Council and Commission representatives on Thursday. Before the debate, the civil liberties committee observed a minute’s silence for the victims of the Paris attacks.MEPs agreed that information-sharing between member states and their intelligence services in Europe must be improved to prevent terrorist attacks. Europol Director Rob Wainwright voiced his concern at the escalation of terror, saying: “The Paris attacks were the most serious in Europe in more than 10 years.” He warned that new terrorist attacks were “likely” to happen on European soil.While some MEPs called for the swift adoption of the EU Passenger Name Records proposal on the collection of air passengers’ data in order to fight terrorism and serious transnational crime, others stressed that EU PNR was not a silver bullet and that more focus must be placed on EU-wide de-radicalisation actions, controlling access to firearms and using joint investigation teams.The speakers also stressed that the EU and member states must take great care not to call Schengen into question, but must at the same time ensure our safety through better border guards at the external borders. Many called for proportionality in the response to the terror attacks, recalling that citizens’ civil liberties and fundamental rights had also been attacked.

MEPs to hear Europol and EU counter-terrorism chiefs ahead of ministers’ meeting

Civil liberties MEPs will discuss the Paris terrorist attacks and subsequent police operations, ahead of Friday’s Justice and Home Affairs Council, at a special meeting on Thursday morning. Europol Director Rob Wainwright, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Gilles De Kerchove (tbc), and representatives of the Council Presidency and the Commission will take part.The debate, addressing current and envisaged anti-terror measures, will take place from 9.50 to 10.50. MEPs are likely to discuss the Passenger Name Record data (EU PNR) proposal, currently being negotiated by European legislators in “trialogues” (three-way talks between Parliament, Council and Commission), stepping up information-sharing among member states and between them and Europol, strengthening controls at the EU’s external borders, tackling terrorist financing, and fighting firearms trafficking.The Council Presidency will be represented by Ambassador Christian Braun and the European Commission by the Director-General of DG Home, Matthias Ruete.
Parliament will also debate and vote on a civil liberties committee report on the prevention of radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations at its 23-26 November session in Strasbourg.

Terrorist attacks in Paris and preparation of the JHA Council

Bruxelles Thursday, 19 November 2015, 9.00 – 12.30- Room József Antall (JAN) 2Q2 Debate on the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November in preparation of the extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council on 20 November with representatives of the Council Presidency (tbc), the European Commission, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Gilles De Kerchove, (tbc), and Europol Director Rob Wainwright (9.45 – 10.45)
EU agency for law enforcement cooperation and training – rapporteur Agustín Díaz de Mera (EPP, ES) reports back to the committee on the state of play of trilogue negotiations (10.45 – 10.50)
The situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration – debate on a working document “Analysis on how Home Funds are spent in migration & development context, including emergency funds”, co-authored by Roberta Metsola, Kashetu Kyenge, Barbara Spinelli and Ignazio Corrao, followed by the presentation of the findings of an ad-hoc delegation to Tunis, Tunisia, on 12-14 October 2015 (10.50 – 11.30)
Establishment of a touring visa and review of the EU Visa Code – debate on amendments – rapporteurs Brice Hortefeux (EPP, FR), on the establishment of a touring visa, and Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES), on the review of the EU Visa Code (9.00 – 9.45)

The prevention of radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations

Brussels Monday, 19 October 2015 Room József Antall (JAN) 6Q2 The prevention of radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations – vote on a draft report by Rachida Dati (EPP, FR) (17.30 – 18.30)
The situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration – co-rapporteurs Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) and Kashetu Kyenge (S&D, IT) – debate on a working document on tackling criminal smuggling, trafficking and labour exploitation of irregular migrants (16.25 – 17.30)
proposal for a Council decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 196) and of the Additional Protocol to that Convention – presentation by the Commission (15.00 – 15.40)
EU agency for law enforcement cooperation and training – presentation of the state of play of trilogue negotiations (including the issue of the Internet Referral Unit) in the presence of the Council Presidency and the Commission (15.40 – 16.00)

WTTC Statement following the terrorist attack in Tunisia

WTTC condemns in the strongest terms the attack in Port el-Kantaoui, Sousse, Tunisia, on 26 March 2015. David Scowsill, President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council, said:“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families of all the victims of this brutal attack. Our thoughts are with them at this terrible time.It is it with deep regret that the world again has its eyes on Tunisia. This attack strikes at the heart of the country’s tourism industry, only three months after the callous attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis in March 2015.Tunisia is a beautiful destination. Travel & Tourism plays a pivotal role in the country’s economy, generating over 15% of the country’s GDP at around US$7.4 billion, and supporting nearly 14% of total employment in 2014.Tourism is a force for good in the world with its great economic and social benefits. It is important that travel organisations and travellers continue to support Tunisia, whilst the government takes appropriate measures on security.”

Debate on CIA’s use of torture and role of EU member states

US Senate revelations of the CIA’s use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with the alleged complicity of some EU member states, will be debated with Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and the Italian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Benedetto Della Vedova on Wednesday, at 15.00.You can watch the plenary debate via EP Live and EbS+ and follow live coverage on twitter @EP_Justice. Hashtags: #CIA TortureReport.The alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transportation and illegal detention of prisoners was investigated by a European Parliament temporary committee set up in 2006.In its final report, approved on 14 February 2007, Parliament deplored the passivity of some EU member states in the face of illegal CIA operations.The CIA’s extraordinary rendition programme “in the majority of cases, involved incommunicado detention and torture”, said the text. This was confirmed by the victims – or their lawyers – who testified to the Parliament’s committee.A resolution on the US Senate report revelations will be put to a vote at February’s plenary session.

WJC President Lauder condemns Palestinian unity accord

NEW YORK – World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder today condemned the reconciliation deal announced by Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas, which could lead to a unity government between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, which is led by Mahmoud Abbas, and the Hamas government in Gaza. “After many months of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, we finally see the PA’s true colors: Mahmoud Abbas has decided that he would rather reconcile with the terrorist organization Hamas than make peace with Israel,” Lauder said. “All of the time and political capital expended by Secretary of State John Kerry and President Obama, all of the terrorist murderers released by Israel, all of this has been wasted on what was essentially a subterfuge. Abbas has now shown the world that he never seriously considered a two-state solution nor the acceptance of Israel as a Jewish State.”Lauder continued: “Instead of a peace treaty and the possibility of advancing his people out of the squalor they have lived in for more than 60 years, we have unity of Fatah and Hamas – two Palestinian entities that would rather destroy Israel and kill Jews than live in peace. This is one more dark chapter in an  old book that is filled with blood, terror, poverty and very little hope. And in the end, it’s hardly just Israel that will suffer, but the Palestinian people as well.”

Committee green light for air passenger data transfers to Australia

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A new agreement on the transfer of EU air passengers’ personal data to the Australian Customs Service was approved by the Civil Liberties Committee on Monday. The data will be used to prevent terrorist offences and serious transnational crime. It will be retained by the Australian authorities for a maximum of 5 and a half years.
Passenger Name Record (PNR) data collected by air carriers includes, inter alia, names, addresses, passport numbers and credit card details. Under Australian law, air companies are obliged to send it to the Australian Customs Service prior to passenger departure. The new agreement aims to bring data transfers in line with EU data protection rules.
Under the new agreement, the Australian Customs Service would retain the passenger’s data for a maximum period of 5 and a half years. During this period PNR data would be kept in the system for the purpose of preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting terrorist offences or serious transnational crime. After the first 3 years, all information which could be used to identify a passenger would be “depersonalized”, meaning that data such as the passenger’s name or her/his contact information would be masked out. After the 5 and a half year period, data would be permanently deleted.
The agreement would prohibit any processing of sensitive data (such as the racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, physical or mental health or sexual orientation). To prevent any accidental loss or unauthorised disclosure of data, PNR would be held in a secure environment, with high-level systems and physical intrusion controls. No copies of the PNR data would be allowed, other than for recovery back-up purposes. The agreement was approved with 25 votes in favour, 7 against and one abstention. The Greens/EFA and GUE groups voted against. They presented a minority opinion saying that “the agreement does not meet the guarantees requested by the EP in its previous resolutions” concerning mainly necessity and proportionality and adequate safeguards to prevent discriminatory profiling. “This raises serious concerns about compatibility of the agreement with the Charter of Fundamental Rights”, says the text.
The agreement will be put to a plenary vote on 27 October. If Parliament gives its consent, the Council will adopt a decision on the conclusion of the agreement, which would then be in force for seven years.

Deadliest terrorist attack in Mogadishu

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Mogadishu, Somalia – A car bomb killed more than 70 people on Tuesday, October 4 in Somalia’s capital.
• A suicide bomber drove a truck filled with explosives in front of the Ministry of Education in an attempt to make it through a government compound that housed four ministries.
• Most of those who perished were university students and their parents More than 90 people were hospitalized at Mogadishu’s Medina hospital after the explosion.
• Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group al-Shabab claims responsibility for carrying out the deadly act.