Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-09-19-Speech-3-043"
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"en.20010919.6.3-043"2
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"Mr President, I was in Washington last week leading the European Parliament delegation responsible for our relations with the United States Congress and we started our pre-Commission briefing at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 September 2001, just after the first plane had hit one of the towers and just before the second. Needless to say, our briefing did not go on for very long and we, like so many in the United States, were soon sitting in front of television sets, shocked and silent. That was the mood in America in Tuesday. By Wednesday, people were angry and frightened, understandably, and so were we. Later there was much more thoughtfulness and a more considered response.
The many messages from the European Union, and indeed from the European Parliament, plus the many personal messages of support and solidarity, were very much appreciated. We were able to fulfil part of our delegation duties, we met members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Congress and had some very useful, although very sad discussions with them. The question they put to us was: How will Europe help us? Will Europe support us? That was really most difficult. It would have been premature and inappropriate for a partial delegation to respond. Of course, we did not know how we should respond. I made a statement to Congress on behalf of the delegation which was lodged in the Congressional Records and I hope with your permission it can be lodged in our own Parliament records as well. This statement stressed, apart, of course, from the natural sympathy that we wanted to express, that this had to be tackled by the United States of America and the European Union and many other countries in partnership.
It is becoming ever clearer that the response must be measured and proportionate, and the consequences for all must be anticipated and planned. There is a clear need for major diplomatic and political initiatives to maintain cooperation with those countries nearest to any possible targets or military action and those at most risk from the consequences. We may be facing terrible times ahead but it is essential that we have the courage as well as the compassion to consider carefully the alternatives.
I would like to express my thanks to the many here, including the President, who expressed their concerns for our safety and well-being and particularly to my fellow MEPs, including Mr Belder, Mrs Peijs, my two vice-chairman, the other MEPs, the Parliament staff, Council and Commission staff interpreters and particularly the Commission staff in Washington. They were endlessly kind in what was a most difficult week."@en1
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