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Tomas Tobé: Three necessary measures in the EU to combat extremism
This is a discussion article. It is the writer who is responsible for the opinions expressed in the text, not Aftonbladet.
The lack of attention to the threat posed by Islamism, as a result of fear of possible accusations, generates paralysis instead of the necessary action. Macron has paved the way, writes Tomas Tobé. In the photo are armed police officers outside Notre Dame in Nice after the attack.
Photo: TT, FREDRIK WENNERLUND
DEBATE. Recent developments in France sadly it shows that the threat from Islamism is serious.
On October 16, the teacher Samuel Paty was assassinated in a suburb of Paris. Paty is beheaded on the street and the reasons stem from the fact that he taught about freedom of speech and used cartoons of the prophet Muhammad from Charlie Hebdo magazine in his education. The same newspaper office that five years ago was also the target of a brutal terrorist attack.
A similar terrible stabbing has now taken place in Nice, with several killed and injured. It is being investigated as a terrorist crime.
It is time for Europe to be more determined in the fight against Islamism.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron has acted in a liberating, honest and clear manner in recent weeks.
Macron’s statements, including that “Islamists want our future,” have both elicited strong reactions and had geopolitical consequences.
But militant and separatist Islamism hates our values, our way of life and our democracy. Islamism wants to shape another society, a society without freedom where religion is above the law.
The lack of attention to the threat posed by Islamism, fearing possible accusations, generates paralysis rather than necessary action.
In both rhetoric and practical action, Macron has now paved the way.
Initiatives have been taken to counter the breeding grounds of radicalization and Islamism. A mosque that has spread hate material has been closed and organizations that consider themselves radical are subject to a ban. Work on deportations for security threats has intensified.
The measures now being implemented in France should guide the work; it’s time to I following in the footsteps of President Macron.
I see three measures that are crucial for Europe to fight Islamism more effectively:
Common EU rules to stop foreign funding of extreme denominations.
Polls in France, and also in Germany, have drawn attention to the problem of the spread of extremism in Europe financed by actors outside European borders, such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. It is clear that this also happens in Sweden.
Individuals or states that are actively working to spread extremism and incite terrorist acts should no longer have this space.
Systems are now in place across the EU to prevent money laundering and unwanted investments. In the same way, a common European regulatory framework is now required to review and stop foreign funding of extreme denominations.
Strengthen Europol’s work against terrorism.
The European Commission is expected to come up with proposals by the end of the year on how the EU’s police agency, Europol, can be strengthened. Europol’s counter-terrorism operations are currently carried out in a special center, the European Counter-Terrorism Center.
In the context of the expanded mandate of Europol, the Center should be strengthened and receive increased financial resources.
This improves opportunities for information and intelligence sharing and provides better opportunities to combat cross-border terrorism.
European Block List for Hate Preachers.
The EU as a whole should establish the so-called exclusion list of preachers of hate who want to enter Europe to spread radical and fundamentalist messages. With such an exclusion list, confirmed hate preachers can be prevented from entering the EU.
These preachers of hate are a source of terrorism and must be addressed through joint action within the EU.
Now we must equip ourselves and ensure that the EU has the necessary laws and regulations to combat Islamism. Not least, we must access funds that support terrorism and extremism.
Tomás Tobé, MEP (M)
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