Full text of the press release issued by the Norwegian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs-
Norway’s cooperation with the EU on the fight against
terrorism
Norway’s close cooperation with the EU on foreign and security
policy includes cooperation on the fight on terrorism.
Norway has previously aligned itself with the
EU’s
list of persons, organisations and entities set out in the
Common Position on the application of specific measures to
combat terrorism. This list is revised by the EU at regular
intervals. Following an overall assessment, the government has
decided that Norway will no longer align itself with any other
list than that published by the UN.
The reason for this decision is that a continued alignment with
the EU list could cause difficulties for Norway in its role as
neutral facilitator in certain peace processes. Norway’s role
could become difficult if one of the parties involved was
included on the EU list, and the opportunities for contact were
thus restricted.
The EU list is based on the Common Position that was adopted for
the first time in December 2001 in connection with implementing
UN Security Council resolution 1373, which specifically
calls for measures to combat the financing of terrorism. The
Common Position has since been revised several times, and new
persons and groups have been added to the list. As Norway is not
a member of the EU, it does not take part in the internal
assessments that lead to revisions of the EU list. The
most
recent revision was made on 21 December 2005.
- Norway is making an important contribution to
international peace and security through its involvement in
peace processes. These efforts have won the recognition of
the international community, including the EU and the US,
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre pointed out.
- The government wants to intensify these efforts and we
must therefore avoid a situation that makes it more
difficult for us to have contact with any of the parties to
a conflict.
- The international legal obligations that form the basis
for Norway’s efforts to combat international terrorism will
remain the same. There should be no doubt that Norway
clearly condemns all forms of terrorism. The decision does
not imply any other change in our cooperation with the EU on
measures against terrorism. There is a high degree of
agreement and solidarity between Norway and the EU
countries. We are engaged in the fight against international
terrorism together with the EU, underlined Mr Støre.
