The Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Committee on Development (DEVE) exchange views with Gilles DE KERCHOVE, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Roger MOORE, Director, DG Development, European Commission and Cecilia RUTHSTRÖM-RUIN, Chief, Terrorism Prevention Branch, UNODC, on the security challenges in the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa.

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

exchange of views

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

fight against terrorism (T)

Committee on Development

DANJEAN, Arnaud (EPP, FR)

DE KERCHOVE, Gilles (BE)

Security challenges in the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa: extracts from the exchange of views with Gilles DE KERCHOVE, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator

SOUNDBITE (French), Arnaud DANJEAN (EPP, FR), We have now the change to have the tools regarding development and security which allow us to go much further for the countries regarding capacity and challenges. Of course security problems is not relating only to kidnapping, but also to drugs trafficking, arms and human trafficking and terrorist activities as well.

SOUNDBITE (French), Arnaud DANJEAN (EPP, FR), The threat regarding this activities is going beyond that, it is a threat for the EU as well. Is higher time for the EU and the member states to be aware of the urgency of the situation.

SOUNDBITE (French), Gilles DE KERCHOVE, European Union&apos;s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, The Sahel region is facing a dangerous cocktail of threats. Trafficking of different kind of drugs, cocaine, marihuana, gangs are using not traditional but new routes, Mali.

SOUNDBITE (French), Gilles DE KERCHOVE, European Union&apos;s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, What is even more concerning, that you have two different strips of crisis. You got the Sahara / Sahel arc, which is beginning to cross the arc with western Africa. We have seen Guinea Bissau worse effects. And finally you can see foreigners are going their to try there to radicalise the islam.

SOUNDBITE (French), Gilles DE KERCHOVE, European Union&apos;s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, We have tried to draw up a security and developement strategy. I would like to stress this point. Without having an ideological standpoint, without tabu. To have an integrated approach. It&acute;s not straight forward in legal or political terms.

SOUNDBITE (French), Gilles DE KERCHOVE, European Union&apos;s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Technical speaking we have made a lot, but I think it is now time to move to a political mobilisation, going beyond technical assistance. We need to prevent a regional crisis.