European Union
Concept Note
Enhancing the Role of Parliamentarians in Building Effective
Counter-Terrorism Systems within a Rule of Law Framework
Symposium
Brussels, European Parliament
1-2 March 2016
States’ responsibility to protect citizens from terrorism-related threats require the
establishment of consistent rule of law framework that assigns primary responsibilities to
legislatures. Parliamentarians’ participation in the field of counter terrorism increases the
effectiveness of counter terrorism policies that will benefit from enhanced accountability
mechanisms, civic participation, and adherence to international best practices. Moreover,
the transposition of the counter terrorism international legal framework into domestic
legislation requires parliaments to enjoy accurate assistance for national security goals to
be pursued in accordance with the international law. Legislators also directly impact the
effectiveness of an anti-terrorism regime through allocation of national budget resources,
oversight of justice sector institutions and existing legislation, public statements, and overall
setting of national policy. Their independent role requires informed judgment to guarantee
a transparent anti-terrorism legislation and national policy aiming at securing individual
rights and the rule of law.
In recognition of the critical role of parliamentarians, the International Institute for Justice
and the Rule of Law (IIJ) and the European Parliament (EP), in the framework of a project
funded by the European Commission (EC), announce a Symposium on “Enhancing
the Role
of Parliamentarians in Building Effective Counter-Terrorism Systems within a Rule of Law
Framework”
to be held in Brussels on 1-2 March 2016. The event is as a significant stage of
the overall series inaugurated in Valletta on 5-6 May 2015 and followed by the first regional
workshop addressing legislators from the North and West Africa countries hosted by the
Parliament of Morocco in October 2015. A further regional workshop, focused on Middle-
East and East Africa countries to be hosted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey will
follow in April 2016.