Summit theme combating terrorism

With the malicious attacks of 11th September 2001 the fight against international terrorism took on increased significance. The G8 strengthened their cooperation in this area.

 

Kananaskis 2002

 
The G8 laid down its first marker with the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction: Measures amounting to 20 billion US dollars in all were aimed at preventing terrorists from gaining access to nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological materials.
 
 
Top Pfeil nach oben (en)

Evian 2003

 
The Kananaskis agreements are expanded with the founding of the Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG).
 
Talks have been held with third parties wanting to contribute to the global partnership, for instance Poland and Switzerland. Countries of the former Soviet Union (such as the Ukraine) in particular are to be won over to the partnership.
 
Top Pfeil nach oben (en)

Sea Island 2004

 
The Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative (SAFTI) was adopted. This provided for measures of different kinds, among them steps:
 
  • to improve the security of travel documents,
  • to improve the exchange of terrorism-related information to counter the threat from man-portable air defence systems (ManPADS),
  • and measures to promote in-flight security, and the security of ports and sea transport.
 
Top Pfeil nach oben (en)

Gleneagles 2005

 
Under the impact of the attacks carried out on a number of commuter services in London at the same time as the summit, the G8 strengthen their resolve to further increase and optimize their cooperation on combating terrorism. 
 
Top Pfeil nach oben (en)

St. Petersburg 2006

 
The heads of state and government underlined the central role of the UN in combating international terrorism. They further declared their support for all the efforts being made to make even better use of the UN system as a whole in the fight against terrorism.
 
Furthermore Russia presents a report outlining its achievements in terms of the action plan against weapons of mass destruction:  more than 1 billion US dollars have been spent on dismantling chemical weapons and 220 million dollars on disarming nuclear submarines.
 
Top Pfeil nach oben (en)

German contribution

 
With up to 1.5 billion US dollars, Germany is one of the most important donors to the action plan Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, which was initiated in 2002.
 
In this context Germany has participated intensively in the disarmament of chemical weapons in Russia.
 
Top Pfeil nach oben (en)

Roma/Lyons group

 
The Roma/Lyons group is the main forum for G8 cooperation on fighting terrorism and organised crime. Here almost 300 experts from the Interior, Justice, Foreign and other ministries and the police and intelligence services meet three times a year. They are currently working in six sub-groups structured around different themes.
 
In terms of content the Roma/Lyons group chiefly undertakes preliminary work for the meetings of Justice and Interior Ministers, but occasionally also for the summit (above all on developing the annual summit declarations on combating terrorism) and the Foreign Minister process.