European Security and Global Terrorism: the Strategic Aftermath of the Madrid Bombings

The terrorist attacks of March 11 in Madrid provoked a reaction across Europe as they were widely perceived as a serious and potential threat for all of the Member States. The European Union (EU) responded immediately with a reminder of the need to face the terrorist threat in a common and coordinated way. The Madrid bombings were the first Al Qaeda attacks on European soil, and the first response from the EU was the declaration of solidarity from the Heads of States and Governments. Such a declaration of solidarity represents an important step in reaffirming the implication of all member states in the concept of a single global strategy for the construction of a “secure Europe”.