The Post 9/11 Partnership: Transatlantic Cooperation against Terrorism

On the afternoon of September 11, 2001, many Europeans watched their televisions in horror as the second plane flew into the World Trade Center in New York, and then, a few minutes later, another plane flew into the Pentagon in Washington. By the time casualty lists were finalized, between 80–90 Europeans would be among the dead. Many Europeans recognized very quickly that this was an assault not simply on the United States, but on the West and non-Islamic world, including themselves. Although several European countries already had extensive experience with terrorism, it was clear that this attack was of another magnitude, not only in terms of damage and casualties, but also in terms of the network and resources of the perpetrators. The sense of European involvement would be heightened as investigators learned that many of the September 11 hijackers had spent considerable time in Europe, especially in Germany. Clearly, this new type of terrorism could not be defeated or even controlled by the law enforcement resources of any single nation. An effective response would require new levels of cooperation both within the European Union and across the Atlantic — and, indeed, on a global level.