Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, EU Commissioner for External Relations Christopher Patten and EU Senior Representative for Foreign Policy and Joint Security (PESC) Javier Solana were the members of the European Troika which, on the mandate of the extraordinary European Council, undertook a five-day mission to the Mid-East, visiting some of the main Islamic capitals. Accompanied by the Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Piquè (Spain will assume the EU Presidency in January), the Troika visited Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria. “ The purpose of the mission said Michel was to explain the European position with regard to the strategy of combatting terrorism following the attacks in New York and Washington of 11 September, as expressed by the extraordinary Summit in Brussels“. Apart from presenting the EU anti-terrorism Plan of Action, the talks that the Troika had with Middle Eastern Heads of State and of Government also touched on the issue of what form a global reaction against international terrorism might take.
