Gijs de Vries

“If you exchange information internationally, you must strengthen data protection. Those are two sides of the same coin.”

“We still lack a global definition of terrorism.”

“The key to tackling Islamist fundamentalism and terrorism from the Islamist community is in the hands of moderate Muslims.”

“Terrorists have failed to trigger mass conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims in Europe. We should draw strength from that fact.”

“We have an integrated picture of the threat from outside and from within that is provided not only to our foreign ministers but also to our justice and interior ministers.”

“In situations of military conflict, civil strife, lawlessness, bad governance, and human rights violations, terrorists find it easier to hide, train and prepare their attacks.”

“In the fight against terrorism, national agencies keep full control over their police forces, security and intelligence agencies and judicial authorities.”

“It's important that we work very closely with moderate Muslim forces locally, nationally and internationally.”

“You can't get closer to the heart of national sovereignty than national security and intelligence services.”

“The majority of the world's Muslims do not believe that terrorism is a legitimate strategy or that Islam is incompatible with democracy.”

“Police forces collect information to be used in a public court to get people convicted. Security services gather information that does not necessarily lead to people being prosecuted and in many cases needs to remain confidential.”

“Muslim organisations tend to have a low level of organisation. The communities in Europe are quite diverse.”

“Terrorists always have the advantage of surprise.”