European Parliament recommendation to the Council on an area of Freedom, Security and Justice: security at meetings of the European Council and other comparable events (2001/2167(INI))

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General recommendations to improve political dialogue and protection of fundamental rights and to promote efficient cooperation between Member States

3. Stresses that the universal right of dissent is a correlate of the freedoms of thought, religion, expression, information, assembly and association as referred to in Articles 10, 11 and 12 of the ECFR;

4. Considers that in a European Union destined to become an area of freedom, security and justice the use of violence to express political and other opinions is reprehensible and that dialogue with civil society must be maintained and improved, respecting the different actors, and should be based on the following prerequisites:

Representatives of civil society

- citizens must enjoy the right to express their opinions freely and to assemble peacefully. In a European Union founded on the rule of law and on democratic principles, demonstrations should aim to influence by peaceful methods involving no use of violence whatsoever the normal decision-making process of the institutions;

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