Hypotheses 1. The main reason behind the differences of the counter-terrorist measures undertaken by the EU and US lies in the composition of its security framework. Within the EU itself, the attitudes towards terrorism are diversified. I assume that due to these differences, the EU member states will be less reluctant to act in a unified manner and thus EU–US full cooperation is highly unlikely. 2. I assume that the states which were directly affected by terrorist attacks will push for more effective anti-terrorist policies on the EU level, while those unaffected rather opposed financial and capacity expenses. 3. I assume that the balance between combating terrorism and protecting human rights has not been found in either the EU or the US. Methodology In order to validate the first hypothesis, I will closely examine the effects that 9/11 had on the perception of threat in the US and the EU. It will be shown that the US acts as a unified actor, whereas the EU has up until now not been able to speak with ‘one voice’, which directly affects the attitudes and perceptions the actors have on terrorism and their ideas on how to fight it. The London and Madrid bombings and their effects will be analysed. Did they have any significant effects on the UK’s and Spain’s rhetoric and actions in relation to counter-terrorist policies? It is predicted that they did and that they were taken up by the EU to produce a more effective approach to combating terrorism. The second hypothesis will require a thorough research and a critical analysis of the EU and US policies and to what extent they interfere with civil liberties and under rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is my intention to show a number of examples which will show that the compatibility of countering terrorism and protecting human rights hardly ever exists and that the protection of human rights has been directly affected by the fight against terrorism. Aim of research: - describe the developments which have taken place within the EU - describe the US approach - compare and contrast the EU and US approach and attempt to predict future cooperation, perhaps also in relation with the election of B. Obama as the US President. - analyse the effects that counter-terrorist policies had and have on the protection of human rights - highlight weaknesses of both approaches. Possible to find an ideal approach?