On 30 March 2004, Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the EU Council and High Representative for the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), introduces to the press the Dutchman, Gijs de Vries, former Foreign Minister, who will be responsible for coordinating the counter-terrorist activities of the Member States and for monitoring compliance with the undertakings given by European governments after the bomb attacks in Madrid on 11 March 2004.