EU REACTION: The Taoiseach led expressions of sympathy from the European Union to the Spanish government following yesterday's terrorist attacks in Madrid.
Speaking as current EU president, Mr Ahern said that the thoughts and prayers of people across Europe would be the people of Spain.
"The timing of the bombings was clearly designed to wreak the greatest level of havoc and carnage. They are an attack on the democratic process and cannot be justified by any political cause," he said.
The president of the European Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, described the bombings as "savage, bloodthirsty and totally senseless" acts that could not be justified for any political cause.
"There is absolutely no excuse for the perpetrators of this appalling act of blind hate to hide behind.
"It is a vicious attack against unarmed, defenceless people, an aberrant and revolting act that only the perverted minds of terrorists could have hatched."
Mr Prodi was among a number of EU officials, including the foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, and the External Relations Commissioner, Mr Chris Patten, who took part in a silent protest against the bombings at the Schuman roundabout in Brussels' European district.
Flags outside EU buildings were flown at half-mast, and the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, called for a minute's silence at the start of a meeting of enterprise ministers.
"We in Ireland know only too well the devastation that is perpetrated by terrorist atrocities and we empathise with the pain and suffering being felt by the Spanish people at this time," Ms Harney said.
The president of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, said the attacks represented an assault on Spanish democracy and urged citizens to register their commitment to democratic values at next Sunday's general election.
"Let Sunday give the answer that Spanish democracy is strong. Let Sunday give the answer that Spanish democracy is determined to overcome terrorism by all of the available means to that process," he said.
"In Madrid last January I addressed the first-ever conference organised internationally for the victims of terror.
"I said then, and I repeat it here today, that in our political duty to the people of Spain and to the peoples of the European Union, it is our firm resolve that there shall be no safe haven for terrorism and terrorists in our European Union," Mr Cox said.
Mr Antonio Vitorino, the Commissioner responsible for Justice and Home Affairs, said that all Europeans were victims of yesterday's attacks and that the EU as a whole should respond to them.
