Closer cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Group
4.12.2019
Question for written answer E-004226/2019
to the Commission
Rule 138
Cornelia Ernst (GUE/NGL)
The European Union wants to establish even closer cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG). The CTG is part of the informal Club de Berne, which brings together representatives of the intelligence services and state protection authorities from 30 Schengen countries. For four years CTG members have regularly been invited to Justice and Home Affairs Council meetings, which are also attended by representatives of the Commission and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator. Europol has organised a number of high-level meetings and two joint counter-terrorism exercises with the CTG. Under the Lisbon Treaty, however, the EU has no mandate to cooperate with intelligence services.
- 1.What joint exercises have EU agencies held with the CTG, and what are the tasks of the European Counter-Terrorism Centre (ECTC) and the European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC), which are part of Europol?
- 2.How does the CTG cooperate with Europol’s Internet Referral Unit, and how will this cooperation be improved, as proposed in Europol’s 2018 annual report?
- 3.Which CTG staff members are currently deployed as liaison or contact officers to EU agencies or situation centres (including EU INTCEN), and what are their tasks there?