Understanding EU counter-terrorism policy
Faced with a persistent international terrorist threat, the European Union (EU) is playing an ever more ambitious role in counter-terrorism. Even though primary responsibility for combating crime and ensuring security lies with the Member States, the EU provides cooperation, coordination and (to some extent) harmonisation tools, as well as financial support, to address this borderless phenomenon. Moreover, the assumption that there is a connection between development and stability, as well as between internal and external security, has come to shape EU action beyond its own borders. EU spending in the area of counter-terrorism has increased over the years, to allow for better cooperation between national law enforcement authorities and enhanced support by the EU bodies in charge of security and justice, such as Europol, eu-LISA and Eurojust. The many new rules and instruments that have been adopted in recent years range from harmonising definitions of terrorist offences and sanctions, and sharing information and data, to protecting borders, countering terrorist financing, and regulating firearms. However, implementing and evaluating the various measures is a challenging task. The European Parliament has played an active role not only in shaping legislation, but also in evaluating existing tools and gaps through the work accomplished by its Special Committee on Terrorism (TERR) in 2018. In line with the Parliament's recommendations, as well as the priorities set by the new European Commission and its counter-terrorism agenda presented in December 2020, future EU counter-terrorism action will focus on better anticipating threats, countering radicalisation and reducing vulnerabilities, by making critical infrastructures more resilient and better protecting public spaces. Upcoming developments also include increased information-sharing, by means of better implementation and modernisation of existing tools, a reinforced mandate for Europol, as well as possible investigation and prosecution of terrorist crimes at EU level, through the proposed extension of the mandate of the recently established European Public Prosecutor's Office. This briefing builds on an earlier one, entitled 'The fight against terrorism', published in 2019.
Briefing
Относно настоящия документ
Вид публикация
Автор
Област на политиките
Ключова дума
- борба срещу престъпността
- европейска сигурност
- Европейски парламент
- ЕВРОПЕЙСКИ СЪЮЗ
- изграждане на Европа
- ИКОНОМИКА
- институции на ЕС и европейска публична служба
- компетенции на държави членове
- международна сигурност
- международната роля на ЕС
- МЕЖДУНАРОДНИ ОТНОШЕНИЯ
- Обща външна политика и политика на сигурност
- обществено мнение
- основни права
- ПОЛИТИКА
- политическа и обществена сигурност
- права и свободи
- ПРАВО
- право на Европейския съюз
- презгранично измерение
- пространство на свобода, сигурност и правосъдие
- региони и регионална политика
- социална сфера
- СОЦИАЛНИ ВЪПРОСИ
- тероризъм
- финанси на Европейския съюз
- финансов инструмент на ЕС