Counter-terrorism strategy

SUMMARY OF:

Article 83 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE EU COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY?

In 2005, the Council adopted the EU counter-terrorism strategy to fight terrorism globally and make Europe safer.
As deadly terrorist attacks continue to strike citizens in Europe and beyond, fighting terrorism is a top priority for the EU, EU countries and the EU’s partners.

Article 83 TFEU gives the European Parliament and the Council the competence to adopt minimum rules concerning the definition of particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension, of which terrorism is an example.

KEY POINTS

Objectives

To combat terrorism effectively, the strategy focuses on 4 priorities (pillars):

prevention
protection
pursuit and
response.

Across these pillars, the strategy recognises the importance of cooperation with non-EU countries and international institutions.

Prevention

Addressing the causes of radicalisation and terrorist recruitment is a key priority for the EU. The ‘prevention’ pillar aims to combat radicalisation and recruitment of terrorists by identifying the methods, propaganda and the instruments used by terrorists. The EU helps to coordinate national policies, determine good practice and share information.

The Revised EU Strategy for Combating Radicalisation and Recruitment to Terrorism, as it was revised in 2014, aims at combatting radicalisation and recruitment while taking into account evolving trends, such as lone-actor terrorism, foreign fighters and the use of social media by terrorists. It has been further modified by a series of Council conclusions on responding to terrorist attacks on EU soil.

Examples of ongoing work in the area of countering violent radicalisation are:
- the Radicalisation Awareness Network
- follow up on the High Level Expert Group on Radicalisation.
An example of ongoing work in the area of countering radicalisation online is
- the progress made by the EU Internet Forum underpinned by the Recommendation on tackling illegal content online with a specific focus on terrorist content.

Protection

Protecting citizens and infrastructure and reducing vulnerability to attacks is the second priority of the EU counter-terrorism strategy. This includes:

securing external borders;
improving transport security;
protecting strategic targets; and
reducing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.

Examples of ongoing work are:

the Action Plan on the protection of public spaces to step up the support to EU countries’ efforts to protect and reduce the vulnerability of public spaces;
the so-called CBRN Action Plan to enhance preparedness against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) security risks;
the proposal for a regulation on the marketing and use of explosives precursors.

Pursuit

The aim of the third pillar is to pursue terrorists across borders, while respecting human rights and international law. To achieve these goals, the EU’s focus is on:

improving cooperation and information exchange between police and judicial authorities;
depriving terrorists of their means of support and communication; and
tackling terrorist financing.

An example of ongoing work is the implementation of the 2016 Action plan to strengthen the fight against terrorist financing.

Response

Preparing, managing and minimising the consequences of a terrorist attack is the fourth objective of the EU counter-terrorism strategy. This is done by improving capabilities to deal with:

the aftermath;
the coordination of the response; and
victims’ needs.

Priorities in this area include:

developing EU crisis coordination arrangements;
developing risk assessment tools;
sharing best practices on assistance to victims of terrorism.

An example of ongoing work is the creation of an EU centre for the victims of terrorism (European Parliament pilot project).

Engagement with international partners

The EU’s security is closely linked with the situation in other countries, particularly in neighbouring states.

In June 2014, the European Council called for an effective counter-terrorism policy integrating the internal and external aspects. On 9 February 2015, in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, EU leaders stressed the need for the EU to engage more with non-EU countries on security issues and counter-terrorism.

In its conclusions on EU External Action on Counter-terrorism from 19 June 2017, the Council stressed the need for:

greater consistency between internal and external actions in the field of security, and
strengthening the role of JHA agencies (Justice and Home Affairs) with regard to non-EU countries.

It also noted that common security and defence policy missions and operations need to have a greater role in combating terrorism.

The counter-terrorism agenda is present in the relations between the EU and non-EU countries in many forms, including:

high-level political dialogues;
the adoption of cooperation clauses and agreements, or specific assistance;
capacity-building projects with strategic countries.

The EU cooperates on counter-terrorism with countries in:

the western Balkans;
Africa (the Sahel, North Africa, the Horn of Africa);
the Middle East;
North America;
Asia.

Cooperation with the US is a fundamental component of the EU’s strategy. In recent years, cooperation agreements have been reached in areas such as terrorism financing, transport and borders, mutual legal assistance and extradition. The US authorities are working more and more closely with Europol and Eurojust.

The EU also works closely with other international and regional organisations and fora to build international consensus and promote international standards for fighting terrorism.

BACKGROUND

EU Counter Terrorism Strategy (Council)
Crisis and terrorism (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Consolidated version of the Treaty on Functioning of the European Union — Part Three — Union policies and internal actions — Title V — Area of freedom, security and justice — Chapter 4 — Judicial cooperation on criminal matters — Article 83 (ex Article 31 TEU) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 80-81)

Council of the European Union, 30 November 2005: The European Union Counter-Terrorism Strategy