EU security agenda

European agenda on security - COM(2015) 185

ACT

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: The European Agenda on Security (COM(2015) 185 final of 28.4.2015)

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THE AGENDA DO?

—	Sets out the principles for EU action to respond effectively to security threats and the main steps planned by the European Commission to implement these.

—	Identifies the 3 priorities for immediate action, by both national governments and the EU institutions, which share responsibility for EU security.

KEY POINTS

5 key principles of the agenda:

—	full compliance with people’s fundamental rights,

—	transparent and accountable formulation of security policies (to ensure public confidence),

—	better implement the existing EU measures - by sharing information more, working together more at the operational level and through new funding and training programmes,

—	coordinate more efficiently the work of the different EU agencies in the security field,

—	focus jointly on internal and external security , since threats do not stop at national borders.

Three priorities for immediate action:

1.	Terrorism and radicalisation: the agenda proposes a new European Counter-Terrorism Centre within Europol, bringing together existing wide-ranging expertise, tracking terrorist financing and addressing the root causes of extremism.

2.	International organised crime: countries neighbouring the EU will be more closely involved in operational activities. Greater efforts will be made to tackle crime financing and confiscate assets, and to counter people-smuggling and human trafficking.

3.

Cybercrime: — full implementation by EU governments of existing legislation to combat attacks on information systems and online child sexual abuse; — modernising laws to take account of newer forms of crime, and so removing obstacles to criminal investigations into cybercrime; — working closely with the private sector and providing specialised training with the help of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, — training on cyber-security issues for foreign partner countries.

BACKGROUND

The agenda is one of the key texts on which the EU’s 2015-20 Internal Security Strategy is based.

It should be seen in conjunction with the EU’s migration agenda.

More on the European agenda on security

RELATED ACTS

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A European Agenda on Migration (COM(2015) 240 final of 13.5.2015)

Council conclusions of 16 June 2015 on the renewed EU Internal Security Strategy for the period 2015-2020

last update 26.08.2015