[eu-sec] Planning and managing security for a major event is an extremely challenging exercise. Major events such as Olympic Games, G8 meetings or national Festivals require tremendous efforts in terms of project management, co-ordination and communication. The immense scale of these events entails an enormous amount of detailed pre-event planning and preparation and the deployment of a large number of different forces and agencies. Equally important is to develop a robust cooperation among all different stakeholders involved both at national and international level. Moreover, policy-makers and security planners have to consider that safety and security of major events are undermined by many threats, including terrorists that see the events as an opportunity to intimidate the population or to influence government policy.
The study and analysis of previous major events represent a critical exercise to ensure effective security implementation. Action-oriented analysis and identification of lessons learnt from past events are the safest way through which security planners can adapt and incorporate successful policies, strategies and tactical operations.
The EU-SEC Project Coordinating National Research Programmes on Security during Major Events in Europe has been an excellent example of how countries can share best practices and design common activities to address specific problems. Funded by the European Commission, the Project has significantly contributed to the development of best practices in the field of researching security during major events. Based on the outcomes of the Project, this Manual offers a perfect description and analysis of how ten countries of the European Union and EUROPOL elaborated an effective methodology for coordinating the national research activities on security at major events.
The results achieved through the EU-SEC Project prove the strong cohesion within the European Union in identifying and sharing common instruments to protect citizens during major events. The Manual represents a valid tool to further maximize the benefits of international cooperation in this field.
Download full report: http://euro-police.noblogs.org/gallery/3874/Manual_EU-SEC.pdf
