[euroalert.net] The
EU’s first Internal Security Strategy was adopted by the ministers for
the interior on 25 February. It lays down a European security model,
which integrates action on law enforcement and judicial cooperation,
border management and civil protection, with due respect for shared
European values, such as fundamental rights.
The new EU Internal Security Strategy sets out the main threats and challenges the EU faces. They include various types of crime, such as terrorism, organised crime, cyber-crime and even youth violence. Natural and man-made disasters,
such as forest fires and energy shortages, also require cross-border
preparedness and response. Another challenge is to address common
phenomena that pose threats to citizens across Europe, for example road accidents.
The Strategy places a strong focus on prevention. Member states need
to step up intelligence sharing, making full use of biometric and other
technologies. This will serve not only to bring offenders to justice
but also to forestall crime.
Prevention also means tackling the root causes and involving a wide
range of actors. Cooperation will be sought, for instance, with
schools, in order to prevent young people going down the criminal path.
In the private sector, financial institutions can contribute to the
prevention of money laundering. Civil society organisations could play
a role in running public awareness campaigns.
Since internal security depends to a large extent on external
security, it is necessary to work closely with the EU’s neighbours and
other countries as well as with international organisations.
The work of agencies, institutions and bodies is very important: a number of agencies specific to the EU have been created and these include Europol, whose
main aims are to collect and exchange information and to facilitate
cooperation between law-enforcement authorities in their fight against
organised crime and terrorism,Eurojust, which drives coordination and increases the effectiveness of judicial authorities, and Frontex, which manages operational cooperation at the external borders.
The EU has also created the role of the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator.
Other bodies and networks have also been established in the fields of
training, drugs, crime prevention, corruption and judicial cooperation
in criminal matters.
Next steps
Following the Action Plan for the implementation of the Stockholm Programme, the Commission will adopt a Communication on the Internal Security Strategy which will include action oriented proposals. Further
developing, monitoring and implementing the Internal Security Strategy
must become one of the priority tasks of the Standing Committee on
Operational Cooperation on Internal Security (COSI). Furthermore,
according to the Stockholm Programme, the Commission will consider the feasibility of setting up an Internal Security Fund to promote the implementation of the Internal Security Strategy.
